I am thinking about putting new springs on my 87 GXL. I want to lower the car (really not sure how much but was thinking about 1 inch). What is meant by the spring rate and the significance of the different numbers?



Which springs do you recommend and in what possible combos if any have ya'll liked?

 

Ok there are linear and Progressive springs. Linear are one spring rate, stock as I recall is around 85, most linear sit around 110 or something like that I don't remember the numbers. Progressive usuall have a number like 85/250 the first number is your normal driving condition spring rate, the car will drive about the same as stock on regular driving conditions, this is done a couple of coils being softer then the remaining wind, once you start cornering, or getting on it, the softer spring rate compresses and effectively gives you the 250 (much stiffer spring rate).



The stiffer the spring, the stiffer the handling, the better the cornering the shittier the ride.



I would recommend the eibach or the intrax springs, they are both progressive, the Racing Beat, besides being a crappy spring from what I have heard... are linear.



Hope that helps.

 

That does help. I was just looking at Mazdatrix which seems to have good prices for these springs. They have a set of front Eibach's which are rated 70/185 and the rears are rated 85/165. Does this seem stiff enough for tight cornering or should it be a higher number? (Do they have a higher number?)



Racing Beat and Suspension Techniques are linear springs.



Where would I find Intrax?

 

There are a bunch of places that sell the eibach, I know sportcarmotion has some great prices on eibachs, i think mazdatrix is a little higher then most.





Give http://www.newlevelmotorsports.com a try for the intrax.

 

Intrax can be bought at www.summitracing.com



Eibach's can be bought from a plethera of vendors, including www.tirerack.com

 

I'd be careful with progressive rate springs. Any time you change weight of the car (ie. passenger, gas fillup, etc) it will change the suspension geometry.

 

The progressive spring rate on the low end of the spring is stiffer then the stock spring. So are you indicating that the stock spring changes even more drastically with environmental variables?

 

70/185,85/165 are STIFF the car will seem like youre riding a buck board.



strut tower bars front/and rear will eliminate some of the chassis flex, as will upgraded sway bars front /rear help to reduce body roll. adjusting camber angles will also improve handeling as well, although camber angles are a delicate adjustment (talk about changing syspension geom/handeling)



Using all of the affore mentioned variables, you may opt to run a little softer spring, as in my case, im running Eibach 37/98 in the front, and 43/98 in the rear. It is a better ride than stock, a little lower, 3/4" in front, 1-1/4" in rear, but used with the other product and adjustments it takes some of the buck board effect away



just my .02

 

the Intrax springs are a nice *** setup for straight pimpin



eibach for handling,intrax for looks



your choice

 

I ride with 390 front, 280 rear. They're a bit stiff, but livable. I guess it's all in the spring/shock matching.