>>One thing has always puzzled me with the spring specs for the MGB and that
is the load weights for the front are in the >>order of 1030 to 1193 lbs
whereas those for the rear are 400 to 550. Given that the front to rear
loading is about 50/50 >>one would expect much the same loading on each
spring, i.e. about half that given for the fronts.
>>Does it make sense? Yes.
Umm.......... yes and no. The reason the spring rates on the front are so
high, is that the
spring itself is inboard from the kingpin. Look at a McPherson strut. The
spring is
in line with the swivel axle (well almost), if the MGB has this type of
suspension,
the spring would be about 120lbs->150lbs. But the spring on an MGB is
inboard and
acts like a lever so the spring rate has to be higher. To get an accurate
measure
of the spring, it has to be performed at the wheel - i.e. if you sit on the
fender and
your weight is 150lbs and the car goes down by 1 inch, then the true spring
rate is
150lbs/inch.
On the rear, the axle is acting directly in the spring, there is no lever
action,
so the spring rate is different.
Make sense?
Gerry
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