lose springs?
09-18-2010, 09:48 PM
#1
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: toronto
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lose springs?
so today i got my tires changed and while it was on the hoist i was looking at the front suspension and i grab the front springs and wiggles them and they had quite a bit of play in them as if the were lose. also if i go over a bit enough bump i can hear some what of a jingling sound from the front right.
i have tokiko blue shocks and the tokico springs.
i was wondering if anyone knew what itcould be? i have a feeling that my bumpstops are finished. or my strut mounts. or maybe even both lol.
any suggestions are very helpful!
and if if anyone knows where to get them.
i have tokiko blue shocks and the tokico springs.
i was wondering if anyone knew what itcould be? i have a feeling that my bumpstops are finished. or my strut mounts. or maybe even both lol.
any suggestions are very helpful!
and if if anyone knows where to get them.
09-20-2010, 09:03 AM
#6
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Ignazty: It's because the springs are shorter when fully relaxed then the total travel of the shocks.
There are several ways to remedy this issue. You can use limiter straps or helper springs. We use limiter straps on the MR2 race car and it works quite well.
For a cleaner and nicer solution, helper springs woud probably be better for your application.
How much play are we talking about? 1/4"? 1"? more?
There are several ways to remedy this issue. You can use limiter straps or helper springs. We use limiter straps on the MR2 race car and it works quite well.
For a cleaner and nicer solution, helper springs woud probably be better for your application.
How much play are we talking about? 1/4"? 1"? more?
09-21-2010, 08:19 AM
#12
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When you jack up the car and take the weight off the wheels, the suspension drops to the full length the shock can travel/extend. The spring is shorter then that distance when fully relaxed... This is why the spring is "loose" when the car is off the ground.
Your best bet is to use helper springs. Depending on how much play there is, you can get them with a specific relaxed height. They are basically short springs with an extremely soft rate (you can stand on them and they will compress nearly 100%), so that they take up the slack when the suspension unloads, yet they don't effect the rate of the main springs, so your handling will be maintained.
They are typically inexpensive and a very simple, effective solution that won't compromise the way the car handles and drives.
There are other options but they can be more expensive and/or less reliable and could and most likely will effect the way the car handles and drives.
How much "looseness" is there? 1" or more? Do your struts have the adjustable ride height threaded collars?
09-21-2010, 08:34 PM
#13
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no i dont believe my struts are ajustable.
there is about a bit more than one inch and yes i do believe its a safety concern.
helper springs is probably the route that im gonna take. but why is it only on my right front spring? the left front spring doesnt have as much play.
if i were to get new spring will that help at all of no?
any springs that you guys know that have a softer spring rate thatll somewhat fix this problem?
where can i get the helper springs?
any in particular ones that i should be looking into?
there is about a bit more than one inch and yes i do believe its a safety concern.
helper springs is probably the route that im gonna take. but why is it only on my right front spring? the left front spring doesnt have as much play.
if i were to get new spring will that help at all of no?
any springs that you guys know that have a softer spring rate thatll somewhat fix this problem?
where can i get the helper springs?
any in particular ones that i should be looking into?
09-22-2010, 08:38 AM
#15
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Location: Where my car is.
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ignazty, The reason one side is dropping more then the other is because the spring is fully relaxed, therfore it's not pushing down to fully extend the suspension. The bushings are probably not allowing it to stretch all the way out. I bet you can push down on the wheel, or hub and get it to go down as far as the otherside...
So if your gap is about 1" then you should get helper springs that are about 1" fully relaxed.
The spring rate and length of spring are 2 different things. Theoretically you could use slightly longer springs with slightly softer rates so the car will sit roughly at the same ride height. The downside to that is the springs are still a softer rate meaning you will have a bit more body roll and the car won't handle quite as tight.
By using springs of the same rate but that are a bit taller will raise the ride height but keep the same handling characteristics.
Imo, changing to a slightly longer spring with the same rate would be better then going to a longer spring with a softer rate... But some might not agree because most people think slammed is the best for handling (which is a total myth), or they just prefer their car be slammed... lol.
So, if you want to keep your ride height more or less where it is, use helper springs. If you don't mind the car sitting a tad higher, go with a slightly longer spring with the same rate as you have now.
I know you said they are tokico springs, but can you be more specific?
So if your gap is about 1" then you should get helper springs that are about 1" fully relaxed.
The spring rate and length of spring are 2 different things. Theoretically you could use slightly longer springs with slightly softer rates so the car will sit roughly at the same ride height. The downside to that is the springs are still a softer rate meaning you will have a bit more body roll and the car won't handle quite as tight.
By using springs of the same rate but that are a bit taller will raise the ride height but keep the same handling characteristics.
Imo, changing to a slightly longer spring with the same rate would be better then going to a longer spring with a softer rate... But some might not agree because most people think slammed is the best for handling (which is a total myth), or they just prefer their car be slammed... lol.
So, if you want to keep your ride height more or less where it is, use helper springs. If you don't mind the car sitting a tad higher, go with a slightly longer spring with the same rate as you have now.
I know you said they are tokico springs, but can you be more specific?
09-22-2010, 09:47 AM
#16
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: toronto
Posts: 383
ignazty, The reason one side is dropping more then the other is because the spring is fully relaxed, therfore it's not pushing down to fully extend the suspension. The bushings are probably not allowing it to stretch all the way out. I bet you can push down on the wheel, or hub and get it to go down as far as the otherside...
So if your gap is about 1" then you should get helper springs that are about 1" fully relaxed.
The spring rate and length of spring are 2 different things. Theoretically you could use slightly longer springs with slightly softer rates so the car will sit roughly at the same ride height. The downside to that is the springs are still a softer rate meaning you will have a bit more body roll and the car won't handle quite as tight.
By using springs of the same rate but that are a bit taller will raise the ride height but keep the same handling characteristics.
Imo, changing to a slightly longer spring with the same rate would be better then going to a longer spring with a softer rate... But some might not agree because most people think slammed is the best for handling (which is a total myth), or they just prefer their car be slammed... lol.
So, if you want to keep your ride height more or less where it is, use helper springs. If you don't mind the car sitting a tad higher, go with a slightly longer spring with the same rate as you have now.
I know you said they are tokico springs, but can you be more specific?
So if your gap is about 1" then you should get helper springs that are about 1" fully relaxed.
The spring rate and length of spring are 2 different things. Theoretically you could use slightly longer springs with slightly softer rates so the car will sit roughly at the same ride height. The downside to that is the springs are still a softer rate meaning you will have a bit more body roll and the car won't handle quite as tight.
By using springs of the same rate but that are a bit taller will raise the ride height but keep the same handling characteristics.
Imo, changing to a slightly longer spring with the same rate would be better then going to a longer spring with a softer rate... But some might not agree because most people think slammed is the best for handling (which is a total myth), or they just prefer their car be slammed... lol.
So, if you want to keep your ride height more or less where it is, use helper springs. If you don't mind the car sitting a tad higher, go with a slightly longer spring with the same rate as you have now.
I know you said they are tokico springs, but can you be more specific?
so i couldnt find any description on the parts but i was able to get the parts number
HPK203
sorry im very confusing with all this. and thanks guys for you imput
i would rather raise the ride height just a tad and keep the handling capabilities since my car sits to low for a jack to even go under and im always scrapping the ground.
if anyone knows what a spring with the same rate but a little bit more of a longer spring or where to get helper springs please chime in
09-22-2010, 01:03 PM
#17
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Location: Where my car is.
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I could only find spring rates for such kit for a civic (96-00) which is 250in-lb front and 123in-lb rear. I'm sure for an integra they are slightly stiffer.
Getting helper springs is farely easy. You just look at the relaxed length you want and get it to match the diameter of the springs on the car.
Getting longer springs with the same rate will be tricky. You'll have to measure the relaxed length of the springs you have and search around for other springs of the same rate, but slightly longer relaxed length... Such info is not readily available.
Do some searching on the net for helper springs. Lots of companies make them.
Getting helper springs is farely easy. You just look at the relaxed length you want and get it to match the diameter of the springs on the car.
Getting longer springs with the same rate will be tricky. You'll have to measure the relaxed length of the springs you have and search around for other springs of the same rate, but slightly longer relaxed length... Such info is not readily available.
Do some searching on the net for helper springs. Lots of companies make them.