Spring rates

[CL65 Captain]

Why do Honda and Comptech both use higher spring rates in the front vs rear and all others use the opposite? I would think that Honda has tons of R & D developing their Type R and S suspensions on their car.... is the NSX unique in this setup? Are Tein, Buddyclub, JIC, etc. just marketing the same thing they have R & D on other cars (ie higher rear rates) for the NSX with out extensive R & D specifically for the NSX application?

I also saw a video of some modified NSXs with various aftermarket suspensions and I noticed ALL OF THEM used higher spring rates on the front than the rear?

 

[khappucino]

haha maybe they just took stock spring rate ratio front/rear and just multiplied by like 3x :biggrin:

or maybe it has something to do with the type R and S stuff having sway bars paired with them in some magic proportion?

 

[ScienceofSpeed]

Why do Honda and Comptech both use higher spring rates in the front vs rear and all others use the opposite? I would think that Honda has tons of R & D developing their Type R and S suspensions on their car.... is the NSX unique in this setup? Are Tein, Buddyclub, JIC, etc. just marketing the same thing they have R & D on other cars (ie higher rear rates) for the NSX with out extensive R & D specifically for the NSX application?

I also saw a video of some modified NSXs with various aftermarket suspensions and I noticed ALL OF THEM used higher spring rates on the front than the rear?

It is likely because they looked at only weight distribution and not the motion ratio of the front and rear control arms.

Cheers,
-- Chris

 

[CL65 Captain]

It is likely because they looked at only weight distribution and not the motion ratio of the front and rear control arms.

Cheers,
-- Chris

Chris, I am trying to follow. Are you saying Honda only looked at weight distribution or the after market companies did? I know that there are numerous ways to setup a car, but I am trying to determine why Honda goes one way and the others didn't follow. After all, you would think that Honda had millions of $ into the development and testing of the Type R and S. Comptech Pro also followed Honda's lead. Did the others do R&D specifically for the NSX, or just do R&D for a product and adapt it to work for the NSX?

Chris, I also see that on your website you rate the JIC coilovers better than the Type R in performance. Do you honestly think this setup works better than Honda's own setup? The JICs have higher rear spring rates as well.

Confused...

Jim

 

[khappucino]

chris,
you mean because the wheel rate is different in the front vs rear right?

 

[Alan C.]

It is likely because they looked at only weight distribution and not the motion ratio of the front and rear control arms.
Cheers,
-- Chris

Wheel rate is another way of saying it. On some cars the differance is quite large. Porsche 944's are a good example with their rear trailing arms.