Spring rates for different models?

Victor Meldrew · Post by **Victor Meldrew** » Wed Jan 27, 2016 5:13 am

I have just recently had Craig fit 2nd hand Bilstien shocks to my car that were originally from a VX220 turbo. The car feels great to drive in the few miles I managed to get in before I went back to work. I think the original S1 rates were something like 330/450 lbs but I'm probably wrong. I did at one time have Bilstein shocks that came off a rover engine S2 Elise. No idea what spring rate they would have been but it felt stiffer.

My questions are what rate springs would have been fitted on a S1 / S2 Elise and what is fitted on a VX220 turbo?

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:47 am

definitely not 330/450 on an S1. original nitrons were 325/400

this is from the seloc tech wiki for an S2:

S2 Spring Rates
Stock Elise suspension front: A116C0015H Eibach spring 200lb/in Rear: A120D0012H spring 285lb/in
LSS springs for Elise 05 (Federal): 220 F/ 314 R (ie +10%)
Stock Exige front: A122C008H 257lb/in Rear: A122D006H 371 lb/in
Exige track pack for Federal Exige (non returnable so much stiffer) 271 F/ 371

robin · Post by **robin** » Wed Jan 27, 2016 9:48 am

The standard spring rates are much lower than that. The S1s are in the 150-250 kind of zone and the S2s are a little stiffer - mostly noticeable at the front. I would have expected the VX220 turbo to have stiffer rear spring rates than the S2 given the engine is that bit heavier, but the fronts may well be similar to the S2.

Anyway none of them will have been as much as 300/400 I am pretty sure.

Cheers,
Robin

alicrozier · Post by **alicrozier** » Wed Jan 27, 2016 10:06 am

I found this on the internet...

VX220 NA = 234 / 268 lbs/in = 42 / 48 N/mm
VX220 Turbo = 275 / 315 lbs/in = 49 / 57 N/mm
VXR = 300 / 340 lbs/in = 54/61 N/mm

S1 Standard = 185 / 220 lbs/in = 33 / 39 N/mm
S1 LSS = 228 / 285 lbs/in = 41 / 51 N/mm

S2 Standard = 228 / 285 lbs/in = 41 / 51 N/mm
S2 LSS = 250 / 325 lbs/in = 45 / 58 N/mm

Victor Meldrew · Post by **Victor Meldrew** » Wed Jan 27, 2016 10:22 am

I think that 330/450 must have been what was supplied with my Nitrons from Hoffmanns. They had helper springs on the rear also. I remember those numbers from somewhere...

That means the spring rate balance is slightly different. F+48% R+43%

I was expecting the rears to be significantly stiffer to compensate for the bigger engine.

Thanks Ali... It is amazing the stuff your brain wonders about when you are trying to get to sleep off a nightshift.

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Victor Meldrew · Post by **Victor Meldrew** » Tue Feb 02, 2016 3:31 am

Just found the old email with the receipt for the Hofmanns spec Nitron dampers. They came with 550/800 springs..

tut · Post by **tut** » Tue Feb 02, 2016 7:38 am

You like your strong springs don't you John?

I had 650 rears on N3 at Randy's suggestion, though I thought them too strong for a lightweight early S1 on the road, but I don't think that I have seen 800's mentioned before. That is before I found this where you had 1,000's fitted.

http://www.scottishelises.com/phpbb/vie ... ns#p393188 last post

tut

Victor Meldrew · Post by **Victor Meldrew** » Tue Feb 02, 2016 7:41 am

They were proper stiff... 800 on the receipt. You don't believe everything I post when I've been drinking do you...

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Victor Meldrew · Post by **Victor Meldrew** » Tue Feb 02, 2016 7:44 am

I wouldn't hesitate to go for the same spec springs and shocks again. The car was super planted. Big rear diffuser probably helped. That was one of the reasons why he suggested such stiff springs. Low ride hight with limited clearance to the diffuser "vanes?"

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Victor Meldrew · Post by **Victor Meldrew** » Tue Feb 02, 2016 8:52 am

Managed to find a couple of pictures with part numbers on them. 247278 and 195531. I have emailed Eibach to ask what these actually were. Neither of the numbers show up on the current part listing on the Eibach website.

I remember discussing linear and progressive springs when I ordered them. I assume progressive means softer on initial travel then they stiffen up and the rate changes as they are compressed.

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Victor Meldrew · Post by **Victor Meldrew** » Tue Feb 02, 2016 11:37 am

Bugger.... I got an email response back from Eibach and they can't trace the rate from those numbers. I can work out the fronts from the 044.225.0550 but can't make out the other number in the photograph other than it ends in 50. Which is even more confusing...

Bugger it, doesn't really matter.

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Scottish Elises

Spring rates for different models?

Spring rates for different models?

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