Hello sorry to bother all you guys, but I have a question about the springs on a 1985 GSL. I have a 2 part question, part one: what are the spring rates on teh stock units? Part 2: what is the stock Diameter, and length for the springs?

I treied to search but I could not find quite what I was searching for.

Thanks Ted.

 

IIRC they are 100ish pounders all around.


Rear springs are 14" long. You can go up to IIRC a 5" outside diameter before the spring rubs on the upper control arm. For reference, I tried using springs from the rear of a '91-96 Escort, they are slightly stiffer (maybe 10-20lb-in more) and the same ride height as *good* (not sagged) springs, but they rub a little. Very annoying. I have cut down springs from the rear of a Pathfinder ('88-91) in there now, they didn't rub the upper control arms back when I had upper control arms.

Front springs are conical, 2.5" at the bottom and something like 5" or so at the top. I dunno what the stock uncompressed height is, since every set I've ever had out was sagged. I have 2.5" in mine right now, with upper hats from the application I got the springs from. They cannot be any larger in diameter because the spring is less than a finger's width from the tire, especially if you're using 205/60's on the stock rims. In fact when cornering hard you can get light tire to spring contact...

 

hmmm... intresting. I plan to use teh car for rally raceing, so I was wonderin what size springs I should use lol. I figure that the fronts, are roughly the same length as teh rears no? I need an aproximate length for the front if you know.

Thanks Ted.

 

Hoo boy.

I'm still working on spring rates. People are telling me to use 250-275 in the front, nobody tells me anything about the rear. I'm using 200lb in the front and it seems "just right" (but i rallycross, not rally).

In the rear, the 100lb stockers weren't quite doing it, the 200lb are a bit too stiff, I'm scrounging the TRW books to find an application that will get me 140-150lb-in.

You could do a search on Specialstage and learn lots. RX-7s are not unpopular for rallying. Most everything has been done before, and the weak points are known.

More important than spring rates is the strut/shock valving. Good rally grade dampers are NOT cheap. I wouldn't use the stock strut housings for rallying, I've bent them rallycrossing.

 

I can check tomorrow. I just finished changing my front suspension to Tokico blues/tokico coils, from tokico luminas/gc adjustable, due to uncomfortable ride. I have my old set but my garage is now closed. Besides, its freaking 63 degrees outside. brrrrrrrrrrrr....too cold for me.

 

Check the race car tech section. You will find a lot more info there. There is a recent post that lists the spring rates for stock and different aftermarket springs. It may have been here, if not it is in the race car tech section.

 

Ted,
Stock fronts are 100, rear 85.

peejay, you can buy 150lb rear springs and threaded height adjusters from here:
http://iscracing.net/suspension_2.htm of course he's out of stock on the adjusters

The springs used are here:
http://www.bluecoilspring.com/

And if you don't want to wait for the threaded adjusters, SSS may sell a taller spring with the same specs.

Eibach also sells 155lb rear springs that are dead wound on the bottom so they can be cut to change ride height w/o affecting rate. They may have softer rates too.

Good hunting,
Brad

 

Intresting. I belive you are right. 275-300lb rate springs are best for front, and 200-250lb would be good for the back. I am not going all hardcore in to rally raceing. Just the light stuff, which basicly uses a stock car with upgraded suspention, and a roll cage. The suspention is unlimited, except that I must use the same type of shocks/springs, and the stock mounts, they may be reinfoced but must remain stock.

Thanks, Ted.

 

200lb-in are WAY TOO STIFF for the rear, unless you like going slow because you have no grip coming out of corners.

I slowed down a whole bunch after I put them in. The car was easier to drive into corners, because it would actually STEER a little bit instead of just plooowing, but you couldn't get on the gas even going straight without just losing grip and doing nothing.

Also note that this was for rallycross which with the inherent slower speeds means you aren't going as fast most of the time, so you can't GET a nice braking zone before a corner to drive the front tires down and get some bite, and you can't get a nice pendulum action to compensate for lack of turn-in. If the 200lb are too much for slow speeds then they would be nightmarishly loose at higher speeds.

Which is probably why everyone recommends 250-275lb in the front...

 

Ic so maybe 175lbs in rear and 300lbs in front?

What is the specific you are using, and if you have part number I would owe you one

 

bump

 

Front Spring Rate:

Stock 100

Racing Beat 145 (Lowers approx. 3/8")
Suspension Techniques 85/120 (Lowers Car approx. 1")
Eibach 171 (Lowers Car approx. 3/4")
Tokico 194 (Lowers Car approx. 1")


Rear Spring Rate:

Stock 85

Racing Beat 110 (Lowers approx. 3/4")
Suspension Techniques 80 (Lowers Car approx. 1")
Eibach 100 (Lowers Car approx. 3/4")
Tokico 111 (Lowers Car approx. 1")

 

Front
Manufacturer Rate
Stock 100
Racing Beat 145
Suspension Techniques 85/120
Eibach 171
Rear
Manufacturer Rate
Stock 85
Racing Beat 110
Suspension Techniques 80
Eibach 100




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http://www.mazdatrix.com/h4579-85.htm

lol, i suppose i should read all th post so i dont mimic the person before me. lol

 

intresting. thanks gents