Which Spring Company is Best?

[Cronenberged]

BLUF: I'm in need of some 850lb/in 2.5" ID 6" springs and have a few questions.

1. Can anyone recommend a specific company or spring type? I'm seeking the best combination of quality and performance.
2. Is there a company among the options that manufactures their springs in-house? I'd like to know if this contributes to better quality control.
3. Has anyone had experiences with these companies' customer service when purchasing springs?
4. If anyone has prior experiences, please share them; your insights would be greatly appreciated.

[Obioban]

Springs are pretty generic. So long as you get something from a name brand, you'll be fine.

Generally I check Swift, Vogtland, and Eibach when trying to find a spring to my specific spec.

[9kracing]

Swift > Eibach > Hyperco

This is just one silly man's opinion

[simon_c]

Where does H&R sit?

[9kracing]

H&R is good, about on par with Hyperco

There's a reason most coilovers use Swift as their "upgrade"

https://www.swiftsprings.com/advantage/

[cobra]

You can't really go wrong with Eibach.

All else being equal, the greater stroke, lighter weight springs will probably be sacrificing fatigue life. Does it matter for our cars realistically? Probably not.

I'm not sure I buy Swift's claims of 'feeling' any different. The spring has a particular rate that can be measured. Where is the different feel coming from?

[elbert]

I'm not sure I buy Swift's claims of 'feeling' any different. The spring has a particular rate that can be measured. Where is the different feel coming from?

There is more to spring behavior than just F=kx
Supposedly their metallurgy is different, which can allow for different geometry, wire thickness, blah blah blah
Whether or not that would make a difference, who knows? 🤷♂️
In our cars, there's probably too much compliance in the rubber bushings alone for any differences in springs to be noticeable.

[cobra]

There is more to spring behavior than just F=kx
Supposedly their metallurgy is different, which can allow for different geometry, wire thickness, blah blah blah
Whether or not that would make a difference, who knows? 🤷♂️
In our cars, there's probably too much compliance in the rubber bushings alone for any differences in springs to be noticeable.

I could see if you're comparing different valve springs, for example, where the inertia, resonance, and fatigue are absolutely critical. But a shock spring?

The main benefit of Swift is they usually have a little more travel and that's often a pretty limiting factor. I am sure there is some tradeoff to using a higher pitch spring to get that extra travel, or everyone would be doing it.

[IamFODI]

The main benefit of Swift is they usually have a little more travel and that's often a pretty limiting factor. I am sure there is some tradeoff to using a higher pitch spring to get that extra travel, or everyone would be doing it.

I get the impression that, compared to other high quality springs, Swift springs don't take as kindly to being run near max compression. They're the only brand that publishes separate specs for "usable" and "max" stroke, which sometimes differ considerably. "Max stroke" is the mechanical limit, but "usable stroke" is the limit they really want you to adhere to, because going past it too much risks permanent deformation.

I started with Swift springs on my Öhlins kit and and realized I needed much more spring stroke up front than the 7" springs I had (foolishly in retrospect) selected. Swift had an 8" spring that might have worked; it had a half-inch margin between "usable" and "max" stroke specs. Hyperco's equivalent actually had a hair more max stroke, and their guidance about usable stroke travel was basically "eh, try to keep it under 80% of max, but... really just don't coil bind a lot and it'll be fine." Eibach had nothing. So, Hyperco it was.

If it weren't for that, 100% chance I'd still be on Swift springs.

[enjoy_m3]

https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/suspension/157535-swift-springs-dynoed.html

[zzyzx85]

iirc, Hyperco only sells them in pairs because they're tested and matched in sets.

[9kracing]

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...gs-dynoed.html

I hope people click this link.

I couldn't find one single company that has outperformed Swift springs in any categories that I have stated
-weight
-stroke
-spring rate accuracy

This is why I use Swift spring in every single coilover in every single car I own.

There's not that many companies that actually wind springs. If I'm not mistaken Eibach makes the springs for Ohlins.

Honestly, it's unlikely that many of us are pushing our cars to the point where you are going to notice the difference in your coilover spring quality... but I'm sure you crazy dudes are out there somewhere.

[bigjae46]

I thought Swift was the industry standard.

but these would be 🔥

https://www.mwcomponents.com/carbon-composite-disc-springs

[eacmen]

Does swift make springs that will fit 2.25” perch?

[IamFODI]

Does swift make springs that will fit 2.25” perch?

60mm ID springs maybe?