My first major upgrade will be a suspension mod in a month or so. I need some help on spring rates though. I was always stuck on the idea of getting Illuminas with S or H-techs.

Than I saw MaxMoJo's deal on his coilovers. I'm gonna go this route for height adjustability and here is where I need help. Originally he could only get 12/8 spring rates(Is that 12F/8R?, and is that kg/mm? ), which people complained about them being to stiff. Someone else came in MaxMoJo's thread and said they're on D2's at 9/7 and it's rough.

MaxMoJo later comes in and states he can get these springs in any rates they'd just have to be ordered. I'm trying to figure out, what would a spring rate be that would be comparable to something right in the middle of S-techs and H-techs. My intent is to use them at H-tech height most of the time, yet be able to lower the car to S-tech height when I would want it, yet have a spring rate that would be somewhat balanced between the two heights.

Is this even a logical idea?

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

for coilovers, you're going to get a spring rate that's much higher than the Teins.. usually you're looking at approx a 8/6 spring rate for coilovers on a Maxima. (that's in kg/mm., front/rear. it's approx 450/350 lb/in)

to convert the two, just go back to your high school science classes when you were doing metric/english conversions..
(or you can do it the hard way and use Google. )
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

that 12/8 spring rate is INSANE for a street car. I don't even use rates that high on my car and it's much heavier and spends its life at the track. (I run 8/8 on my 3 gen, and 8/6 on my 240SX)

you also don't want to change ride height all the time on these things. every time you touch the ride height, you change your alignment significantly. unless you're really goog at doing alignments using tape measures or have a friend at an alignment shop, then you need to get the height set once where you like it and leave it alone. (changing the damping rates on the coilovers doesn't affect ride height, thus doesn't change your alignment.. but changing your ride height KILLS your front toe and camber settings)

 

Thank you for the help Matt.
I'll go with your recommended 8/6.

I'll be ordering a LTB from you after the coilovers go on.

 

Since the original question was answered, just out of curiosity, why do coilovers have to be so stiff? Isn't it better to use stiffer sway bars and softer spring rates?

Also, if I were to buy coilovers but order some soft springs, like 5/4. Will I be able to adjust the damper settings to match such soft springs?

 

simple answer...our cars are very, very heavy...especially in the front end...hence the need for such high spring rates such as 8kg front and 6 kr rear...the rear being much lighter, less spring rate is required

I would say 8kg/6kg is a good blend of performance and keeping the suspension soft enough so that you don't "hop, skip" and generally soft enough to allow the suspension to do it's job over a range of ground conditions...

you certainly should be able to match 5/4 springs with the damper...they generally have a huge range of adjustment...you will just have to keep them a little softer than most...