[DeTomaso] Spring rates
JDeRyke at aol.com
JDeRyke at aol.com
Mon Jan 21 16:15:03 EST 2013
A few notes-
A)- 17" wheels are aluminum thus are heavier than stock magnesium, as are
17" tires, so you'll need heavier than stock springs to compensate & give at
least a stock quality ride.
B)- you didn't say what shocks you have. Gas pressurized shocks such as
Konis have the equivalent of 45 lbs of 'spring' from the 300+ lbs of internal
gas pressure, so add that into your figures. There are low-pressure and high
pressure gas shocks too, and I don't know all the pressures.
C)- Old non-gas Konis use 4-1/2" OD springs while most newer shocks use
3-1/2" OD springs. Dirt track shock-springs can be 2-1/2". Lots of
opportunity to get the wrong diameter.
D)- the 'correct' spring for street cars will not quite allow a front air
dam to touch the ground during a panic stop on dry pavement. If no air dam,
the same applies to hitting the front bump-stop rubbers. To check, tighten
a tie-wrap onto the shock rod and either drive rapidly over a bumpy road, or
do a not-quite-locked-up panic stop. Then look to see where the tie-wrap
was pushed up to. If its against the bump-rubber, you need more spring (or a
longer shock). If its an inch or so below, a little less spring. Damping
adjustments don't usually do more than delay the ultimate position of the
tie-wrap. Good luck- JDeryke
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