Quote:
Originally Posted by 510&SE-R
Dont really like the idea of progressive rate springs... I heard that they can create an unpredictable car with literally a different rate at each wheel!
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Don't worry about that too much. That isn't as big an issue as you might think.
Even with a progressive rate spring, the relationship between the amount of
absolute force you apply to the spring and how much it compresses is consistent. That is, if it takes a force of 100 lbf to compress a progressive rate spring (of decent manufacture) from rest 1 in, it will always take 100 lbf to compress that spring 1 in from rest.
What this means is that a progressive rate spring will be perfectly predictable. Since drivers percieve lateral force from a relatively fixed reference point, a car equipped with progressive rate springs will be no less predictable than one with similar linear rate springs (as long as you have the same springs on the left and right side of the car).
Progressive rate springs are a great tool for maintaining both ride comfort and suspension travel. If you can swallow the design costs, there really is nothing wrong with using progressive rate springs.
