Searching for front springs (rally)

[filh]

My front springs are dead . I used them in rallye and they need to be changed .Mine were machined , but I can't get the all characteristics back (for ex the free height ).
So I'm looking for front springs to fit in stock strut , of course shorter than stock. Shocks are TRD/Tokico (48511-ae891).

I need them very stiff, but I don't know how to express it .

Is 10kg very stiff? I don't want them progressive.

Any advices ,and links welcomed .I prefer to buy in Europe , to avoid the
belgian custom (taxes) holdup on usa items

[Mux213]

Hi Filh,

Wouldn't it make sence for you to put an adjustable coilover set on and start using standard sized coilover springs? The good thing is that you can adjust the height depending on the conditions for the rally and more importantly, you have a much wider choice in springs.

10kg/mm is very stiff, I would not want that on a rally car, that is tarmac only territory, on dirt roads you'd wreck your car in minutes. It's very hard to say what you do need though...

[SekiguchiUeno]

i am not an expert in that but maybe he runs in class where its forbiden to heavy modify suspension,
but it is possible to make alluminium sleeve that fits the 2,5inch spring, you slide it over you strut and stop on top of the original spring-support, then make an alluminium hat for the spring,

i would say you are fine with 3,5-4kg/mm
my friend from germany runs this sleeve on standard strut,
he has longstroke bilsteins and race springs 6kg/mm long and 4kg/mm and 2kg helper springs combined. but for gravel action its not very comfy, but its ok on tarmac also on bad roads, i was suprised

Stan

[Jan Pedersen]

We have a nice guy here in Denmark who sells TRD... I bought my setup from him - which is the same as most danish rally drivers use. 6kg/mm front and 5,1 kg/mm rear. Note that DK rallies are about 90% tarmack :!: But as Stan says its rather comfy with the right (adjustable) dampers!

And yes 10 kg/mm is very stiff! Would be good on a smooth racetrack though

[Mux213]

Jan,

I run with 6.5kg front and 4.5kg rear and all though I think its a great setup for tarmac, track and if you don't mind sacrificing a bit of comfort even as a dialy driver.

But I wouldn't take my car on a back road...

I must add that all though I have full adjustable shocks round, I do have them set rather stiff. But I think if you lower the stiffness to get more comfort they do not do a proper job and if you're trying to win a rally you'll only loose time.
Better to get a lower spring rate and match your damper settings to your spring rate then purely set them overly soft to compensate your ride quality because your spring rate is to high for your job.

[filh]

When I bought the car , it was fitted with selfmade coilover welded on stock strut . Easy to lift or lower the front , but pretty hard to keep the car on the road . My ae86 was acting like an fwd , despite all my settings .
When I fitted the stock strut , i use the same blue Tokico , with genuine springs , broken after two rallies . I had springs machined with a wire dia of 13mm( I think stock is 11,5mm or 12mm ).
On my last rally , I've been a bit optimist on gravels road and what happend?
strut , shock and spring were bent.
THat's why I want stiff springs .
See the pics :
first the optimist ride
second : look at the front right wheel

[NoHachi]

Hiya Phil,

Could you post a pic of the bent strut? Just to see where it is bent?
Springs should never carry any lateral load..If they do, then most of the times its because everything beneath it (strut) is already bent.

[SekiguchiUeno]

i am interested too,

but if its stock strut then the springs are not in the centre and the outside side of the spring support can be bent more as its farther from centre, load is higher.

[Jan Pedersen]

Stiff springs on gravel will cause a lot less grip. And I think they will break too when the entire strut does.

[david]

I would buy better shocks if I where you..

tokico, koni, etc isn't made for rally
they will break very fast when abused

try bilstein shocks, they are the best for a reasonable amount of money
you can use stock spring or buy trd springs for rally using the stock spring seat if you want
I think 4-5kg front and 3-4kg rear is a good starting point for gravel
but it really depends on how much the car weight