Spring Free Length

[Dave-O]

I'm looking for the free [unloaded] length of stock widebody SQ springs, as well as any aftermarket springs for our cars. I've got access to a few different length springs at various rates, and I'd like to lower my Starion first without going to a threaded-body coilover sleeve just yet.

 

I'm estimating a 12" free length front and rear, but that's just rough eyeballing. If anyone has any info or can measure some springs for me, I'd greatly appreciate it.

[Goddard]

my loose rear springs measure 12-13/16" total length

[Dave-O]

Thank you sir! I appreciate the quick response.

 

Just need to figure out the fronts and I'll be set! Thanks again.

[Goddard]

Thank you sir! I appreciate the quick response.

 

Just need to figure out the fronts and I'll be set! Thanks again.

 

No problem, I just removed them from the struts a couple days ago!

[Indiana]

This is 1888 factory info

 

Springs for the rear of SHP (KYB) struts are different, also the strut rod diameter of the SHP rear strut is 30mm. The standard rear strut (Tokico) rod diameter is 32mm. All front (KYB) rod diameters are 30mm.

 

Front

Travel, full jounce 85mm/full rebound 75mm

Spring size (coil design height & id., bar length x dia.) 346x117.2x2650x12.8

SHP 327x117.2x2485x12.8

Spring Rate [N/mm, (in lb)] 23.5 (134.4)

SHP 26.0 (148.4)

Rate at Wheel [N/mm {in lb)] 22.0 (125.6)

SHP 24.3 (138.7)

 

Rear

Travel, full jounce 95mm/full rebound 90mm

SHP jounce 85, travel 95

Spring size (coil design height & id., bar length x dia.) 327.7x107.8x2515x12.2

SHP 320.4x108x2385x12.0

Spring Rate [N/mm, (in lb)] 22.6 (129.5)

Rate at Wheel [N/mm {in lb)] 20.0 (114.6)

 

 

If I understand those numbers, basically the SHP front spring is shorter and the rear SHP spring since it was also a different manufacturer is also shorter but a larger overall diameter but from a smaller diameter stock and keeping with how they only made the front SHP shorter that must be the same thing for the rear just the different mfg. for the strut also needed a different diameter part to fit their perch. Being shorter changes the rate.

 

Combine above with this ...

 

PER 1989

rear springs

MB110936 w/std. up to 12/1/88

MB110935 w/H.D. up to 12/1/88

MB110937 w/std. OR H.D. after 12/1/88

 

std 12.2x132.2x335.2 ( 1 lt blue band ) [oil strut]

optional 12.2x132.2x335.2 ( 1 lt blue band ) [gas strut]

 

front springs

MB430982 std. up to 9/1/88

MB175702 w/H.D. up to 9/1/88

MB633946 w/std. after 9/1/88

MB175703 w/H.D. after 9/1/88

MB175704 w/sport susp. after 9/1/88

 

std 12.8x142.8x346 [oil strut]

optional 12.8x142.8x327 [gas strut]

 

 

PER 1987/88

rear springs

MB110935 w/o intercooler

MB110936 w/intercooler

 

std 12.2x132.2x327.7 ( 2 pink bands) [oil strut]

optional 12.0x132.0x320.4 (1 pink band) [gas strut]

 

front springs

MB430982 std. w/o intercooler 1987

MB430983 w/intercooler 1987-88

MB175702 w/intercooler w/handling pkg.

 

std 12.8x142.8x346 [oil strut]

optional 12.5x142.8x327 [gas strut]

 

PER 1985/86

rear springs

MB110935

 

12.2x132.2x327.7 (2 pink bands) [oil strut]

12.2x132.2x327.7 (2 pink bands) [oil strut]

12.0x132.0x320.4 (1 pink band) [gas strut]

 

*******

Now there are different 5 different rear strut sets available:

Std. susp 1985

H.D. susp. 1985

Lt. w/o intercooler 1986

Lt. std. w/ intercooler 1986

Lt. Gas w/intercooler 1986

*******

and it just gets better public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif

front springs

MB175700 12.5x130x309-6.25 H series

MB175701 12.5x130x309-2.65 P series up to Dec. of 84

MB175702 (after Dec. of 84) 1985

MB175701 w/o intercooler 1986

MB175702 std. w/intercooler 1986

MB175702 gas w/intercooler 1986

 

12.8x142.8x339 ( 1 pink band, 1 blue band ) [oil strut]

12.8x142.8x346 ( 1 pink band, 1 green band ) [oil strut]

12.8x142.8x327 ( 1 green band, 1 blue band ) [gas strut]

1985

12.5x142.5x309 (1 blue band, 1 lt blue band) [gas strut]

12.8x142.8x320 (1 green band, 1 orange band) [gas strut]

 

PER 1984

rear springs

MB110935

 

12.8x132.0x320.4 (pink band) [gas strut]

 

front springs

MB175700 12.5x130x390-2.65 H series

MB175701 12.5x130x309-2.65 P series

 

12.5x142.5x309 (1 blue band, 1 lt blue band) [gas strut]

12.8x142.8x320 (1 green band, 1 orange band) [gas strut]

 

 

PER 1984

rear springs

( I didn't look at the 83 parts fiche I'll do that later[but I never did], all the other years info is from the same parts CD the dealer uses)

12.8x142.8x334 (pink band) [gas strut]

 

front springs

12.5x142.5x309 (1 green band, 1 blue band) [gas strut]

 

 

You need to measure the springs too

[ wire dia x O.D. x free length ]

 

To say that SHP springs were softer is incorrect, they were using some springs in the beginning for SHP cars that came out sometime in 1985 models

 

So know you are asking what is an H or P series aren't you? Must have to do with the wheel/strut/spring packages

Edited January 8, 2010 by Indiana

[Indiana]

There's some info if anyone ever cares to ask again and you never knew there was so much to know about springs did you?

[Dave-O]

Thanks Indy!

 

I'm just wondering now why none of this showed up on any searches I did.

 

If I'm reading this information correctly [probably not], the fronts are 12.8" and the rears are 12.2" on an '87?

 

I'm going to take an Advil and come back to this.

[Indiana]

There is wide body, there is flat body, there are gas or oil struts meaning they were made by different manufacturers, there was option packages, there is no "standard" spring it all depends on the model of the car and what options it had a who made the strut. All the combinations are listed. SHP was on for 88/89 and aftermarket now is just one size so you can make some assumptions from that.