S2000 Under The Hood S2000 Technical and Mechanical discussions.

Effect of matching front & rear spring rates?

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Old 01-14-2004, 11:54 AM
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Default Effect of matching front & rear spring rates?

I am aware that the stock spring rates on the S2000 are lower in the front than in the rear, my question is what effect it would have on the car if the front and rear had the same spring rate. For example the Tein RA and RS coilover sets have 559 rates at all 4 corners. What will this do to performance? Oversteer, understeer, harder to control/easier to control?
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Old 01-14-2004, 04:58 PM
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Because the S2000 favors oversteer when pushed to the limits, (IN THEORY!) raising the front spring rate in relation to the rear will get you more neutral or even dial in some understeer. Unfortunately, I don't know if my assumption is correct.
Old 01-14-2004, 05:42 PM
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Uncle Fester's assumption is generally correct, but he didn't take into account the front/back weight distribution of the car.

Anyway in short having the same rate front and back for the S2000 will in theory make your car slightly more forgiving to drive.
Old 01-14-2004, 05:50 PM
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It has been said that equal spring rates can contribute to an oscillation problem on some surfaces. I don't know about this theory but at least one poster in the past said he had experienced it, especially on concrete roads poured in equal sections.
Old 01-14-2004, 08:48 PM
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I have the Tein RA's with 8/10 spring rates front/rear, respectively. My roommate has Tein RA's with 10/10's. Both ride very nice. I chose to go with 8's in the front for a slightly more forgiving ride. I have not driven his, only ridden in it, but we are both happy. I did, however, dial the stiffness of the shocks to a stiffer setting in the front than the rear. But nothing drastic.
My next mod will hopefully be a stiffer front sway bar.
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