Talk to me about springs

[duracellttu]

For those who are running RE articulating perches or GC weighted jacks, what length rear springs do you have? 5 inch or 6 inch?

[Johnvu]

Sorry to thread jack, but does the Flat ride calculator link still work for you guys? I keep getting errors.

[Obioban]

Sorry to thread jack, but does the Flat ride calculator link still work for you guys? I keep getting errors.

It’ll be back up shortly— he emailed me to say he’s reworking it.

[Obioban]

I’ve been using vogtland springs up front— they’re German made, reasonably priced, light, good travel/length, can be purchased individually, available in 25 lb/in increments, and their unusual lengths seem to work well for me.

Vogtland spring options:
https://www.vogtland-na.com/media/up...t31lgtf8d4.pdf

In the rear, I have one tck spring and one Ohlins spring. Skipped the articulating perch as it just seems like another thing to go wrong, it eliminates the ability to run barrel springs (beneficial on the rear), and the only real benefit is easier corner balancing. Worth the extra effort to me to avoid them.

[duracellttu]

I’ve been using vogtland springs up front— they’re German made, reasonably priced, light, good travel/length, can be purchased individually, available in 25 lb/in increments, and their unusual lengths seem to work well for me.
In the rear, I have one tck spring and one Ohlins spring. Skipped the articulating perch as it just seems like another thing to go wrong, it eliminates the ability to run barrel springs (beneficial on the rear), and the only real benefit is easier corner balancing. Worth the extra effort to me to avoid them.

What are the pros/cons of running barrel springs versus cylindrical springs in the rear?

Also, I'm in the process of getting new springs for targeting flat ride. Is there any benefit of getting my corner weights measured with my current setup, prior to updating spring rates?

[Tbonem3]

Barrel springs or springs with thinner, but further spaced coils, give greater travel before "blocking"

[Tbonem3]

Ian are you putting the rear springs down onto stock hats or soenthing else? Top is some sort of locating, 60mm cone, I assume, or stock too?

[Obioban]

What are the pros/cons of running barrel springs versus cylindrical springs in the rear?

Also, I'm in the process of getting new springs for targeting flat ride. Is there any benefit of getting my corner weights measured with my current setup, prior to updating spring rates?

Barrel springs have more travel for a given length of spring, which is useful for not super stiff (non aero car) spring rates in the rear, where there's not a tone of space for a spring.

I would absolutely get the corner weights measured before choosing spring rates, if you're targeting flat ride. Unless you're very much stock, unlikely you can target flat ride without doing so. There's no reason to get the car corner balanced, just measured-- from the weights, you can use the spread sheets to calculate what your corner weights will be once you corner balance.

Barrel springs or springs with thinner, but further spaced coils, give greater travel before "blocking"

The narrow coils also compress inside the wider coils, giving more travel.

Ian are you putting the rear springs down onto stock hats or soenthing else? Top is some sort of locating, 60mm cone, I assume, or stock too?

My rear stack, from top to bottom is...
Stock upper spring pad
spring
ride height adjuster
rear control arm reinforcement plate (because the ride height adjusters don't spread the load over the arm well, which can result in the arm cracking)

No need for any sort of locating cone, because in full droop the spring is still being compressed (never comes unseated).

[duracellttu]

I have TCK rear barrel springs now, and they are sized for a stock pad up top The bottom is sized for a 2.25"/60mm alignment cone, height adjuster, or articulating perch.

[duracellttu]

Does anybody know the exact spring length of a stock rear spring (on the e46 M3)?

[duracellttu]

Any body know where I can buy Swift springs individually?

[Johnvu]

Any body know where I can buy Swift springs individually?

I think you could probably call BC or Fortune Auto directly to get them. I bought Hyperco springs from a seller on eBay for a good deal as well!

[r4dr]

Any body know where I can buy Swift springs individually?

HP Autosport is down by you in Socal and they sell Swifts. Email Harold.

https://hpashop.com/