What Every Technician Needs to Know About Coil Springs

Also known as deflection rate, spring rate is a measure of a spring’s strength and is determined by the wire diameter, number of coils and quality of the steel. It is the amount of weight needed to compress the coil spring one inch. The OE spring rate can differ from one vehicle to another based on vehicle model, engine size, drivetrain (4W vs front wheel), transmission type (automatic vs manual), and other vehicle attributes that affect vehicle weight and ride profiles. In fact, within a single model, there can be different packages and trim levels that can affect spring rate.

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It's important to match OE spec by application when it comes to spring designs to help restore OE ride height specifications assigned to each vehicle. Even a 15% reduction in ride height can cause the vehicle to noticeably sag and may affect wheel alignment which could result in accelerated tire wear.

Here are some additional things to know:

Quality Matters

A spring manufacturer can use its own formula to achieve the spring rate; they can alter the steel strength, wire diameter or number of coils to do so. Simply adding more coils to compensate for lower strength steel may not match the OE spring rate. The additional coils can stack up, creating touchpoints of the coils at or before full suspension compression and causing coil bind, potentially resulting in immediate suspension component damage.

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Rate Differences

Spring rates can differ from the left side of the vehicle to the right. The design of the vehicle is a major factor in how the manufacturer determines the proper spring rate for each side. For example, many vehicles have the engine offset to the passenger side to make room for components like the accelerator and brake pedal. This can affect the spring rate of the right and left side of the vehicle. It is important to take this into consideration when it comes to individual coil springs or as part of a strut assembly - not matching the OE spring rate could compromise the vehicle’s performance.

Challenge:

Looking Beyond Static Ride Height When Diagnosing Bad Coil Springs

Maintaining proper ride height is crucial to vehicle durability, performance and safety. When ground clearance is too low, drivers may experience excessive tire wear and severe damage to suspension components. Furthermore, improper ride height can impact vehicle alignment, directional stability, stopping distance and steering control.

When performing inspections, automotive service professionals often are looking for issues with static ride height, or the ride height of a vehicle at rest. Measuring ride height in this manner might suggest adequate ground clearance, but “dynamic” ride height – the ride height of a vehicle in motion – may tell a different story. With today’s lighter vehicles and suspension components, a vehicle with acceptable static ride height may still bottom out while moving, or during loaded conditions. The cause of such dynamic ride height issues is often worn or damaged coil springs. Automotive service shops performing strut replacements sometimes try to save their customers money by retaining the old coil springs, but the reality is that this could cost the consumer more.

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