Everything You Need To Know To Find The Best Auto coil spring lifespan factors

Pete Mitchell

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When it comes to high-performance or race vehicles, selecting high-quality coil springs is crucial for the vehicle's suspension performance, handling, and overall driving experience. Coil springs provide support, stability, and control by absorbing road irregularities and maintaining the desired ride height. In this guide, we will delve into the factors to consider when choosing coil springs, including their function, quality indicators, types, and spring rates. We will also discuss when it's time to replace your coil springs and highlight some top picks from reputable brands. Whether you're looking to fine-tune your suspension for better cornering or enhance the overall performance of your car, this guide will help you navigate the world of coil springs and make informed decisions to optimize your high-performance or race vehicle's suspension system.

What Do Coil Springs Do?

High-quality suspension springs are a vital component of a vehicle's suspension system. They work with other suspension components to provide support, stability, and control. The primary function of coil springs is to absorb and distribute the impact of bumps, dips, and other road irregularities, ensuring a smooth and controlled ride.

Coil springs support the weight of the vehicle while maintaining the desired ride height and preventing excessive body roll during cornering. They play a crucial role in optimizing handling, traction, and overall performance.

What Makes a High-Quality Coil Spring?

When selecting coil springs for your high-performance or race vehicle, consider the following factors that contribute to their quality:

1. Material: High-quality coil springs are typically made from premium-grade steel or specialized alloys. These materials offer excellent strength, durability, and resistance to sagging or deformation under heavy loads and constant stress.
2. Manufacturing Process: Look for coil springs manufactured using advanced techniques such as hot winding or cold winding. These processes ensure precise and consistent spring rates, optimal stress distribution, and increased resistance to fatigue and sagging.
3. Coating and Protection: Quality coil springs often feature a protective coating or finish to enhance corrosion resistance and prolong their lifespan. Powder coating, zinc plating, or other specialized coatings provide an additional layer of protection against harsh road conditions and environmental elements.
4. Spring Rate Accuracy: The spring rate determines the amount of force required to compress the coil spring. High-quality coil springs have accurate and consistent spring rates, allowing for precise suspension tuning and predictable handling characteristics.
5. Manufacturer Reputation: Choose coil springs from reputable manufacturers known for their expertise in suspension systems and their commitment to quality and performance. Look for brands with a track record of supplying suspension components to high-performance and race vehicles.

Coil Spring Types and Spring Rates

Coil springs come in various types and spring rates, allowing for fine-tuning of the vehicle's suspension to meet specific performance requirements. Below are some common types of coil springs:

Linear Coil Springs: Linear coil springs provide a consistent spring rate throughout their compression range. They are suitable for a wide range of applications and offer predictable handling characteristics.

Progressive Coil Springs: Progressive coil springs feature a variable spring rate, meaning the resistance to compression increases as the spring is compressed further. This design provides a softer initial response for comfort while offering increased support and stability during aggressive driving or heavy loads.

Dual-Rate Coil Springs: Dual-rate coil springs combine the characteristics of both linear and progressive springs. They have two distinct sections with different spring rates, allowing for a softer initial response and a stiffer rate under heavy loads or during high-speed maneuvers.

The spring rate, measured in pounds per inch (lbs./in) or Newtons per millimeter (N/mm), determines the stiffness of the coil spring. Choosing the appropriate spring rate depends on factors such as vehicle weight, suspension design, intended use (street, track, or off-road), and personal preferences.

Knowing When to Replace

Regular inspection of your coil springs is essential to ensure their optimal performance and safety. Here are some signs that indicate it may be time to replace your coil springs:

1. Sagging or Uneven Ride Height: Significant drops in ride height or uneven suspension stance may indicate worn-out or sagging coil springs. This can negatively impact handling and stability.
2. Excessive Bouncing or Bottoming Out: If your vehicle exhibits excessive bouncing after hitting bumps or dips, or if it bottoms out easily even on moderate road irregularities, it could be a sign of worn-out coil springs that are no longer providing adequate support.
3. Unusual Noise or Clunking: Strange noises from the suspension when going over bumps or during cornering may indicate worn-out or damaged coil springs that require replacement.
4. Uneven Tire Wear: Worn-out or sagging coil springs can cause uneven tire wear, leading to reduced traction, handling issues, and premature tire replacement.

If you observe any of these signs, it is recommended to inspect and replace the coil springs as necessary.

How to Choose a Spring

When choosing a spring for automotive suspension systems, several factors ensure optimal performance and comfort. Firstly, determine the vehicle's weight and intended use, as heavier vehicles or those used for towing may require stiffer springs to support the load effectively. Additionally, identifying the desired ride height and handling characteristics can guide the selection process, as different spring rates and lengths can significantly impact vehicle dynamics. Consulting with a knowledgeable suspension specialist can aid in finding the right springs for your specific vehicle and preferences. Conducting thorough research and considering factors such as spring material, design, and manufacturer reputation can help ensure a successful suspension upgrade or replacement. Ultimately, finding the right springs tailored to your vehicle's requirements and desired performance attributes is essential for achieving optimal handling, comfort, and overall driving satisfaction.

Our Top Picks

When selecting the proper coil springs for your high-performance or race vehicle, consider these reputable brands:

1. JEGS Brand Coil Springs: Known for precision engineering and performance-oriented designs, JEGS offers a wide range of coil springs suitable for various applications.
2. Eibach Suspension Springs: With a long-standing reputation in the automotive industry, Eibach manufactures high-quality suspension springs designed for superior handling and durability.
3. QA1 Racing Coil Springs: Specifically designed for race vehicles, QA1 Racing Coil Springs provide exceptional performance, precise spring rates, and reliable suspension control.

Before making a final decision, consider consulting with suspension experts, or fellow enthusiasts who have experience with coil springs and can provide personalized recommendations based on your vehicle's specific requirements and intended use.

Selecting the proper coil springs for your high-performance or race vehicle is essential for achieving optimal suspension performance, handling, and control. By understanding the role of coil springs, assessing their quality factors, considering different types and spring rates, and knowing when to replace them, you can make an informed decision and elevate your driving experience to new heights.

View Full Version : What is the average life span of springs?

detroiter

Just curious what the average life span of springs such as the df's, nf's and trd's are? I did some searching but couldn't really find a definitive answer.

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severous01

Coils will usually outlast shocks 4 or 5 times over. However, you'll notice when springs are weak. They'll start to sag. They'll get mushy. Shocks will 'seem' to be mushy, but it's actually more of a bouncy feel. There’s no real way to check a spring other than sending it back and seeing if it's still within tolerance. However, unless you dropped a 3500 series truck on your car, I'd imagine the springs are okay. Shocks should be replaced at a maximum interval of 50k miles. Any shock company will tell you that, but I've had experience with Decarbon, Tein, Bilstein, Monroe (not recommended), QA1/HAL, and KYB. Bilsteins are the very best, followed closely by KYB for OEM replacements.

detroiter

Well, I'm going to be running some used TRD's with about 20-25k on them and I just ordered a set of Tokico blues today. I don't see any reason why this won't be awesome when I throw them on. I've often heard that springs usually outlast the life of a car or close to it, but just wanted others' opinions on that.

thebarber

Depends on how much salt they use in your area. Had a guy on matrixowners.com break his TRD springs last week. I think he's in the Midwest, but had high mileage.

hatchbackkid82

I remember on this one accord I had the spring was actually broken, I drove around like that for months before I realized the spring was broken.

AlexNet0

Shocks should be replaced at an interval of a max of 50k miles. I have 60k on my 07 hatch stock suspension, and I hardly notice a difference from when I got it. Maybe it's just me.

detroiter

I know shocks depend on how hard they are driven and road conditions. Potholes, big bumps, and other factors shorten their lifespan. But as far as springs, I don't see any reason for them to wear out too quickly.

yaris prime

Average lifespan for springs for most is a long time. Average lifespan for springs for you and I driving on Michigan roads—not so long. I had a spring break on my last car while it was sitting in the parking lot at work. I noticed my tire was flat, jacked it up to change it, and could not get the tire off. Finally realized that the spring shattered, and the sharp end punctured my tire and was stuck inside, preventing me from taking the tire off. Brand new tires too; luckily, I had road hazard insurance.

Yaris Hilton

Average lifespan of springs = average lifespan of cars they're installed in. Shouldn't have to replace them, but sometimes you do.

Loren

Interesting to read some misconceptions about springs. Rust-induced problems aside, a suspension coil spring should last 20 years or more (as stated above, "the lifetime of the car"). Rust changes things greatly, of course, and can reduce the spring rate and lead to breakage. What happens when a spring sags over time? It doesn't become softer. The rate of the spring remains constant as it is a factor of the thickness of the spring wire, the diameter of the spring, and the number of coils. All that changes when a spring sags is the free length of the spring, until/unless it sags enough that the coils of the spring touch (coil bind). In the case of coil bind, the spring doesn't become softer, it becomes stiffer. Fewer coils in the spring rate calculation yield a stiffer rate. What happens more than anything else is that shocks (and/or struts) wear out. Almost all modern shocks have a nitrogen charge in them to help prevent the oil inside them from foaming under hard conditions (bumpy roads that move the shock shaft rapidly up and down and create heat). A side effect of this nitrogen charge is that it adds to the spring rate of the suspension, and the suspension designers account for this in their design. Usually, the first thing to go in a shock as it ages is the nitrogen charge, which removes that added spring rate and makes the whole suspension feel softer. Often, it will even cause the car to lose some ride height, up to an inch or so. So, if you think you have "bad springs" because your suspension feels soft, think again. Take a look at your springs. Unless they're eaten away with rust, they're NOT any softer than they ever were. If they're eaten away with rust, obviously, they need to be replaced. If they're not rusty, put new shocks/struts on the car and be happy. Factory shocks on most cars usually start losing some of their performance by 20-30k miles and are pretty weak by 40-60k miles. "Completely shot" is a matter of what you expect from them, but with the exception of OEM Bilstein shocks, pretty much any shock is going to be completely dead by 60-80k miles. Oh, and fitting stiffer aftermarket springs with stock shocks will cause those shocks to wear out about twice as fast. Fitting springs that are too short and/or cutting bump stops will often allow the shock (either aftermarket OR stock) to go beyond its designed range of motion and bottom out, causing instant damage to the internal shock valving.

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