Discussion
600/400 set up for sprinting, although these days it's only getting used on the road.
The dampers do make a huge difference to how well a given set of springs work, and so does the geometry. And of course you need to consider what sort of roads you're driving on and how you're driving, and what sort of handling you're looking for, and how comfortable you want it to be.
Unless you know what you want, I'd suggest get the best dampers you can afford and make sure they have enough adjustment range to cover the whole set of spring rates that you'd consider. Some cheap (sorry, I think they prefer to be called 'budget' or 'inexpensive') dampers aren't valved for the springs and just have a huge adjustment range. And if you're buying something like that there's no point trying to be clever about the springs because it's going to be mediocre no matter what you do. But with decent dampers, start at about 20% stiffer than standard to account for the fact you're using single rate springs, and if you decide you want to stiffen it up raise the spring rates by no more than 20% at a time. Springs are cheap in the scheme of things, and there's no reason to spend any significant money on them. It's the dampers that cost the money.
The dampers do make a huge difference to how well a given set of springs work, and so does the geometry. And of course you need to consider what sort of roads you're driving on and how you're driving, and what sort of handling you're looking for, and how comfortable you want it to be.
Unless you know what you want, I'd suggest get the best dampers you can afford and make sure they have enough adjustment range to cover the whole set of spring rates that you'd consider. Some cheap (sorry, I think they prefer to be called 'budget' or 'inexpensive') dampers aren't valved for the springs and just have a huge adjustment range. And if you're buying something like that there's no point trying to be clever about the springs because it's going to be mediocre no matter what you do. But with decent dampers, start at about 20% stiffer than standard to account for the fact you're using single rate springs, and if you decide you want to stiffen it up raise the spring rates by no more than 20% at a time. Springs are cheap in the scheme of things, and there's no reason to spend any significant money on them. It's the dampers that cost the money.
Alan Whitaker said:
Hi All.
Got a set of Penske 7300 shocks, Just need to get some springs, I was told on these to get 200 lbs on the back and 250 / 75 on the fronts, as these are 8" springs it could get expensive trying different springs.
Alan
Those springs are really really soft. If handling/performance/comfort is important enough to justify buying decent Penske dampers, I suspect you will want something quite a lot firmer. Otherwise you may end up compensating with the dampers and get the dampers too hard to try to mask the fact that the springs are too soft. You can get a firm ride like that, but the handling won't be right. But only you can say what you want at the end of the day. I'd advise you to check what range of spring rates those dampers are valved for though to make sure you have scope to stiffen then up if those springs turn out to be too soggy. Got a set of Penske 7300 shocks, Just need to get some springs, I was told on these to get 200 lbs on the back and 250 / 75 on the fronts, as these are 8" springs it could get expensive trying different springs.
Alan
Most common sizes/rates are available for ten quid or so, even if you end up paying twice that it's hardly going to be significant compared to what you're paying for dampers and bushes and so on. Even if you don't get the right rate at the first attempt it's not as if you'll be changing them every week.
Eibach do some nice springs but aren't the cheapest. "Teng" rings a bell. Anyway, if you try the usual suspects such as Rally/Marine, Merlin, even Demon Tweaks, I think you will find there are plenty of suppliers. You could even try contacting places like Nitron, Gaz, Avo, Leda. There will be a markup for buying 'branded' springs but they probably still won't be very expensive. I wouldn't want to pay more than £25 per corner for single rate springs and the common sizes should be half that.
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