Car coil spring question

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Quick question for you parts guys. Would anyone know when looking at spring options, which springs are made stiffer? Springs for automatic transmissions or manual transmissions. I'm wanting to actually soften the ride on my daily driver, and was wanting to see if I had a softer option from the factory.

 

[getdowngranny]

You didnt mention what your daily driver was. If your question is for a non g body, disregard the rest of this post. As far as g bodies go, I am not sure on the manual or auto transmission part but I have owned about 6 g-bodies and have ran through my fare share of springs. My favorite all around front springs are the Moroso trick springs. They ride smooth, transfer the weight back really well when taking off, and you can cut them to height if you want the car to sit lower. They are a PITA to compress and intall though. As far as the rears go, for drivability and smoothness, I like an old worn out stock set of springs with some good shocks. They also work well to let the weight transfer back on launch.

 

[novaderrik]

springs are selected based on the weight of the car and whatever option packages you might have- a car with a sport suspension option will have stiffer springs than one with the standard suspension. they also base it on which wheel/tire option you get in some cases.
if you want to do some research, you can figure out the different Moog part numbers for the various springs for whatever car you have and then dig thru their online spring catalog to find spring rates and installed heights and what not..

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Thank you guys. I understand all that stuff though. Was just kind of looking for a quick answer. And I'm not aware of any Buicks coming with a manual trans so...this couldn't have been a question for a G body. Anyone know off the top of their heads about spring rates for the different transmissions? I'm guessing the auto weighs more so the stiffer springs probably go for that but I can't assume.

 

[Venus]

I think the labels on springs or the paint marks on springs do indicate spring rates, but each manufacturer has their own decoding for them, there is no Standardization as far as I know.

 

[gnxtc2]

Springs support the weight of the car. Shocks control the action of the springs.

Putting in a "softer" spring will make the car lower. You are going to need a longer spring to bring the ride height back. With the longer, softer spring, you are going to need a very good shock to control the stored energy of the spring.

IMHO: I would leave the springs alone and look into a different shock that has good street manners.

Billy T.
gnxtc2@aol.com

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

There are none. I have the softest. The shocks/struts/springs I'm looking for must be matched. I already have all the part numbers that are to be matched. I just have one option left, and it says "for manual, or automatic trans" and noone on the planet seems to know which is softer.
I'm going oem. Every aftermarket replacement piece seems to just automatically assume you want stiffer, so noone makes a softer replacement. I don't need stiffer, I don't live on the Nurburgring track. This is a daily driver only. The previous year before me has a softer suspension that I'm after, but I don't know which to pick-manual or auto.

 

[John Larkin]

What kind of mystery car is this going on? Just say it, no more ambiguity.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

There wasn't any ambiguity, because the platform doesn't matter. It's for the car in my signature, the Subaru. I didn't think it mattered though. The car's irrelevant, it's more of a spring question. I'm curious as to what the differences are and why, because I see these two options in many parts catalogs.

 

[John Larkin]

forums.nasioc.com Seriously that is a big message board with bazillions of posts.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Lol. I appreciate that but why do you think I'm here with this question lol. That forum has a reputation for being a bunch of little kids with little to no mechanical experience, and a HORRIBLE whiny attitude. I've been there for a little bit and see why. Those guys couldn't turn a wrench if their lives depended on it. I got spoiled being here because of all the old timers. Old timers usually don't have the patience for the silly shit and their answers are often direct to the point, and from a lot of experience. They don't make fun of people either. I can't ask those guys nothin' without some stupid smart ass comments. I never screw with people on message boards so I expect the same back. And this is the place that delivers.

 

[charlief1]

The chassis makes a difference because of weight and length. As a rule, a manual tranny is slightly lighter but it will depend on options. Most of the time the options make the difference because of weight. A WRX-STI weights more than a regular WRX even if they both have the same tranny. On a subaru you need to look at the listing of the springs in a catalog to see what the rates are. You could try using a mic to see what the diameter of the springs are after measuring the free height but that may not give you the answer you're looking for.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

I could but I don't have any springs in front of me to measure. Once I get a good part number I'm just going to order them, but I gotta find out which is the softest. I called all around and the only people that have the spring rates were Eibach but only for the manual trans, because they never get any auto trans enthusiasts lol. But I just got a hold of a Subaru parts tech that was pretty motivated and he looked up some part numbers for me past what a normal tech could/would do and I think I'm headed in the right direction. He says his internal catalog doesn't allow for a manual or auto difference for the 08 wrx. Just one set of part numbers period. So I think I may have something. But still, for future reference, I'd love to know the truth on these things. What makes them different?
I tried calling the manufacturer of the springs for our cars (union spring out of missouri) but I can't find their number any more I spoke with their engineers a long time ago about some springs for my 98 GS in detail, and they were super helpful. Love those guys. (they make them for moog) They were WAYYYYYYY more helpful than ANYONE from TRW/moog. (those guys are worthless)

Oh well. We'll see. Maybe I'll find some new buddies to hang out with in this world and I'll mic their springs if I can find someone with an auto trans lol.

 

[charlief1]

MOOG has an online catalog with spring heights and rates on it, but no applications. If you can find a MOOG part number then you should be able to find the rest of the info. I will tell you that the catalog is super long though, since it's lists every single automotive and some non auto springs in it.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

I should check that out. Thank you sir.