Question About Spring Rates

[msports180]

OK i have been reading everything i can about coilovers etc to get a idea on what to run in my R34 Gt-t sedan. My plans for the car are some street driving, some club level motorsport like sprints, hill climb, drifting and maybe some tarmac stuff like dutton etc, basically an all round car aimed at motorsport over daily driven.

I picked up some Tein RA's, i like the idea of the teins for the well known name, the ease of rebuild, the wealth of knowledge, the quality etc. From what i can gather the RA's are middle ground. Now i dont have a huge budget, i picked these up for a good price, had covered SFA kays so i went with them, i was recomended them by the seller after telling him what i was planning on doing with the car.

My question is, the spring rate. I have since researched the numbers on the coilovers and have found that they are 12kg front and rear, yes this is very stiff, but with my plans are these going to be OK? Will i have enough adjustabilty in the dampner adjustment to "soften" them for the street and street tyres then stiffen them for semi slicks and racing? I havnt as yet tried them as i thaught i would ask before i went to trouble of fitting them and getting a wheel alignment.

I can take these back no probs so im not asking the type of question have i wasted my money, i would just like any bodys opinion on who has used these or had experience with something similar. The guy i got them from has been excellent so im not doubting him either, as i said he is happy to swap them for something else if i want to.

Thanks.

[blind_elk]

The shock absorber simply controls the spring. The spring controls weight transfer. If you have 12kg springs, then you have 12kg springs. With such a "heavy" spring, it is likely you will have difficulty putting the power to the ground. And it will likely understeer like a cop. This might be great for "dorifto", but dangerous on the street, imo.

From what I have read, even 6kg springs can be dicey.

my 2c

[_Ryan_]

I know that a few people in Vic run around on Racepace spec'd springrates and valving to suit in their RA's... could be an option?

Where would RA's sit in the model line-up under the new naming? are they mono-tube and similar to mono flex?

[NickR33]

I have them... they are stupidly hard... waaaaay to hard in the rear for a rwd, you will get zero weight transfer and fark all grip as a result... they are the only part of my car I dislike... apparently good gear though and with a revalve and lighter spring they perform really well as Ryan has suggested

[msports180]

Thanks for the replys guys, pretty much the train of thought i was having just wanted to confirm i was on the right path. I did think about getting new springs and a re-valve but after the cost i may aswell go another option, its not a unlimited budget project unfortunately.

I will swap them for another set they had there.

[_Ryan_]

Thanks for the replys guys, pretty much the train of thought i was having just wanted to confirm i was on the right path. I did think about getting new springs and a re-valve but after the cost i may aswell go another option, its not a unlimited budget project unfortunately.

I will swap them for another set they had there.

Bilsteins/eibachs... with correct valving

compare the price of valving what you have.... off the shelf bilsteins with Tein S tech springs would be 1500 all up brand new IIRC, and would be my budget pick.

[Snowman]

For what its worth in my GTR with RA's we run around 12kgs fronts and 7kgs rears. Although I'm thinking of dropping down to around 10 + 6 soon since I think it's a bit stiff for Targa stuff (but those old settngs were great for Sprints / Duttons etc)

Not sure what the weight split on a GTT is like compared to a GTR (GTR is 63/37) but if you can find that out and want to keep the fronts as 12's then you can work out the ideal rears easy enough.

[NickR33]

that makes sense Snowy, Benno said the rears in mine were twice as hard as what he usually specs... Its IMPOSSIBLE to get it to transfer weight to the rears, even with a big rev clutch dump...

Can't believe they would sell suspension with equal stiffness springs in both ends when a GTR is so nose heavy

its great when you are committed in a corner and hit a bump... the car leaps sideways about a metre and I soil myself

I guess you would sacrifice a bit of stiffness to get more confidence when doing Targa stuff... I still reckon your brave or crazy to drive that fast with trees whizzing by!