Spring rate comparision

[Ponyboy]

Hiya all,

I was researching spring rates the other day in more detail and noticed again that the spring rates seem to really vary between the available suspension mods. For example:

Comptech: front 1000lbs and rear 600lbs
NSX-R '93: front 447lbs and rear 336lbs
NSX-R '02: front 582lbs and rear 465lbs

while the following seem to suggest different handling characteristics (leaning towards oversteer?)

Eibach: front 228lbs and rear 280lbs
Tein RA: front 559.97lbs and rear 671.97lbs

Although I've heard nothing but good things about the Tein suspension, I'm wondering why they went with a higher rear rate than what would seem to be ideal. I'm running the Eibach/Koni setup currently and the car handles neutral - with the Koni's dialed to 5/8 hard.

So why the difference in spring rates for the available track suspensions? Are the shocks just tuned differently, i.e. the Tein rears "lower" than the Comptechs? Hopefully that makes sense.

 

[j14nsx]

I went through the same checks before I got my TEIN system. It did tend to oversteer until I have set the rear dampers to very soft. There is oversteer but it is controllable. A big ass wing could solve it!

One vendor says it's fine and changing the springs for softer ones needs a damper revalve, another recommends the softer springs.

Who knows what to do?

 

[2slow2speed]

For what is worth, I had the TEIN RA's with the standard spring rates 10kg/12kg on my 97-T, the car tended to oversteer and it was a real pain for the track.

Ended up going with softer spring rates on the rears per Andrie and Chris recommendations, 10kg that seemed to do the trick the car is about as close to neutral now.

Ken

 

[maomaonsx]

Ended up going with softer spring rates on the rears per Andrie and Chris recommendations, 10kg that seemed to do the trick the car is about as close to neutral now.

Ken

Dammnit, it was I who installed the rear 10kg/mm springs first, they all drove my car and then spread the words. The credit should be all mine!!!

Just kidding, hehe

Glad it's working out for people. One thing I noticed is that the complaint of oversteer from TEINs come mostly from 3.2L guys, perhaps the TEIN--designed for 3.0L coupes, is not optimized for the weight distribution of the 3.2L targas?

 

[Ponyboy]

So 10/10kg springs are the ticket, eh? Maybe Tein got caught up in the whole "drifting" thing...

 

[cojones]

Comptech: front 1000lbs and rear 600lbs
NSX-R '93: front 447lbs and rear 336lbs
NSX-R '02: front 582lbs and rear 465lbs

while the following seem to suggest different handling characteristics (leaning towards oversteer?)

Eibach: front 228lbs and rear 280lbs
Tein RA: front 559.97lbs and rear 671.97lbs

Are spring rates for OE NSX and NSX-T available, as well as other popular aftermarket springs (H&R, etc) ??

Part of "getting it right" includes selecting a spring rate that works well relative to your dampers' characteristics, as well as overall preferences and driving style. To some extent, does the swaybar stiffness also need to me "matched" ??

 

[Larry Bastanza]

cj,

You WILL get the Forums Nazi out again!!

http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Performance/suspension.htm

HTH,
LarryB

 

[1BADNSX]

A big ass wing could solve it!

A big wing may solve the over-steer at high speeds, but not at lower speeds.

It is tough to just compare spring rates, but it can give you a rough idea. You really need to compare wheel rates (spring rate adjusted for suspension geometry) along with anti-sway bar stiffness and damping values.

One crude way to compare wheel rates including the sway bar component is to carefully sit on the corner of the car and measure the chassis displacement. Divide inches into pounds and you have a rough measure. I have compared three different setups below:

Front Rear (lb/inch)
Stock 91 225 271
Stock+Dali 22mm bars 311 340
HKS+Dali 22mm bars 450 608

If anybody could add to this data set, it would be interesting.

Bob

 

[cojones]

wrong Nazi reference

cj,

You WILL get the Forums Nazi out again!!

http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Performance/suspension.htm

Thanks Larry -- I think you are referring to the "FAQ Nazi", who was related to the Forums Nazi

Interesting article in FAQ, but needs some updating to cover some of the more recent coil-over setups. Also, as Major Bob points out above, you've gotta consider the "overall effect" of the suspension (springs / shocks / swaybars, wheel/tire, including any changes in geometry) to get a better understanding of the probable effects.

 

[Lud]

Re: wrong Nazi reference

but needs some updating to cover some of the more recent coil-over setups.

Maybe if someone will provide that information, it will be updated!