On Mon, 16 Nov 1998 19:32:07 -0500 Jim Stuart <jimbb88@erols.com> writes:
> The reason to use an old spring is that
>as you cut them, they become stiffer. If you cut a new spring, the ride
>would be very harsh. One of the engineers on the list can explain
>this, I cannot.
Simply put, the spring rate of a coil spring is a function of (1) the
spring diameter, (2) wire diameter, (3) the number of WORKING coils and
(4) a constant for the particular steel.
For any body who cares, the "formula" is:
1,500,000 X d^4
Spring rate = -----------------------------
N X D^3
where : d = wire diameter
D = Spring diameter
N = number of active coils (= total coils -1/2)
While not enough to design a spring from scratch, the relationship is
suffecient to allow some one to accruately predict the effect of
modification to a spring, ie such as cutting a coil.
Rick Morrison
72 MGBGT
74 Midget
>Sway bars from a 77-80 MGB can be used, as can aftermarket items, or a
>set of matched front & rear bars is available from M & G
>International,
>or Ron Hopkins. Both are listed in Moss, VB, & others.
>
>Be sure you know what you are trying to accomplish, & how much you are
>going to drive the car. My roadster, set up for auto-x, is not the
>most
>comfortable car to commute in, my lowered 74-1/2 GT is a dream, but it
>has a CB front crossmember & all CB suspension.
>
>Jim Stuart
>
>
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