Mudge Posted December 22, 2002 Share Posted December 22, 2002 Well, besides figuring the struts are not up to the task of the springs, I also find out that the springs themselves are bottoming out on their own coils, take a look: http://docmudge.tripod.com/Z_struts/struts.html Any suggestions as to how to fix this? Should I cut a couple coils? Even with good strut inserts the spring is going to be bottoming out on itself from time to time, and this is not a good thing at high speeds... Since the springs are blue I'm guessing they are Suspension Techniques or maybe Tokico, anyone know? STs I have on the other car are blue... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted December 22, 2002 Share Posted December 22, 2002 Looks like the "spring" got up and walked on those coils.I doubt if cutting coils would help on that much compressed sag. Looks like they were heated to bring the coils together for a lowering job. The only suggestion that I doubt would work is to heat and re-stretch. Change them to anything would be an improvement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted December 22, 2002 Author Share Posted December 22, 2002 Crap, I will try to find out what springs they were, I would be really supprised if they heated the springs though, that is a bonehead thing to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted December 22, 2002 Share Posted December 22, 2002 Mudge, the pictures on my end of cyber space show at least 4 coils touching at the bottom which means there "are no a bounce in the re-coil in that stack". After reading a lot of posts it apppears that lowering springs generally suffer from low quality and bottom out too early in a short life span. I have never seen lowering spring ad copy that came forward with any definite spring load capacity figures. MSA sells 4 types but dies not pinpoint the weight capacity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted December 22, 2002 Author Share Posted December 22, 2002 Yep, a few are not only already touching, but the others have hardly any space between, and there are so many coils altogether that they just get in each others way very much too early, there is hardly any travel before they will bottom out with each other. Normally aftermarket springs will have a couple fewer coils than stock, so I'm beginning to fear that they really may be torched, but I'd still be a bit supprised, I thought only kids did that nowdays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted December 22, 2002 Share Posted December 22, 2002 You would be better off with even a set of worn out oem springs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted December 22, 2002 Author Share Posted December 22, 2002 Yep, this sucks Hopefully I will find out monday or tuesday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David K Posted December 22, 2002 Share Posted December 22, 2002 Mudge, this guy is selling Ground Control Coilovers http://www.hybridz.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=002645 shoot him an email. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted December 23, 2002 Author Share Posted December 23, 2002 Does anyone know the OD of the stock springs? If not I can pull em, they look about 3.5"-4"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted December 23, 2002 Share Posted December 23, 2002 The stock spring diameter is 4 3/8" Here is some info on stock springs and how I arrived at it. SPRINGS front springs are different in the 71 right spring is longer. Rear springs are the same. FRONT SPRINGS 71-73 24OZ Wire Size-----------.425 Spring Length------15 1/4" Right side, 14 3/4" Left side Spring Rate---------1OOlb REAR SPRINGS 71-73 24OZ Wire Size-----------.452 Spring Length------15" Both sides the same Rate-----------------13Olb FRONT SPRINGS 2+2 75Z wire size----------.458 Spring Length------15 3/8" Both the same Rate----------------145lb To check spring rate use a bathroom scale and a drill press. Put the spring holder on the top of the spring and a couple pieces of wood on the scale and put pressure till you hit 5Olbs on your scale then set the inch dial on the drill press to 1,2,or what ever then from the 5Olbs point apply one dial inch worth of pressure and what your scale reads will be your spring rate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted December 23, 2002 Author Share Posted December 23, 2002 Thanks Dave! Doesn't sound like a very easy to find size, but if I can find some springs in that OD that would rock, so I will try to find some. No springs yet for ID of 3.525"/OD 4.375"... still lookin'. I dont suppose anyone knows offhand if other cars share the same OD/ID? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted December 23, 2002 Author Share Posted December 23, 2002 4.375" OD = 111mm http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/KeithandCharlotte/springr.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted December 23, 2002 Author Share Posted December 23, 2002 Well, the last owner doesn't know what springs they are since they came that way, but with the number of coils, and how squeezed together they are, they do look torched. Thanks all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted December 23, 2002 Author Share Posted December 23, 2002 Thanks Ross, I sent you a PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted December 24, 2002 Author Share Posted December 24, 2002 FWIW, the Haynes says for 240Z: Front Spring Wire Diameter .417" (10.6mm) Coil diameter 3.94" (100.0mm) 10 coils Free length Left side 14.1" (373.5mm) Right side 15.1" (386.0mm) Rear Springs Wire Diameter .449" (11.4mm) Coil Diameter 3.94" (100.0mm) Number of coils 10.65 Free length 15.0" (381.0mm) Although since the Haynes is the English version, not sure it will be the same as US spec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modern Motorsports Ltd Posted December 24, 2002 Share Posted December 24, 2002 Hmm, I do have a full set of 240Z (presumed,came from a 240Z customers car) 'light blue' springs/used. He never ran it with the springs, they're uncut and perhaps Tokico's? I've also got a set of black (MSA?) springs, I have the fronts and customer still has the rears but he can get them to me no worries. The blues are available now to anyone wanting a 'get by' set (they might be fine/I'm just not a fan of them.......their's a reason my customers keep turning them in). Drop me a line if interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted December 25, 2002 Author Share Posted December 25, 2002 http://www.proshocks.com/calcs/coilsprate.html Easier than working formulas all day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted January 23, 2003 Author Share Posted January 23, 2003 Well, pulled the fronts a few days ago (haven't done rear yet), and the springs are 11.5" FULL LENGTH, and still the stock # of coils. So, definite torch job. I have stockers on with 1.5 coils cut right now, definately sits a bit higher, and unloaded length was ALOT more than the ones that came off the car. Mine sit about 13" unloaded (fronts), versus the 11.5" jobbers. Later, coil-overs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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