Confirm 1993-1995 USA spring rates

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Nov 29, 2006 | 06:11 PM

M104-AMG

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From: FL

Confirm 1993-1995 USA spring rates

After checking the archives, the general consensus seems to be that the 1993-1995 USA FD had a spring rate of: 280F/200R

However, while looking at some Racing Beat springs, they list their springs as being 7% GREATER than stock, but with values of: 260F/212R

That would make the stock FD spring rate: 243F/198R per Racing Beat.

Can anyone confirm 1st hand (no hearsay) either through Mazda documentation, or a documented spring test ?

In short, I'm trying to calculate the Front/Rear spring ratio, and based upon these two descrepencies it's either a ratio of 1.40 or 1.23 .

TIA,
:-) neil

Nov 29, 2006 | 06:17 PM

rynberg

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Racing Beat's numbers are wrong. https://www.rx7club.com/suspension-wheels-tires-brakes-20/spring-rates-600982/

Nov 29, 2006 | 07:27 PM

adam c

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I believe that the 93 springs are slightly stiffer, and slightly shorter than the 94/95 springs. The suspension was softened a bit after 93. If you compare the part numbers, you will find that they are different.

Nov 29, 2006 | 07:34 PM

Howard Coleman

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i tested 30 FD springs on my Longacre Digital spring checker. the average was 263 front and 195 rear w very little variation. i believe Mahjik posted shop manual figures of 265 and 195.

howard coleman

Nov 29, 2006 | 07:58 PM

adam c

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From my post in the suspension section:

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam c

After seeing Damon's post, I decided to look at my 94 FSM. I don't know where Damon found the spring rates. I looked at the suspension specs, and didn't see anything. Perhaps it isn't listed in the 94 FSM.

I did find something very surprising!!! On page R4 (suspension specs), it lists 2 different front coil springs. One has a wire diameter of 12.3mm . The other has a wire diameter of 12.5mm. Free lengths of the coils are also different. 270.0mm & 276.3mm. The rear springs seem to be the same for all cars. It appears that the R2 got the longer springs with thicker wire. This would account for a variation in spring rates on different cars. It looks like the 94 R2's didn't just get stiffer shocks.

If anyone doubts this, there is a 94 FSM that has been downloaded in the 3rd gen section.

Nov 30, 2006 | 12:26 PM

adam c

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Since I was curious about this, I called Ray Crowe (Malloy Mazda) to check.

He said that there are 2 different part numbers for front 94 springs:

#FD 01 34011 for the R2 $86.38 each
#FD 17 34011 for the other models $103.13 each

He didn't have spring the rates for either spring. Who says all springs are created equal?