Topic: Q: Anyone have a spring/shock dyno in the Bay Area + cutting springs
Q: Does anyone have access to a spring/shock dyno in the Bay Area that I might be able to test some springs and/or struts on sometime in the next few months?
After 5 races, I'm revisiting my 95 tbird's suspension to see what's been beat to hell. Before our last race, I replaced one of my Monroe Sensatrac front struts after an offroad excursion on a track day as I knew it was blown (hydraulic juice leaking out). I did NOT however replace the front left strut which has been on my car for 5 Lemons races and 3 or 4 track days -- likely because i'm cheap. Handling was better than when the front right was blown but it didn't seem as good as it has been in the past. Hence, my desire to investigate things further. Also, the 150LB more engine up front doesn't help either.
One thing that I suspect would be useful would be to see which of my motley assortment of used struts may be matched together.
I can tell what's completely blown but I'm curious if some of my used struts may be better.
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In a related note, I've also received conflicting feedback on what happens if you cut springs (which we did years ago to lower the ride height since our tires were going to be 3" smaller than stock -- making sure not to heat up the springs by wrapping a wet towel just after the cutting point).
One camp of people have told me that if a spring has 10 coils and is rated for say 500lb/in, for example, cutting 1 coil will result in a cut spring that is 10% higher in lb/in (550lb/in in this example). The math gets more complicated with progressive springs but the idea is the same.
Another "internet" camp has told me that cutting springs (esp in the progressive type) just narrows the range of the spring resistence.
Example: if you had a 400lb/in - 600lb/in spring and cut a coil, you end up with a spring that is something like 450lb/in-600lb/in.
Both camps seem logical enough but if someone would let me buy them a sixpack of beer (or some wine) or just give some cash to test some springs/shocks, I'd love to just test my springs to know definitively which ones I have will be most appropriate for my needs.
Regards,
-g
2017 Sears Pointless Organizer’s Choice
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