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    Spring Rates

    So its time again to redo the suspension on the 4wd, and the stock springs are sacked out.. I have a clever idea of going coil overs with either 2" or 2.5" springs. So what is the magic number of the spring rates for front and rear? I have not yet purchased the struts, so I am not stuck with stock protege stuff either. I am also looking into moving the rear sway bar links to the strut tube as well so I can make some cromoly control arms for the rear.. So let me know your idea's, and I DO NOT want to lower it since I will be doing the 5 bolt conversion so I can run some speedlines from the Evo...:D I want my 4wd to look like one.. So I would like some input from Jay and Sarge too since you guys flog your cars on a regular basis.. Thanks for the input in advance..

    #2
    Depends. What manner of swaybars, if any? Wht are you doing with the car? rallyx or autox? Or what?
    '90 AWD Protege, full GTR drivetrain swap, ~320 whp daily driver, RIP, and
    '90 AWD Protege, yet another GTR swap, Open class rallycar with a Toyota GT4 gearbox swap, thus crossing the line between hobby and mental illness. And a Brabus E55 K8, removing all doubt.
    http://www.wihandyman.com/forum/vbpi...?do=view&g=110
    http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2599486

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      #3
      sorry I should have mentioned that.. Stock sway bars for now, daily driver street terrorizer. Maybe once in a while rally cross.. Thanks..

      Comment


        #4
        I wouldn't go too much more than 220-250 in front and around 180 in back if you have plans for any rallyx. Autox, yah sure go for 400/300, but at stock ride height that might be a touch silly. I don't have much spring rate on the street car and it seems to do pretty well on an autox lot, it'll never pass muster doing rallyx cuz it's too low o'course..
        '90 AWD Protege, full GTR drivetrain swap, ~320 whp daily driver, RIP, and
        '90 AWD Protege, yet another GTR swap, Open class rallycar with a Toyota GT4 gearbox swap, thus crossing the line between hobby and mental illness. And a Brabus E55 K8, removing all doubt.
        http://www.wihandyman.com/forum/vbpi...?do=view&g=110
        http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2599486

        Comment


          #5
          yep just like jay said!

          i'm building a street car with a sleeve kit, and i'll be running 250f and 200r for spring rates, hopefully on 8" springs.

          If you don't want the veh to lower much if anything...then i'd recommend going with a taller spring, max would be 10" imo...

          i'm also buying used sprint car coil over springs from ebay, they usually go for about $30-40 for a pair...not $65ea like new...lol

          edit: i'd love to be able to run a 175-180 rear spring, but they're not as common (thats the only reason im going with 200lbs)

          and for knowledge sakes, Ground Controls come with 300lbs 6" front springs, and 200 7" rear springs. tiny springs.
          Last edited by Mazda_Powered; 05-23-2010, 05:15 PM.
          -Jack

          ONTARIO MAZDA CLUB! Join! https://www.facebook.com/groups/500055016671733/

          91 626 LX - basically stock and pretty slow still
          http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/sho...my-GD-626-LX-)

          01 E53 3.0i - FOR SALE! pm if interested

          91 USDM Protege LX - SOLD! turbo/manifold up for sale!
          http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46606

          Comment


            #6
            I hear 300F/200R is a good competition rate, but I think too stiff for DD operation, especially when using swaybars.

            I'm still running the bone stock suspension on my blue 4WD (struts are knackered), and with both swaybars disconnected it was just fine on the ice this winter.

            However, driving on the street, just the other day, with some 205/50-15's, they definitely allow too much lean, as the rear wheel well was rubbing under some steady-state cornering (off-ramp/on-ramp, @ ~55mph), and at much slower speeds (25mph) for sharper inputs.

            I think the rates Jay mentioned would be just right for 'spirited' street driving with swaybars connected, and good for rallyX with them disconnected.

            Are those EVO speedlines 17" wheels? If you're going custom, and with custom control arms/TTL's, why not make sure your dampers have longer travel, and get longer springs (10-12, maybe even 14) to match the longer travel?

            --sarge

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by SgtRauksauff View Post

              Are those EVO speedlines 17" wheels? If you're going custom, and with custom control arms/TTL's, why not make sure your dampers have longer travel, and get longer springs (10-12, maybe even 14) to match the longer travel?

              --sarge
              The Speedlines are the Corse model in a 15" wheel. I plan to keep my 195/60-15's for the street and throw a set of Pirelli KM6's on for rally x. I had planned on a 12 or 14" spring for the rear, and 10~12" for the front. I am going to grab a rear strut off a GD chassis 626 at the junk yard next time.. unless some one has the compressed and extended measurements from one.. Thanks for the input guys, I really appreciate it..

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                #8
                i can measure some 1990 ford probe rear struts for you, they're at a friends tho
                -Jack

                ONTARIO MAZDA CLUB! Join! https://www.facebook.com/groups/500055016671733/

                91 626 LX - basically stock and pretty slow still
                http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/sho...my-GD-626-LX-)

                01 E53 3.0i - FOR SALE! pm if interested

                91 USDM Protege LX - SOLD! turbo/manifold up for sale!
                http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46606

                Comment


                  #9
                  Those rates seam right. 250-275 front 150-175 rears are stiffer than stock, but I don't think they are a bad ride on the street at all. My rally car uses 285 front and 187 rears for rally (metric springs), I drive on the street all the time with 50 series tires, doesn't bother me at all. For track use I leave the front rate the same (but lowering springs) and the rears are something like 400, with stock sway-bars. This is a bit harsh on the street, but very nuetral handling on the track.

                  -Jon R.

                  (You going up to Idaho with Wolfie/Piers?)
                  Last edited by jrally; 06-10-2010, 11:31 AM.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    where did you get your coil over springs from jon? sounds like a decent spring rate.
                    -Jack

                    ONTARIO MAZDA CLUB! Join! https://www.facebook.com/groups/500055016671733/

                    91 626 LX - basically stock and pretty slow still
                    http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/sho...my-GD-626-LX-)

                    01 E53 3.0i - FOR SALE! pm if interested

                    91 USDM Protege LX - SOLD! turbo/manifold up for sale!
                    http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46606

                    Comment


                      #11
                      The coilover struts are from HotBits, but I've bought all new springs from H&R, but they are 60mm ID, rather than 2-1/2". I mix and match them with the HotBits supplied springs, to get the set-up I want for the two kinds of racing I do.

                      -Jon R.

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