Spring length

[W2racing]

This might be a dumb question, but does coilover spring length matter? IE 10 or 12 inch on front , 12 or 14 on rear. Or do u just use whatever length u have that is the rate u want?

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

This might be a dumb question, but does coilover spring length matter? IE 10 or 12 inch on front , 12 or 14 on rear. Or do u just use whatever length u have that is the rate u want?

It only matters if you will coil bind the spring during use . Or get close enough that the rate changes in a way you do not want. Or you cannot set ride height because you cannot get the adjuster nut high or low enough on the body.

[Dirt Man]

So basically your saying it does matter!

[Matt49]

That's not what he's saying. He's saying avoid situations where coil bind becomes part of your setup and it won't matter. As long as you aren't in a coil binding situation due to travel, spring length has no effect on performance. A 12 inch spring and a 14 inch spring of the same rate behave the same way until they bind.

[Dirt Man]

I understand what you are saying, however with current set-ups and current front end geometries the difference between a 10" spring and a 12" spring is a very relavent tuning tool.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

I understand what you are saying, however with current set-ups and current front end geometries the difference between a 10" spring and a 12" spring is a very relavent tuning tool.

Not really. Coil bind shouldn't be used to tune.

[DirtRacer9x]

Not really. Coil bind shouldn't be used to tune.

Go tell cup teams this. But the springs are also $1500 a piece. Just saying.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

Go tell cup teams this. But the springs are also $1500 a piece. Just saying.

Cup teams are not allowed to do anything compared to us. They race street stocks. There is always a better way, rules permitting.

[hucktyson]

If you do anything more than slightly touch coil bind you will immediately shear the contact patch and push. That even happens with too many shims in your bump stop and coil bind would be much more harsh

[Dirt Man]

This is a widely used practice. If possible, take a look at some data sheets.

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

This is a widely used practice. If possible, take a look at some data sheets.

Severe surface stress on springs results. Failure and rate change follows. Monoleafs were once a widely used practice.

[7uptruckracer]

Cup Teams do not coilbind the only series that do are Bush, Trucks and K&N because they aren't allowed bumpstops. Cup teams are on 15,000# springs at short tracks and 55,000# at Plate Tracks. They have no Ride Height rule and Aero Is far more important the Mechanical so they only use them for static height and with not having a height rule its raised the rate a lot I have some pictures if your interested. Sounds crazy but its true

[hucktyson]

Coil binding reacts like a bump stop in a coil loader. The rate increases in the last little bit
Before coil bind then naturally goes to infinity. If your just barely touching coil bind it might not break the contact patch but if it's a big hammer down half mile where you drive the car straight you WILL know when it coil binds just like you will know if you have too many shims in your bump stop. If your running like 1000lb of zero point and you just ride around coil bound it might not take off like that especially if the track is perfectly smooth. I've never tried that though ...

[DirtRacer9x]

Cup Teams do not coilbind the only series that do are Bush, Trucks and K&N because they aren't allowed bumpstops. Cup teams are on 15,000# springs at short tracks and 55,000# at Plate Tracks. They have no Ride Height rule and Aero Is far more important the Mechanical so they only use them for static height and with not having a height rule its raised the rate a lot I have some pictures if your interested. Sounds crazy but its true

We run bumps on the cup cars and Rentons coil binding in K&N cars. I've never once seen a 55,000lb spring near our shop or any shop I've been in.

[Matt49]

Given the ability to run a bump stop or a dual-stage spring setup (both of which are almost infinitely adjustable), why would you ever want to run a coil bound setup which provides no adjustment AND eventually ruins the spring and lord knows what else when you eventually pancake a wall?
Makes no sense to me but a lot things don't...