How stiff should springs be?

[BaliD]

Hi

I have bought an import tubby with unknown suspension. I have had it looked at and i'm told its good but probably a specialist Japanese make.
It is very stiff, much harder than any of my mates cars with coilovers .
They're great fun but painfull on London roads going to work .

I want to get some springs made up to fit the shocks, but they want to know how stiff i want my new springs. I want these ones softer so i can put them on for daily use, then change to my rock hard ones for tracking.

What is a normal spring coefficient for road use springs?

Thanks

[stevenb]

Sounds like you need new shocks too then mate.
Are the ones fitted adjustable?
If so then I'd go for springs with approx 300mm drop from standard. you may get better all round comfort.
If your existing shocks are not adjustable then I recommend an adjustable kit (obviously... ) to get the different settings you want.
Someone on here will tell you what they are using and what it's like.
But don't forget peoples idea of comfort varies.

Where are my manners......Welcome to IMOC mate.

[tubby_tony]

Not sure if this is going to help or confuse, but on my Leda coilovers I have 7" 225lb springs on the front and 8" 325lb on the rear, but surely this is going to be affected by the strut on which they are fitted and the oil/gas content of the strut in respect to how the damping/rebound/hardness/softness of the ride is going to feel. Lauren may be better at explaining and advising on this.

[Lauren]

Jap suspension is normally really hard on the springs and generally underdamped.

Get koni adjustables and say a 30mm drop and 20% uprated springs. The konis give a very nice ride on full soft.

[EarL]

I put Koni adjustables adn Eibach Sportline -40 springs on mine. It's a really firm ride when the shocks are dialed in on their hardest setting, but when they're on medium to soft, it's a pussycat.

I'd thoroghly reccomend them.

EarL.

[BaliD]

It's good to be here, i can't belive how great these cars are and how much you can do to them . My list of upgrades is already pages long and adds up to money it's gonna take years to earn [-o< !

Thanks for your help guys, the shocks are adjustable so i'm going to investigate them more closely and try to change them.

I don't quite have the pennies for a full new system , but when i do Koni sounds the way to go.

Ive found a company to make replacement springs. They said they will do it for 200 quid all inc. That sounds fair, but i lose my car for 3 weeks while they do it. I have to choose how much softer i want it. I assume they will test my current springs and ask what percentage change i want.

If anyone has any better ideas please let me know, otherwise im going to go with the new springs.

[SwissHeavy]

It takes them a morning to change springs. Jokers.

[Lauren]

It's good to be here, i can't belive how great these cars are and how much you can do to them . My list of upgrades is already pages long and adds up to money it's gonna take years to earn [-o< !

Thanks for your help guys, the shocks are adjustable so i'm going to investigate them more closely and try to change them.

I don't quite have the pennies for a full new system , but when i do Koni sounds the way to go.

Ive found a company to make replacement springs. They said they will do it for 200 quid all inc. That sounds fair, but i lose my car for 3 weeks while they do it. I have to choose how much softer i want it. I assume they will test my current springs and ask what percentage change i want.

If anyone has any better ideas please let me know, otherwise im going to go with the new springs.

Take it somewhere else. You can DIY it in a day tbh. Also you will need a 4-wheel alignment afterwards as it'll knock it way out.