Coil over swap - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bowat6969 · 05-09-2009, 12:04 AM

Can anyone give me an idea of the spring rate required to install front coilovers? What is the factory spring rate of front coils?
Sorry guys if this has been asked a million times but I can't find any information on the search.

Thanks alot!!!!

Custom 68 · 05-09-2009, 01:45 PM

your question is timley at least for me. I have not seen this info either, I am going to start my swap also. What I did find one guy on here did the swap and used the shorter 8 inch long springs and originally went with 500 lb/in and decided that was too soft so he went to 800 lb/inch. I am going to start with the longer 12 inch spring combo at 650 lb/inch.
I know some have either made or bought suspension using coilovers so somebody should have an idea. Even the C4 swap guys might know?
I have been doing some figuring and am not sure but think with the lever ratio between the spindle and the coil location the load on the coil will be twice that at the tire (weight) so for easy numbers in my case if my front truck weight is 2600 lbs then each tire is holding 1300 lbs so the coil would see 2600 pounds static so my 650 lb/inch springs will compress 4 inches. Now somebody chime in to make sure my thought process is correct? That really seems like a lot.
so yes I am looking for input too before I start cutting.
Dave

bowat6969 · 05-09-2009, 02:01 PM

I have in the past built many circletrack cars and am applying some of those skills to building trucks. Yes I dealt with spring rates all of the time but it was a whole different ballgame there.

I truly am puzzled with this and hope someone with the knowledge responds to this thread.

I am with you on this as that is all the further I can get into it as far as number crunching. Thanks for the reply on the thread.

oldspowered67C10 · 05-10-2009, 12:07 AM

When I made my setup I used 8" 800# springs but it depends on how close to the ball joint the lower mount is on the lower arm.

Custom 68 · 05-11-2009, 09:10 PM

keep this up there incase anybody else has used coilovers or has some info. I dont know if anybody has installed a C4 dropmember if so maybe you all used shockwaves...
Dave

05-09-2009, 12:04 AM	#1
bowat6969 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Easton Kansas Posts: 25	Coil over swap Can anyone give me an idea of the spring rate required to install front coilovers? What is the factory spring rate of front coils? Sorry guys if this has been asked a million times but I can't find any information on the search. Thanks alot!!!!

05-09-2009, 01:45 PM	#2
Custom 68 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,932	Re: Coil over swap your question is timley at least for me. I have not seen this info either, I am going to start my swap also. What I did find one guy on here did the swap and used the shorter 8 inch long springs and originally went with 500 lb/in and decided that was too soft so he went to 800 lb/inch. I am going to start with the longer 12 inch spring combo at 650 lb/inch. I know some have either made or bought suspension using coilovers so somebody should have an idea. Even the C4 swap guys might know? I have been doing some figuring and am not sure but think with the lever ratio between the spindle and the coil location the load on the coil will be twice that at the tire (weight) so for easy numbers in my case if my front truck weight is 2600 lbs then each tire is holding 1300 lbs so the coil would see 2600 pounds static so my 650 lb/inch springs will compress 4 inches. Now somebody chime in to make sure my thought process is correct? That really seems like a lot. so yes I am looking for input too before I start cutting. Dave __________________ Dave 1968 Custom Chevy with turbo charged 5.3 gen III 4l80e swap 1967-71 GMC 3/4 ton long step 4x4 (not sure what year exactly?) "A good friend will bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "that was frekin awesome". "If it doesn't fit force it...If it breaks then it needed to be replaced anyway!" Last edited by Custom 68; 05-09-2009 at 01:46 PM.

05-09-2009, 02:01 PM	#3
bowat6969 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Easton Kansas Posts: 25	Re: Coil over swap I have in the past built many circletrack cars and am applying some of those skills to building trucks. Yes I dealt with spring rates all of the time but it was a whole different ballgame there. I truly am puzzled with this and hope someone with the knowledge responds to this thread. I am with you on this as that is all the further I can get into it as far as number crunching. Thanks for the reply on the thread.

05-10-2009, 12:07 AM	#4
oldspowered67C10 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cherry Valley,Ca Posts: 468	Re: Coil over swap When I made my setup I used 8" 800# springs but it depends on how close to the ball joint the lower mount is on the lower arm.

05-11-2009, 09:10 PM	#5
Custom 68 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,932	Re: Coil over swap keep this up there incase anybody else has used coilovers or has some info. I dont know if anybody has installed a C4 dropmember if so maybe you all used shockwaves... Dave __________________ Dave 1968 Custom Chevy with turbo charged 5.3 gen III 4l80e swap 1967-71 GMC 3/4 ton long step 4x4 (not sure what year exactly?) "A good friend will bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "that was frekin awesome". "If it doesn't fit force it...If it breaks then it needed to be replaced anyway!"



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