Standard springs

alackofspeed · #1 17th February 2008, 15:45

Does anyone know what the standard springs supplied by marlin are, length and rate?

Mine did have it marked on them, but it appears to have rubbed off.

I want to get some higher rate springs (it's like a water bed to drive at the moment), but I'm a bit stuck if I don't know what I'm starting with.~

Having removed a rear coilover, I do know the standard rear springs are 9".

Thanks,

John.

bigrich · #2 17th February 2008, 15:59

..can't help ....sorry.

Mine ar similar to yours...black with no ID.

Rich

SDMC001 · #3 17th February 2008, 16:12

John

The ones I had were 10inch 170LB, Marlin reccomended I went with 10 inch 225LB on the front, I believe others have used that weight as well, I think the rears are 10 inch 400LB, I have kept them.

Steve

alackofspeed · #4 17th February 2008, 16:21

thanks steve

limpabit · #5 17th February 2008, 17:40

No weight markings on any of my springs.

Comparing fronts with 170 springs, lloked the same. Upgraded fronts to the same as stevs, 225. Make a hell of a difference to the car.

Rears not sure what they are. But noticably chunky compared to the supplied k series and the front ones. Maybe due to the extra weight of the T series. I have not changed mine at the rears.

alackofspeed · #6 17th February 2008, 18:34

Looks like I need to email Marlin to confirm what they think I was supplied with.

I think my rear could benefit from a slight upping, maybe 20% stiffer, and the fronts more.

We've had some wonderfully dry and crisp weather down here over the past few days, and I've been trying to get a feel for the handling of the car. It doesn't appear to lack mechanical grip, but the roll is a smidge off putting, as is the pitching when braking and accelerating.

As an aside, I'm glad I've got the larger fuel tank, as although range is acceptable when driving sensibly, when pressing on the fuel dissapears amusingly quickly.

alackofspeed · #7 18th February 2008, 11:33

To save me removing a spring, does anyone know what the internal diameter is of the springs?

Cheers,

John.

craig · #8 18th February 2008, 11:58

John, mine are 2 1/4 inch internal front and back

When you find out from marlin let us know the stiffeness as I may aswell change mine now

Craig

alackofspeed · #9 18th February 2008, 12:34

Cheers Craig.

I spoke to Mark, and he suspects I have 300 lb x 9" on the rear, and around 200 on the front. Apparently they are presently running 300 front and rear on the demonstrator (with no preload on the front), so suggested I try that, and see how I get on.

P'ah it's all fun experimentation, so I'll give it a go.

Cheers,

John.

eaa53 · #10 18th February 2008, 18:31

Do I understand then that there is no way of telling which is which?

Does the colour and size count for nothing?

I have black ones.... What does 200lb mean deflection of x with applied load?

alackofspeed · #11 18th February 2008, 20:17

lbs per inch displacement, I believe. SI units don't appear to have reached the realms of automotive springs yet!

SDMC001 · #12 18th February 2008, 21:47

John

When I spoke to GAZ shocks they did have concerns about putting to heavier springs on the front, not sure how hight to go, but 300 maybe getting close. Maybe a chat with GAZ may be of some benifit.

Steve

alackofspeed · #13 18th February 2008, 21:57

Steve,

I spoke to dampertech, who are the distributor that supplies Marlin. They didn't see a problem with 300lb.

Mark said 300lb is the upper limit.

At the end of the day, I'm quite happy playing around, and will report my findings - springs are £40 a pair from dampertech, so quite reasonable.

For reference, my car is about 740kg fully wet (it was 750kg at SVA, but had tools, water, spare break fluid, and other odds and end in the cabin too), and about 320 / 420 split.

Cheers,

John.

alackofspeed · #14 19th February 2008, 22:24

What a revelation! 300lb springs on the front, and the car is massively better! The front doesn't pitch and dive like it did previously, and the car feels generally more planted.

The only thing that I need to get are some helper springs, to get the ride height correct - at the moment with zero pre-load, the front is sitting a little too high.

Now all I need is the new rear end from Marlin, some annual leave, and it's track time!

craig · #15 19th February 2008, 22:32

John, when you say zero preload do you mean that the spring is not compressed at all ie with the c-spanner adjuster? Why can't you simply wind down the spring?

alackofspeed · #16 19th February 2008, 22:46

At the moment, the adjustment collar is wound down to just touch the spring when fully extended, and like this the front is about 10mm too high. If I wind the spring back (to lower the ride height), then the spring will unseat when the suspension fully extends (say over a hump back bridge), which is not good.

I've ordered some faulkner 4" helper springs now, so problem solved.

I really can't believe the difference - the car feels sooooo much better to drive.

MikeR · #17 20th February 2008, 08:30

John.
Have you got the larger fuel tank? Seems a large jump from the 170lb springs that i have to 300lb.

Mike R

alackofspeed · #18 20th February 2008, 08:45

Yes I have the larger fuel tank. That said, full of fuel, or empty, the front felt stupidly soft with my original springs - it pitched and dived in a way quite inappropriate for the car's purpose (something to drive, when you're in the mood... a bit like a motorbike might be).

My daily driver pitches and rolls far less than the 5EXI did with the soft front springs.

Ric H · #19 20th February 2008, 18:28

John,
As you can imagine I'm reading all this with interest. Like you I have 250s on the front and 300s on the rear as per Marlin's supply. My experience with playing round with suspension etc is almost nill so knowing where to start was tricky... I may well be following your lead here I think, particularly as you say it's what Marlin are running now too. How harsh does it make the ride?
Unfortunately my tinkering time is going to be limited as march is bad for me at work and then I'm jacking it all in and going travelling for an extended period. Shame I'm not going to get this summer to play in my new toy but I guess it will still be there when I get back! I think the new rear end will have to wait until then.
Richard

alackofspeed · #20 20th February 2008, 20:06

Rich,

I'm pretty sure my fronts were 170 lb, although all I have is gloomy memories of what I read when I first fitted the springs, as the markings have rubbed off.

Ride comfort is absolutely fine with the stiffer springs, but the car feels far more secure, and generally more pleasant to drive - hard to encapsulate the feel, but I find it much better. It's not placebo, that much I'm sure.

The only experience I have of playing with suspension dates back to racing RC cars as a nipper..... but the effects of changes must be largely transferable.

On the basis that the handling is key to the car's enjoyment, I've ordered a few books to read. I don't imagine I'll turn into a vault of knowledge overnight from reading about suspension design, but it should help me make some relatively informed decisions.

Ultimately the ability to tinker is why I went for a kit car, rather than the cheaper option of a vx220 turbo.

For reference, I bought the springs from Dampertech, who I understand supply marlin with the dampers (but not the springs).

Travelling sounds like a good plan, before age and responsibilites really kick in!

Cheers,

John.