Which Rear Spring Do I Have? |
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Which Rear Spring Do I Have? |
Mathman |
Jul 23 2015, 03:53 PM
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#1
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 25 Joined: 10-May 14 From: Kansas Member No.: 17,330 Region Association: None |
I have been feeling like my rear springs might be worn out, so I decided to buy some 100lb. springs. It should be noted that I am VERY much a newbie when it comes to the suspension system. In addition, let it be known that I am not currently into AX or any other racing applications.
That being said, I felt like the rear ride height was exceptionally low for my tastes. When I went to remove my springs, I discovered that I have the yellow Bilstein shocks with the six grooves and the little circlip to hold the bottom plate. My circlips were on the bottom groove. So, I took off my spring, and compared it to my new 100lb. spring. My old spring is probably a good 3" longer than the new one. That seemed weird to me, so I decided to do a little more research. I have always been told that you can't really change the rear ride height, but then I read some stuff that indicated you COULD change the ride height if you had the Bilsteins. So, I decided to move the circlip to the fourth groove (from the bottom) and install the old springs. After driving it around a bit, I like the ride height a lot more. My questions are as follows: 1. Did I do anything wrong? 2. Should I use the new 100lb. springs or keep the old springs? 3. There are no markings on the old springs. I put a weight on both old and new springs, and they seemed to compress the same distance, but why would there be such a height difference? Any other way of telling whether my old springs are sprung? Attached thumbnail(s) |
0396 |
Jul 23 2015, 03:58 PM
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#2
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 2,046 Joined: 13-October 03 From: L.A. Calif Member No.: 1,245 Region Association: Southern California |
My first thoughts, if there's no marking on the longer spring.
Your guess is better than most as the parts are in front of you. |
mepstein |
Jul 23 2015, 04:07 PM
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#3
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914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,271 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
The bilsteins are height adjustable. Set it to your preferred height. Doesn't matter what the springs look like off the car, just how they set and feel on the car. Sounds like your on the right track.
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Steve |
Jul 23 2015, 04:12 PM
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#4
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,585 Joined: 14-June 03 From: Orange County, CA Member No.: 822 Region Association: Southern California |
I have a set of sp140 and sp180 and all the springs are the same length and they are all marked.
The 180 springs are shorter than the 140 springs. |
Dave_Darling |
Jul 23 2015, 04:16 PM
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#5
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 14,986 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California |
Pretty much all aftermarket springs for the 914 have a longer "free length" (length with no weight on them) than the stock springs. What you observed is quite normal.
With standard shocks, you cannot change the rear ride height. With the Bils you have, you can. If you like the height where it is now, leave it. It'll be fine. You can change the ride height in the front by tweaking the adjustment bolts at the rear of the A-arm. Check your Haynes manual for details. Any time you change the ride height, you will change the camber on that end of the car. You'll also be changing the toe angle, but generally by a smaller amount. It's not the worst idea in the world to get an alignment after you have set the height to where you want it. --DD |
siverson |
Jul 23 2015, 04:20 PM
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#6
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Advanced Member Group: Benefactors Posts: 2,448 Joined: 5-May 03 From: San Diego, CA Member No.: 654 Region Association: Southern California |
As stated above, this all seems normal. Just install the new springs and keep removing/adjust the perch/re-installing until you get the rear ride height right where you want it.
-Steve |
whitetwinturbo |
Jul 23 2015, 04:39 PM
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#7
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Honey, does this wing make my ass look fat? Group: Members Posts: 1,391 Joined: 22-October 11 From: Newport Beach/Kalefornya/USA Member No.: 13,704 Region Association: Southern California |
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) ......excuse my hijack (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)
I have mystery BLUE springs with no markings (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) and would appreciate the knowledge of a expert to identify manufacturer and "weight" ie: 100, 180 or ??? |
TravisNeff |
Jul 23 2015, 05:10 PM
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#8
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,082 Joined: 20-March 03 From: Mesa, AZ Member No.: 447 Region Association: Southwest Region |
That blue spring probably has an aluminum tag on the upper coils with the weight. I say this as it looks like the same Koni coilover setup I have with hypercoil springs.
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Larmo63 |
Jul 23 2015, 05:59 PM
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#9
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,264 Joined: 3-March 14 From: San Clemente, Ca Member No.: 17,068 Region Association: Southern California |
I would put the new springs on the car with the shock clips set where you like the ride height.
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Dave_Darling |
Jul 24 2015, 09:09 AM
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#10
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914 Idiot Group: Members Posts: 14,986 Joined: 9-January 03 From: Silicon Valley / Kailua-Kona Member No.: 121 Region Association: Northern California |
I have mystery BLUE springs with no markings (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) and would appreciate the knowledge of a expert to identify manufacturer and "weight" ie: 100, 180 or ??? Take 'em off the car, measure the free length, then stack weights on them and measure the length again. That gives you lbs of weight, and inches of displacement. That will give you the rate in lbs/in. --DD |
DRPHIL914 |
Jul 24 2015, 10:07 AM
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#11
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Dr. Phil Group: Members Posts: 5,766 Joined: 9-December 09 From: Bluffton, SC Member No.: 11,106 Region Association: South East States |
ive got the same shocks and springs, and also need to decide if i want to stay with the current set up or go back to a longer stock type spring- going to do a comparison this weekend. i have a tight fit with the 7" fuchs and might go back up to a 6/7 from the #2 slot i have it set at now, but when i did that in the past with different wheel set up i ddint like the bounciness. so i a am going to cmpare that to the longer 90# springs, see which rides better at the height i need. Just borrowed some spring compressors from a friend. will hve to see - i diont want to change the front as i had that all aligned last year after replacing the whole front end(a-arms, bushings, bearings, turbo tie rods and ball joints, 5 - lug etc. ).
take some pictures and we can compare notes. i'll be doing this tomorrow. Phil |
whitetwinturbo |
Jul 25 2015, 09:20 PM
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#12
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Honey, does this wing make my ass look fat? Group: Members Posts: 1,391 Joined: 22-October 11 From: Newport Beach/Kalefornya/USA Member No.: 13,704 Region Association: Southern California |
I have mystery BLUE springs with no markings (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) and would appreciate the knowledge of a expert to identify manufacturer and "weight" ie: 100, 180 or ??? Take 'em off the car, measure the free length, then stack weights on them and measure the length again. That gives you lbs of weight, and inches of displacement. That will give you the rate in lbs/in. --DD Now we talking about work! My lazy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bootyshake.gif) says someone must have the info on this blue mystery (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smoke.gif) |
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