Coil Springs?

[SaddleUpLock&Load]

Any data or opinion on the lifespan of a coilspring. We spend all this money on shocks yet put old coil springs on them.

[AmickRacing]

Draw a straight line down the shock with a marker. If the spring starts to "unwind" and that line isn't straight anymore, it's bad.
Use a spring rater and check the rate from time to time (every year or two, or if you suspect a problem). Keep this info in a notebook so you can see if a spring is starting to wander from the numbers it had. Some springs right out of the box don't rate like you'd expect them to.
If it's a standard spring (not a barrel), roll it on the bench and see if it wobbles.

If it pass's those tests, it's likely good.

[hucktyson]

All of the hyper coil springs I have tested are absurdly accurate ... Even ones that are fairly old

[setup479point2]

Think of it this way , how long does a valve spring last ? How many times a minute does a valve spring compress ? Now compare that to how many times a coilspring on the car compresses . Main thing with most coilsprings is covered above , check for bent , shortened height . I have coilsprings 10 years old I wouldn't have a problem putting in my cars.

[Sprint76]

Don't worry about the age of the spring, just have them checked. I've had brand new ones that had a pretty significant rate variation that I had to send back. Invest in a spring checker, or find someone with one and have yours checked.

[LM14]

Comparing them to valve springs is apples to oranges. Valve springs are under constant heat and near coil bind every time they move. Suspension springs rarely go into coil bind or anywhere near it and don't have to contend with heat.

A spring rater and notes is the only way to tell. Have kept springs for many years, have returned them straight out of the box. Stay with a good name brand that stands behind their product and check them often. I rated my springs every few nights of racing.

SPark

[drtrkr244]

I remember seeing in another thread where a racer used a scale pad in a press to check his springs. Has anyone tried this and compared their results with a true spring checker?

[setup479point2]

Comparing them to valve springs is apples to oranges. Valve springs are under constant heat and near coil bind every time they move. Suspension springs rarely go into coil bind or anywhere near it and don't have to contend with heat. A spring rater and notes is the only way to tell. Have kept springs for many years, have returned them straight out of the box. Stay with a good name brand that stands behind their product and check them often. I rated my springs every few nights of racing. SPark

My point was , that coil springs don't see near the abuse a valve spring does , so it should last much , much longer . Just trying to get them to think a bit .

[setup479point2]

I remember seeing in another thread where a racer used a scale pad in a press to check his springs. Has anyone tried this and compared their results with a true spring checker?

Haven't ever compared them , but have used my scale to check flat end springs . Made a set of plates that hold everything in place in the press ,so I don't get killed .

[fruit loop]

got another question. does any one know how to build a rack to hold the springs. instead of putting them all in a box

[MasterSbilt_Racer]

I remember seeing in another thread where a racer used a scale pad in a press to check his springs. Has anyone tried this and compared their results with a true spring checker?

Results will be as good as the scale and measurement technique used.

[Lizardracing]

Springs of any kind don't lose rate because that's built into the mechanics of the spring. They will however lose free height. Free height can be easily compensated for when using a coil overs and adjusters however the amount of travel before coil bind is reduced. The same thing happens to valve springs, Travel is so important in valve spring applications that changing the springs becomes the repair because adjusting is pretty difficult. Sometimes if the conditions are right shimming a valve spring to get some more life out of them is Ok.

[TheJet-09]

In addition to the loss of free height, I've also heard that it isn't the compression aspect of a spring that is lost through time, it is a springs ability to rebound correctly/as it did when new.

[rocket1*]

Be careful with the black ones. I think we all know the brand. I have had lots of them that weren't right when they were new. I talked to T-Mac this summer and he said the same thing but his are given to him. I went to hypercoil and they are spot on every time.

[Lizardracing]

In addition to the loss of free height, I've also heard that it isn't the compression aspect of a spring that is lost through time, it is a springs ability to rebound correctly/as it did when new.

Can you explain this further please? Im trying to understand the thought process but it eludes me.