Constant, variable or professional grade springs??????

[porschpow]

Ok, so apparantly there's diff kinds of springs.

Whats the diff, I know ya'll have been through this:

I am guessing variable gets firmer as you compress more??

Constant is same feel (economy type) and prof is heavy duty, right??

I am shopping for springs so I would liek to get the best pair for the Lincoln

[RyPow]

Whats the diff

Sorry, had to...

You are correct about variable rate vs. constant. "Professional grade" is likely more of a product quality descriptor than anything else, although it could be referring to "fleet" grade (police/taxi) as well. Best to look up the part number on the manufacturer's website and compare spring rates.

[porschpow]

good one,,

Yeah I know. Thats is what I was thinking aboutt he springs.

I know I will have to take the control arms off (rotor, sprindle). So I might as well change ball joints control bushings right. Anything else I am missing?

[sly]

"professional grade" are "usually" a lesser grade of stuff to allow for higher profit margins.

[GM_Guy]

If you tend to carry a couple hundred pounds of stuff in the trunk always, variable rate springs suck. That first "soft" springy part of the spring compresses too easy and you'll have a saggy assed car just from the day to day stuff in it.

[gadget73]

constant rate wagon coils work very well if you carry a lot of crap in the trunk all the time. Standard replacements work fine otherwise. The variable rates seem to collapse in a few years so its back to sag-ass. Either that or it just didn't care for the sub, the full size spare, and the jack I carry.

"Best" always is "best for what?". If you want the car to ride like it did in the 80s, use stock replacement springs. If you want to do something else, then you have to define what you're after.

[porschpow]

I want it to ride like it did in the 80's but with a little more of a solid feel, a LITTLE

[LithiumCobalt]

I replaced the rear shocks on my '87 with Moog 8805's. Stock replacement springs - constant rate. It put the car back to level as the originals were sagging a good inch. The ride height is still not the same from side-to-side even with brand new springs. I think it's about 1/2" different.

[porschpow]

I wonder if you switch the sides....would it be the same.

I know changing the rear springs is a world different than the fronts

[mitymerc]

Do the springs have "pigtails", if they are not facing the same way it might have an effect on ride height....

[LithiumCobalt]

Not sure, but I wasn't about to tear it all apart to find out. It's not off a significant enough amount to bug me too much. Car rides fantastic so I'll let the next guy worry about it.

[gadget73]

as many sets of springs as I've had in my car, its always been about a 1/2" off side to side, which is about the same as every one of these cars I've ever seen. Its sort of funny, you park a bunch of boxes in a line, and they all have the same lean. I half wonder if the same will be true when I change the back end over to air springs.

[porschpow]

Ha!

[LithiumCobalt]

as many sets of springs as I've had in my car, its always been about a 1/2" off side to side, which is about the same as every one of these cars I've ever seen. Its sort of funny, you park a bunch of boxes in a line, and they all have the same lean. I half wonder if the same will be true when I change the back end over to air springs.

I am very interested in hearing how you do this with the top mount in the rear. This is something I would strongly consider doing. Makes it much easier that I already have the factory air-assisted shock system already in the car.

[porschpow]

What are you talking about?

I am very interested in hearing how you do this with the top mount in the rear. This is something I would strongly consider doing. Makes it much easier that I already have the factory air-assisted shock system already in the car.