Coil Over Spring Spacers

[Chics LI]

Is anyone using coil spring spacers? What exactly is thier purpose? On my front the adjuster is screwed up about 8 inches althouth the spring is not bound. Seems like a spacer would take up some of the slack or should I just go to a longer spring such as a 12 " . Car has 8" now on Afco non adjustable shocks. If the springs are not tightned so much wouldn't I have a softer ride. 300lb. 10" coils on Afco shocks in front 450 lb. 12" rear. Ride height is fine.

Tom S.

[kountzecobra]

I would think a longer spring would be better. This would give you more travel before you get into coil bind

[scottj]

A spacer would do the exact same thing as screwing the adjuster tighter by the same amount. If your ride height is OK and you add spacers or screw the adjusters tighter, you will raise the ride height by the same amount. If you install longer springs you would have to back the adjusters off to the same amount of gap as the shorter springs had to retain the same ride height. Afco has take-up springs that go between the adjuster and coil spring to take up the play. They are a 2-1/2" ID flat wound spring that doesn't affect the rate.
Scott

Re-reading your post, is this the type of "spring-spacer" you're refering to?

[Roscoe]

Tom,
The spacer is just that: to take up space. I was thinking of using one cause the adjustment on my fronts seemed to be maxed out. I chose to get longer springs.
Roscoe

[Jack21]

Generally, longer spring with same spring rate gives softer ride. 300 - 350 lb/in is about right with MII based front ends with 351 based motor. Aluminum heads, aluminum rack, aluminum water pump, aluminum bellhousing, T-5 trans: lighter spring. Iron, go toward heavier. Remember, the lower control arm acts as a lever on the spring. The weight on the wheel is about 600 lb, but the load on the spring is about 900 lb.

The rear spring sounds unusually stiff at 450 lb/in. Solid axle should be in the 180 - 220 lb/in range because the weight on the wheel is nearly the same as the load in the spring. With an IRS, the load on the spring will be more due to the leverage effect of the lower contol arm.

[Chics LI]

Jack,
The shocks front and rear are mounted at 30 degree leaned over angle so they are only working at a .75% rate which translates to 300lb. spring =210 lbs. front and 450 lb. spring =315 lbs. rear.

Tom S