Spring Rate For Comparison

[tjandriesen]

In looking at aftermarket coilovers you see spring rate like 10 f / 8 R running to even stiffer (12F / 12R) than that. I assume that a laerger number means better handling but a rougher ride. For comparison sake, what would the stock spring rates be on a R33 GTR V-Spec?

I also ntocie that in other threads rates are being quotes as triple digits numbers (200). I assume this is a different unit of measure? How do you convert these numbers to compare to the 8-12 above?

[djr81]

Please don't make the mistake of assuming that to handle well the car has to be stiffly sprung. It has been said that what is good for handling is good for ride comfort. Spring rates of 10 front/8 rear are high, much higher than you need for the street. Stock rates are only about 1/3 that. You should be focusing on sway bars & dampers as much as springs.

Spring rates are either kg/mm (Sometimes Newtons/mm) or pounds/inch. The higher number is invariably in pounds/inch (lb/in). A 3.6kg/mm spring rate is the same as a 200#/in spring.