Coil over spring rates
05-22-2009, 08:54 PM
#1
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Coil over spring rates
Looking at coil overs for a C6 for 70% road course duty. What are you guys recommending for spring rates? I'm concerned the standard manufacturers spring rates may not suffice given the street/track wider range they need to accomodate.
05-23-2009, 11:35 AM
#2
Drifting
I have a set of Penske's for sale, and I have a set on the car. Springs are the same, and the set on the car are perfect. I'll try to find out what the fronts and rear rates are. Jerry
05-23-2009, 12:07 PM
#3
Safety Car
Much like jstout, I have a set of Penskes for sale. They have the HardbarUSA dual-rate springs, and the rates are track-oriented once you pass through the soft initial rate. The soft initial rate helps you immensely with rumble strips and rough track. Don't think for a second dual-rate means street soft.
In any case, you're going to get a wide range of answers from 425#-900# in the front, and from about 525#-800# in the rear. And remember, whichever spring package you pick you'll want your shocks valved appropriately... the nice thing with something like a Penske 8100 double adjustable is that the bandwidth on the adjusters is -plenty- to let you experiment with a number of spring rates without constantly needing to revalve the shocks as you try different spring rates.
In any case, you're going to get a wide range of answers from 425#-900# in the front, and from about 525#-800# in the rear. And remember, whichever spring package you pick you'll want your shocks valved appropriately... the nice thing with something like a Penske 8100 double adjustable is that the bandwidth on the adjusters is -plenty- to let you experiment with a number of spring rates without constantly needing to revalve the shocks as you try different spring rates.
05-23-2009, 02:05 PM
#4
LG coil-overs: 700 lb/in (front), 600 lb/in (rear); +50 lb/in -50 lb/in.
DRM coil-overs: 450 lb/in (front, 600 lb/in (rear); +50 lb/in -50 lb/in.
Hardbar Penske coil-overs: dual-rate (We are waiting for George Koval to reveal the initial stiffness and final stiffness for these springs).
Note that non-adjustable coil-overs (LG and DRM) are valved for a specific spring rate; spring rates can only vary by from that specific spring rate by +-50 lb/in.
DRM coil-overs: 450 lb/in (front, 600 lb/in (rear); +50 lb/in -50 lb/in.
Hardbar Penske coil-overs: dual-rate (We are waiting for George Koval to reveal the initial stiffness and final stiffness for these springs).
Note that non-adjustable coil-overs (LG and DRM) are valved for a specific spring rate; spring rates can only vary by from that specific spring rate by +-50 lb/in.
05-23-2009, 02:41 PM
#5
Le Mans Master
I've got the LGs and think they're pretty close to perfect. Firm, yes but not backbreaking for the street and plenty stiff for the track. Doing it over again, I may have even gone softer to 650/550. I'm running them with T-1 sway bars and poly-bushings.
I'm running the LGM coil-over's with T1 bars and I'm very happy with the setup.
05-29-2009, 06:39 AM
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Is this not a case where you do want variable shock or spring rates depending on the track? bumpy tracks would need a softer spring to keep those tires planted and not bounce over the bumps.
Thought I read some place the the Penske package on the C5r and C6Rs were quite soft at first to keep those tires on the pavement for smaller bumps
Thought I read some place the the Penske package on the C5r and C6Rs were quite soft at first to keep those tires on the pavement for smaller bumps
05-29-2009, 11:21 AM
#10
Safety Car
I also experimented with DRM spec 475#/575# springs. That set up also works very very well. It's both stiffer and softer than the standard HardbarUSA dual rates (that'll mess with your head). :-)
