Spring Ratings / What do you think?

[Barkychoc]

I have asked this before casually - but I need to go up a bit on the poundage with my springs so I'll start a proper thread.
I am running with Avo's on the V8S with 275 lb rears and 325 fronts.
The original plan that Derek recomended for general use was 300/325 but the 300's were out of stock and I was impatient....

Anyway its the back that's the problem - its just too soft - and on bumpy roads the tyres are hitting the top of the wheelarch.

I'd be interested to know what poundage springs you are running and what you think of the ride and handling.
I would generally like to go a bit firmer than I have at the moment - but I don't know if another 25 to 50 lb is a major leap or just a bit firmer.

I particularly don't want the car to be too harsh - I am running 15 inch wheels with standard profile tyres so I guess that helps a bit.

Chris

[Ragtop]

450f 375r. Very supple - not harsh at all.

G

[aero340]

iam running gaz nickel shocks and 300lbs springs on the rear and 400lbs on the front of my v6 s3 it handles fine with a smooth ride no complaints , with 15"wheels and continental tyres.

Edited by aero340 on Tuesday 12th October 22:46

[Ragtop]

See also:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

and 30May entry in:

http://redirectingat.com/?id=1044X509854&xs=1&...

Regards,
Graham

[tozerman]

Gaz gold pro's, V6, 425fr...325r no problem at all, I only adjust the shockers about half way so ride quality is ok

Cheers.....Tony..

[Ralph S3]

I have recently changed from 375 front 275 rear to 450 front & 375 rear. The difference is astounding. On the old setup I had the same problems as you describe and had the shocks (Gaz Standard) wound up so tight that the car was crashing about. Now its very supple with the shocks backed right off and no crashing or banging.

As a final proof point I did a regularity rally last year and ended up destroying the exhaust on english back roads. Every time a dip caused the rear suspension to compress I smashed the exhaust into the ground. This year I did the event again (came 5th overall against some serious machinary..!!) and it was much more comfortable and I only scraped the countryside twice..!!

Ralph

[Jaye R]

Chris

Another vote for 450 front & 375 rear (on Gaz shocks) - had this set up for sprinting & normal use - very good all round.

Having just done over 2000 miles on the Eurotrip I can happily confirm that the ride is not too harsh on this set up

Cheers
Jaye

[Matt]

Chris, I'm considering AVOs for my V8s, do you run yours with spherical bearings at the rear?

I'm looking to change the springs at the same time, what spring length do you have (is it different front and rear) and what diameter are the springs?

Thanks Matt

[KeithTVR]

Same here!

I started it out with Gaz 375lb front 300lb rear but found the ride height was too low unless i compressed the springs over half way. The result of that was a harsh ride with the car bottoming out under any random undulations in the road and I can confirm that holding my breath as I drove over them didn't help at all!

I bought some 475lb and switched the 375lb's to the back and it's fantastic. I have a softer ride with the correct ride height and can now soften up the shock a little more for daily driving

[Barkychoc]

Matt said:

Chris, I'm considering AVOs for my V8s, do you run yours with spherical bearings at the rear?

I'm looking to change the springs at the same time, what spring length do you have (is it different front and rear) and what diameter are the springs?

Thanks Matt

At the moment I don't have spherical bearings - I have the AVO red poly bushes that seem to get eaten rather quickly (though they do send you another set FOC if you ring them and ask).
I'm planning to uprate the springs and go to spherical bearings on the rear.
The fronts are older aluminium style AVO's with metalastic bushes - they are fine.

[Matt]

Chris, thanks, you've confirmed the issue with the AVOs and their bushes. I think now I'm moving more towards Gaz having spoken to AB Shocks. They suggested 325 at the rear and 400 for the front on the V8s and a slightly lower rate for the V6 models. I believe the spring length were 8in.

Matt

Edited by Matt on Friday 15th October 13:25