Spring Rate vs Spring Height

[Tommie38]

Simple question. If two springs have the same advertised spring rate (N/mm) but one is longer than the other, how would you expect them to perform?

Exactly the same or would there be subtle differences?

Aware that the longer spring would have greater travel.

[silentbrown]

Longer spring with same rate means higher ride height/CoG.
I suspect other effects are minor by comparison.

(Less chance of spring becoming coil-bound, if that's been a problem with the shorter ones.)

[GreenV8S]

There would be no difference to the way the vehicle rides because the deflection for a given load will be the same.

The longer spring will probably have more travel before it becomes coil bound.

Depending on the spring seat positions either the shorter or longer one might be suit your desired height better.

If you're getting into very long spring lengths then the longer spring will tend to resonate more and will be more prone to slap a coilover body under side loads.

[Tommie38]

silentbrown said:

Longer spring with same rate means higher ride height/CoG.
I suspect other effects are minor by comparison.

(Less chance of spring becoming coil-bound, if that's been a problem with the shorter ones.)

Oh yes absolutely. Coilover spring so the perch can be moved to compensate.

[silentbrown]

Tommie38 said:

Oh yes absolutely. Coilover spring so the perch can be moved to compensate.

Not variable rate, then?

In which case, very little difference. A longer spring that's been compressed to shorten it will become coil bound sooner than the shorter spring.

And, the longer spring will be heavier

[Tommie38]

No, not variable.

Thanks for the input guys.