Factory Uprated Springs?
Discussion
Ok, so I thought I'd slap the factory uprated springs on today. I found out from the Factory, that on the fronts, the supplied helper springs should be placed above the main spring and between the two, a plastic collar, to locate them. The top cap then fits against the open end of the helper spring.
Closing the adjuster rings back up, I notice that the plastic collar bottoms out on the main sring cap before the helper spring is fully compressed - so if effect, the car is supported on this thin edge of the collar where it meets the spring cap.
I hope I've explained myself.
Of course I'll phone the factory tomorrow, but any thoughts?
Interestingly enough the two sets of springs are the same length and I didn't gethelper springs with the std springs. Oh, on full droop, the std spring can be rorated freely, but doesn't disengage from the upper seat.
'Ere, take a look:
Closing the adjuster rings back up, I notice that the plastic collar bottoms out on the main sring cap before the helper spring is fully compressed - so if effect, the car is supported on this thin edge of the collar where it meets the spring cap.
I hope I've explained myself.
Of course I'll phone the factory tomorrow, but any thoughts?
Interestingly enough the two sets of springs are the same length and I didn't gethelper springs with the std springs. Oh, on full droop, the std spring can be rorated freely, but doesn't disengage from the upper seat.
'Ere, take a look:
TuxMan said:
Pete,what do the helper springs do ?? do you know what poundage rating the springs are ?? i,ve got some track springs and when i put them on !!!! bloody hell shoock my teeth !! soon took them off !! they are 650lb rears and 550lb fronts .
The helper springs ar normally only required when a shorter spring is used. Ensures that when the wheels are off the ground (be it taking a wheel off, or taking off a curb at a track)the uncompressed spring doesn't drop out of the seat and cause you some real probs.The springs are in Ns?? fronts 80 to 100 and rears 110 to 140 About 25% stiffer
TuxMan said:
Ok i see....................begs the question if the springs are the same length why do you need them ?? or perhaps you should have had then in the first place !!
Exactly!! Which is it??? Or perhaps the cars with the stiffer springs are set lower and hence easier to knock out a spring?
TuxMan said:
...will the stiffer springs not creat more understeer ??
Dunno, we'll see.SpeedYellow said:
I've got the new springs on my car and after 300 miles this weekend on varied roads find the ride/handling balance great, doesn't feel too stiff at all. Can't really compare to standard as only driven standard cars a couple of times.
Do you have helper springs on the front? If so are they located like I.ve shown above?Ta, Pete.
On Track my springs unseated regularly. Didn't cause any major problems but it is distracting and sometimes unsettled the car slightly as they snapped back into place. I had my car corner weighted and the suspension was lowered slightly from standard which probably contributed to the problem as there was then more suspension drop as the weight came off the inside wheel. I will be using helper springs when back on track.
SpeedYellow said:
No, just had a look, the helper spring is at the bottom between the adjustable collars and the spring.
Hmmm...interesting. You mention not of the plastic collar. Is this 'tween spring and helper? I have just tried said positioning, and again, the plastic collar bottoms out on the ali shoulder of the upper adjuster ring, before the helper is compressed fully.If only we had a manual....doh!
The factory supplied springs are metric and have an inside diameter of about 61mm.
They are quite a loose fit on the Intrax damper seats. I replaced them with UK sourced springs which are mainly measured in inches. The inside diameter equates to 58.5mm which fits the Intrax seats better and helps the unseating problem as they don’t move around as much.
They are quite a loose fit on the Intrax damper seats. I replaced them with UK sourced springs which are mainly measured in inches. The inside diameter equates to 58.5mm which fits the Intrax seats better and helps the unseating problem as they don’t move around as much.
The factory has it right
If you install the springs so that they are not between the plastic spacers then they will end up completely compressed, forcing the sharp edge of the end of the coil into the next turn of the spring. This will cause a stress riser on the helper spring which will lead it to fail prematurely.
If you install the springs so that they are not between the plastic spacers then they will end up completely compressed, forcing the sharp edge of the end of the coil into the next turn of the spring. This will cause a stress riser on the helper spring which will lead it to fail prematurely.
Right, answer swiftly in from the factory. Thanks guys.
Richard says that the plastic collar should not bottom on the spring cap. The small no of cars that they have prepared with the modded springs have had these collars cut down so that the helper spring compresses before the seat and collar meet. Speedyellow, yours is one of these. Brian, read on.
Richard say that they conclude that the best solution is to swap my 180 lengh springs for 160 length which will cure all issues and mean no collar is required (this is an inaccurate statement which is corrected later ion in this thread) These will still be 25% stiffer.
The factory will offer these 160 instead of the 180 for all future customers.
So, there we go. Pretty good reaction I'd say.
Now, will someone please explain to me why a shorter front spring will save the day, gently and without too many long words please!!!
Lucky, out.
Richard says that the plastic collar should not bottom on the spring cap. The small no of cars that they have prepared with the modded springs have had these collars cut down so that the helper spring compresses before the seat and collar meet. Speedyellow, yours is one of these. Brian, read on.
Richard say that they conclude that the best solution is to swap my 180 lengh springs for 160 length which will cure all issues and mean no collar is required (this is an inaccurate statement which is corrected later ion in this thread) These will still be 25% stiffer.
The factory will offer these 160 instead of the 180 for all future customers.
So, there we go. Pretty good reaction I'd say.
Now, will someone please explain to me why a shorter front spring will save the day, gently and without too many long words please!!!
Lucky, out.
Edited by LuckyP on Tuesday 6th May 16:43
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