Question about front end travel

Michael Pliska · 09-19-2009, 10:12 AM

I'm not a stock racer, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express a couple weeks ago...

One thing to remember too is the spring rate. You want as low a spring rate as possible, with the necessary spring length to maintain ride height. By using springs in this manner, you end up with more force from the spring (which is lifting the front end) as it reaches the end of the suspension travel. I know, this isn't all that intuitive. With a higher rate spring, the force-displacement graph is steeper (the force changes more with the same displacement), such that the force has dropped off significantly by the time the travel is used up. The lower rate springs are able to impart more energy into lifting the car during their travel.

Regards,

henrys57wagon · 09-19-2009, 05:35 PM

When I rebuilt the front suspensions on our stockers I ground off all the serrations on the stock control arm bushings inserts so there is no binding, better than leaving the bolts loose, Henry.

Harry 6674 · 09-21-2009, 01:51 PM

Long spring with small wire. Try to get the correct spring rather than cutting coils as that increases your spring rate.

09-19-2009, 10:12 AM	#1
Michael Pliska Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Happy Valley, OR Posts: 260 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Question about front end travel I'm not a stock racer, but I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express a couple weeks ago... One thing to remember too is the spring rate. You want as low a spring rate as possible, with the necessary spring length to maintain ride height. By using springs in this manner, you end up with more force from the spring (which is lifting the front end) as it reaches the end of the suspension travel. I know, this isn't all that intuitive. With a higher rate spring, the force-displacement graph is steeper (the force changes more with the same displacement), such that the force has dropped off significantly by the time the travel is used up. The lower rate springs are able to impart more energy into lifting the car during their travel. Regards, __________________ Michael Pliska 643 S/G

09-19-2009, 05:35 PM	#2
henrys57wagon Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Carleton Place, On. Canada Posts: 107 Likes: 5 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Question about front end travel When I rebuilt the front suspensions on our stockers I ground off all the serrations on the stock control arm bushings inserts so there is no binding, better than leaving the bolts loose, Henry. __________________ old 1608 stock racer

09-21-2009, 01:51 PM	#3
Harry 6674 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 589 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Question about front end travel Long spring with small wire. Try to get the correct spring rather than cutting coils as that increases your spring rate.