Good Street / Strip Springs?

[FastGT94]

I may be fixing up my suspension this winter and wanted to know what a good street / strip spring is for our cars? I'm going to go with Strange 10 way adjustable front struts and rear shocks and need a spring to go with them. I'd like something close to stock handling but yet good weight transfer for the 1/4 mile.

I know lowering springs kill 60' times so those most likely are out or are they? What else is there or should I just get a set of stock springs?

I can't really afford a switch to Coil-overs right now fyi.

Thanks!

 

[stprorolla49]

heres wut my dad did on his chevelle (yea...i kno) its a 502 big block so he got a set of small block springs and cut a coil outta them...its rides nice and lifts amazingly....see the reason why i recommend this is that his car is 3500 lbs, 2100 lbs of which are up front!!!! in his case its almost impossible for him to get good weight transfer and he even sometimes has traction problems...710 hp/780 tq on motor will do that to u..........in ur case i would go with some 6 cyl springs, or even 4 cyl fox springs (not sure if they would fit tho) and cut a coil out.....then u can decide which ones to get for the back, but any sould work just as long as u have good control arms.....

 

[willys1]

Eibach drag launch springs!!

 

[FastGT94]

But are the eibach's good for the street? Don't those make the car's ride height like a truck?

I've heard things about the 4 cylinder springs, I may have to look into that.

I'm confused about one thing though. I thought you want a higher spring rate up front to help with the lift? Wouldn't lighter springs do just the opposite? I guess I just don't understand the physics of it yet. Maybe I'll look at some 6 cyl springs first...

Thanks again!

 

[TMC]

But are the eibach's good for the street? Don't those make the car's ride height like a truck?

I've heard things about the 4 cylinder springs, I may have to look into that.

I'm confused about one thing though. I thought you want a higher spring rate up front to help with the lift? Wouldn't lighter springs do just the opposite? I guess I just don't understand the physics of it yet. Maybe I'll look at some 6 cyl springs first...

Thanks again!

Eibach drags won't make it ride like a truck. They are a decent compramise spring for a street car if you're not willing to go with the Moroso trick springs. The Trick springs will work better at the track and with the proper setup will ride just fine on the street but do certainly give up more in the handling department than the Eibach springs will.

You want/need a softer or lighter rate spring to help lift the front end of the car. Softer springs are longer and continue to push with more force than the stiff springs once the suspension is extended.

 

[FastGT94]

Ah, sounds good thanks for that. Should I use the Eibachs for the back as well too?

 

[stprorolla49]

the reason why you want a soft spring in the front is because it stores energy like crazy, and when you launch the car it will transfer the weight really well...thats why lowering springs are no good for drag racing...good for handling b/c they r nice and stiff so u can take corners well, but they dont store energy well cause they r too stiff...the absolute best drag spring for the front and the back would me moroso drag springs....they r not good on the street tho but they have the best stored enery rating....tried and proven...

sry to repeat tmc.....i wasnt payin attention too well...my bad....but i guess he gets the point now...

 

[FastGT94]

No problem, since I'm looking for the best of both worlds (near stock handling and good launch), I'll probably give those eibach's a shot. Thanks to all for the advice!

 

[nmcgrawj]

How are the eibach's height wise? Are they just as high as stock springs?

How much does a coil over kit go for? That would be the best right?

 

[FastGT94]

Also, anyone have experience with the Strange Adjustable shocks / struts? I talked with a rep and they are supposed to be adjustable as far as near 80/20 but yet have good street performance as well.

 

[mo_dingo]

There is no true "balance" that can be made drag vs. street springs.

Street springs mean they are somewhat stiff and equal on bound/rebound. The front's characteristics will match the rears, but because of the weight distribution, the springs are not the same.

On a drag car, the front springs need to be really soft, which will make the front end lift up very easily. The rears are completely different. They need to be extremely stiff; stiffer then the "lowering springs" as well. This forces the front end to come up, and the rear to stay planted.

The problem with the drag setup for the street is that the front end will bounce like a po-go stick on any kind of bumps, while the rear will be harsh and stiff. This does not make for a fun car to drive around town with.

I think the only realistic balance you could come up with is lowering springs on the rear, and stock replacements up front. This will however make the car sit too high up front, so coils will need to be removed from the front springs, which is a nightmare.

IMO, you may be able to get away with drag launch springs on a DD because you can adjust your shocks/struts bound/rebound rates.. This may allow you to have a decent riding vehicle during street trips, but once you hit the track, you would need to change the settings.

 

[Darkhorse845]

03-04 Mach 1 springs! Good spring for street/strip use!

 

[FastGT94]

IMO, you may be able to get away with drag launch springs on a DD because you can adjust your shocks/struts bound/rebound rates.. This may allow you to have a decent riding vehicle during street trips, but once you hit the track, you would need to change the settings.

That was my thought exactly. With the adjustable strange shocks / struts (10 way) I could stiffen up the front a bunch when daily driving to balance it out and adjust it once at the track for the launch. I guess I really won't know for sure unless I try right lol.

Thanks!