I’ve picked up a set of what I’m assuming is OEM) springs but they have colours on the spring

2 x pink/orange/blue and
2 x pink/yellow/blue

I’m aware that the same colours are on the same axle, however I noticed that there was a chart which showed the years. The ones I’ve picked up are 2004 but my car is a MY03.

Would there be a problem putting MY04 springs on an 03 car?

Thanks

 

What's wrong with your 2003 springs?

According to the John McCanless's article the 2004-2005 springs do have different rates than your 2002-2003 springs but I doubt it makes any functional difference or if you can even tell the difference other than confirmation bias -- if you think it's going to be an improvement (or impairment) you will notice that effect. Honda modified the suspension rates every two years reportedly to dial out some the oversteer in the early cars. Springs and stabilizers were changed.

Guys put random aftermarket springs (lowering springs and "coil overs"), some with bizarre spring rates, on the S2000 all the time without any dire effects.

-- Chuck

 

04-05 was the softest of all the setups. So you'll get softer springs (but obviously the same dampers and same ARBs, so the difference won't be as stark as we might initially expect).

 

He is just asking how to decode the color markings.

OP:
I do recall what you are talking about but this is the only one I remember or could find easilly and is from 2006:

FRONT from the top
Blue YELLOW Pink

REAR from the top
Blue ORANGE Pink

I take no credit nor any blame, if that is wrong But I think if you have them swapped the wrong way it will become obvious when you set the car down. But better to not have to do it twice! I do not think the color markings relate to the year models though or the rates, but I could be wrong there.

I do feel like they changed those colors for various springs but those colors seem to match what you see and a user here stated those positions on the car. I have seen some that are all blue and blue red blue and "think" those are for AP1's.

 

ah I knew I remembered more of a convo on this. here is a link with more info. Again, cant confirm if correct but here it is

need help identifying stock springs - S2KI Honda S2000 Forums

more info on rates by year as well

S2000 Spring Rate & Sway bar rates - S2KI Honda S2000 Forums

 

Golly I thought the OP was asking if there would be a problem putting these 2004 springs on a 2003 car. Not what the colors meant...

-- Chuck

 

I am referring to you having to question why someone is asking a simple question. An they did ask about the colors. See how easy it was for me to provide them actual answers without questioning their motives? Why does it matter what happened to their current springs? That has no bearing on the answer at all. here. You can stop with being condescending as well.

 

Why he's replacing the springs doesn't matter at all other than I curious if there are wear or other damage issues or perhaps a previous owner cobbled the car with non OEM parts. 2002-2003 springs are often on EBay in complete sets and won't cause any issues whatsoever.

-- Chuck

 

That pretty much answers the question. I picked up the 2004 springs off eBay because they look far better than the ones currently on the car. Am pretty sure they’d come up at the very least as a MOT advisory.
Seeing that the eBay ones came to £30 including delivery I felt I couldn’t go wrong with them. At the very least they’d make great items for my art welding hobby.
So having been able to identify what the colours meant and that they were 2004 springs I wasn’t sure if there would be an issue putting them on a 2003 car. Or if I’d need to change other bits like the ARB’s and dampers.
Thanks all

 

S2000 spring dot colors are fairly esoteric so I doubt you'll have any MOT issues -- but I'm on the other side of a sizeable ocean.

-- Chuck