[Tommy]

I believe that the spring rate (e.g., 500) is expressed in pounds per inch. In other words, it would take 500 pounds of force to compress each spring by one inch. If you car weighs about 2,000 pounds and that weight is distributed evenly across all four corners, each spring would be supporting aobut 500 pounds and would deflect about one inch. None of this says anything about how the car would feel or handle.