#16: Re: springs fitted the right way HELP! Author: richpowell91, Location: Melton Mowbray LeicestershirePosted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:03 pm ----
carbibles wrote:
Progressively wound springs
These are the things to go for when you upgrade your springs. In actual fact, it's difficult not to get progressive springs when you upgrade - most of the aftermarket manufacturers make them like this. Most factory-fit car springs are normally wound. That is to say that their coil pitch stays the same all the way up the spring. If you get progressively wound springs, the coil pitch gets tighter the closer to the top of the spring you get. This has the effect of giving the spring increasing resistance, the more it is compressed.
The spring constant (stiffness) of a coil spring equals:
k = compression / force = D^4 * G / (64*N*R^3)
where D is the wire diameter, G an elastic material property, N the number of coils in the spring, and R the radius of the spring.
So increasing the number of coils decreases the stiffness of the spring. Thus, a progressive spring is progressive because the two parts are compressed equally until the tightly wound part locks up, effectively shortening the spring and reducing its compliance.
So for normal driving, you'll be using mostly the upper 3 or 4 'tight' winds to soak up the average bumps and potholes. When you get into harder driving, like cornering at speed for example, because the springs are being compressed more, they resist more. The effect is to reduce the suspension travel at the top end resulting in less body roll, and better road-holding. Invariably, the fact that the springs are progressively wound is what accounts for the lowering factor. The springs aren't made shorter - they're just wound differently. Of course the material that aftermarket springs are made of is usually a higher grade than factory spec simply because it's going to be expected to handle more loads.
Stolen the above from car bibles, from a quick skim read the progressive wound coils help to soften the ride quality when traveling at relatively low speeds whilst achieving the drop required and also being stiffer when pressing on.
#17: Re: springs fitted the right way HELP! Author: Ste, Location: Hull -or- The World Of Info CodePosted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:18 pm ----
Howey wrote:
Ste206 wrote:
I honestly wouldnt worry too much unless it's stated that that suspension coil is meant to be mounted only one way up.
My small coils are at the bottom which in reality is classed as 'upside down' and they have been for a few months now.
Passed an MOT test like that, driven about 3000 miles ect, no adverse effects, however mine dont state that they need to be mounted one way..
lol don't ask long story, there safe though had them checked at 2 places lol I'm not THAT crazy
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