Spring rate refers to the amount of weight that is needed to compress a spring one inch . If the rate of the spring is linear, its rate is not affected by the load that is put on the spring. For example, say you have a 200 lb. per inch spring – it will compress 1” when a 200 lb. load is placed onto the spring.
Is higher spring rate better?
Spring Rate refers to the amount of weight it takes to compress a spring a certain distance. The higher the spring rate, the stiffer the spring . ... Some springs are non-linear, which typically means the spring gets stiffer the more you compress it.
What does 8K spring rate mean?
When someone says “8K” they are shortening the metric measurement of the spring rate; in this case 8 kg/mm . What this means is that if you apply 8 kilograms of weight to the top of the spring it will compress 1mm. ... If you apply 500 lbs of weight to the top of the spring it will compress 1 inch.
What is mean spring rate?
The spring rate is a measurement of the amount of force needed to compress a spring a particular distance . The spring rate was measured by loading the tractor with a certain sprung mass. ... Coil spring rate is measured in pounds of resistance per inches of compression.
How do you calculate spring rate?
To calculate the amount of spring rate you will need on order to meet your working loads, simply divide the load you will be applying on your spring by the distance you expect your spring to travel or compress under that load .
Does spring rate affect ride quality?
The advantage of a progressive spring is that it can provide a variable ride quality -softer when the suspension is at a normal ride height, and stiffer as the spring is compressed, such as when the suspension is being pushed hard through a corner. ... While stiffer springs promote better handling, there is a limit.
How important is spring rate?
While the rate of the spring is a measure of spring performance , it is not the only influence of vehicle performance and handling, especially when the chassis is lowered. There are many factors that come into play when it comes to suspension tuning. ... Also, the amount of ride height lowering also affects suspension rate.
Do coilovers ride better than springs?
Unlike lowering springs, coilovers offer a much greater range of adjustability including ride height, spring pre-load, shock damping, and rebound. ... Typically, coilover sets feature even stiffer spring rates than a set of lowering springs alone, again sacrificing ride quality for cornering performance.
How do I check my coil spring rate?
To test the spring rate, the spring is placed into a spring rate tester , like shown above, and is pre-compressed one inch (or millimeters if you're using that measurement) and then compressed further to get the measurement for the next inch of compression.
How do I know what size coil spring I need?
- Measure the spring wire diameter, preferably to 3 decimal places for accuracy using calipers.
- Measure the outside diameter of the coils. ...
- Measure the length in its free condition (uncompressed).
- Count the number of coils. ...
- Note the winding direction of the coils.
What is spring index and spring rate?
Spring index is the correlation between the mean diameter of a spring and the wire diameter of a spring . This proportion will determine the strength of the spring, the stress induced on the spring, and the manufacturability of the spring.
What is spring load?
The spring load describes a certain amount of force or pressure at the desired loaded height . ... If a spring has a 5-inch free length, a spring rate of 7.5 pounds of force per inch (lbf/in) and will travel 2 inches.
What units are spring constant?
The rate or spring constant, k, relates the force to the extension in SI units: N/m or kg/s2 .
How do you choose a spring?
When designing and manufacturing a spring, it's important to consider both the inner and the outer diameter of the spring , its free length and its solid height. You also want to consider the spring materials, as that will influence the size of your spring as well.
What makes a spring stiffer?
The amount of coils on a spring also determines the stiffness of a spring. The less coils you have, the stiffer your spring will be . In the case of a torsion spring, less coils give you more torque but less travel. ... In the case of a compression spring, it is based on the pitch in between its coils.
How does spring rate affect handling?
You might think the higher spring rate would react faster, but in reality, the lower spring rate will contact the ground first , and thus allows for more grip. ... With a lower spring rate, the force pressing the tire down remains higher longer relative to the amount of travel it has, so it contacts the ground much sooner.
