ok... the topic is...

if a spring is fully compressed will it still have the same characteristics as only half compressed or even at non compressed state and why???

you see cars with helper springs .... why??? or do the springs need to be at a certain compression ???

many thanks

 

If the springs are rising rate then the more there compressed the harder they get but this isn't normally the case with coil overs.

do you mean helper springs on coilovers?

 

yes thats the point .. as when you lower a car the springs compress.. so i suppose you get to a point where the springs are too compressed to be of any use... just wondered if you had helper springs would this aleviate the problem??? the springs would be at the proper compression and the car at the correct ride height...
or is it just a case of the helper springs are there for rally cars as the suspension can go full stretch on a jump or uneven ground and it helps keep them in the correct place on the strutt...
im just guessing now......

 

......

 

Helper springs take all the small bumps and vibrations, they are rated lower than normal springs.

Coil over springs are fixed rate all the way AFAIK obviously up to a point where the spring coils are touching then they can't be compressed any more and shorter springs should/could be used but then there is the possibility of running out of shock travel so these may also need to be raplaced for shorter items

HTHS

PJay

 

The springs used on coilovers are normally always a straight line in characteristic.
Most "normal" lowering springs (decent ones) are not. Then it's the more they are compressed, the harder they get!!! (you can see that..... the spring has windings close to each other and also windings that are more "stretched out")

The helper springs on coilovers are just to make sure that the spring isn't loose when the car is lifted. (ie. in a Dukes of Hazard syle jump) Loose spring when lifted is MOT failure........

This helper spring is fully compressed in a range to 50-100 kilograms. That means it is always fully compressed when the car is with it's weight on it! That way it can't be doing anything to the handling!!!


Greetings,
Mark

 

well the point of the questions are....
mine is lowered an inch...
but the adjuster is right up at the top of the thread..so the spring is more compressed than i feel it should be... so can you get different length springs?? or is it a case of being too soft for the car ???
they are leda's with 350lb springs on the fronts and 225 on the back.. im just wondering if helper springs would make the springs less compressed...

 

Im afraid you need a different set of springs . There should be no compression of the springs at all until the weight of the car is on them .
This is why Leda and others make different strut lengths for different disciplines i.e' Rally - a longer body and damper ,
Race/Tarmac /Road rally - a shorter damper and strut tube
you should be careful that shortening the springs on their platform doesn't mean you run out of suspension travel !

 

thats what i thought.. there is a bit.. will have to take some pics and see what yous lot think..
cheers