For those with the "dead coils springs":

On the Mazdatrix website, it says the 5 *bottom* coils are dead coils. This would mean that you would install them on the bottom. However, I've seen more than one pic of different cars where the "dead coils" are on top (chassis-side as opposed to axle-side).

Does it matter which way they are installed?

 

i do, but i haven't installed them yet...and now i too am wondering which way they go.

 

Same here, they are sitting on the shelf till the coilovers are done. My bet is dead goes down.

 

I honestly don't know, but I'd take a guess...

They're the bottom coils because they're useless weight that you could cut off if you wanted to. If they were on top then that extra dead weight would screw with you wehn you hit a bump, probably because the dead coils act as strengtheners when you hit a bump.

*shrugs* I'm just drunk right now.

 

heres another stab at it.

First of all do you have any pictures of what you are talking about? My guess is that the spring has a progressive rate design, meaning the more its compressed the harder it is to compress. To me it doesn't make sense to have the dead coils at the top because the ride would be VERY stiff. With the dead coils on the bottom the ride should be softer and less harsh, but if pushed really hard should be pretty stiff because of the progressive rate springs.

But like I said, this was just a stab, I have no idea if what you are refering to is actually progressive rate style springs...

 

^^ Yeah what I tried to say

 

no, its not like the dead coils do anything at all, meaning they are not
part of a progressive spring setup.

my spring we are speaking of has 5 coils that are very close togerher, maybe 1cm apart. i can squeeze them with my hands easilly, so i assume when the vehicle's weight are on them, they are pressed firmly together. so its not like you think...progressive

 

one more thing. i never figured out what my spring rates were on my
GC coilover setup. i have the eibach 2 1/2" springs in the front, and the
eibach springs in the rear with the dead wound coils. did they make the GC/Eibach
coilover setup in different spring rates, or are they all the same?

 

Ok, so the springs are not progressive design then?

Then I am confused as to why this question is being asked? If Mazdatrix says to install the spring so that the dead coils are at the bottom why would you do it the opposite way? Is there something im not getting here?

 

^^ Mazdatrix does NOT say to install them on the bottom. Please re-read my first post and you will see why this question is being asked.

 

eibach/gc did have both setup, i believe the 175 is more common. I have the 175, and I believe i have the dead coils on the bottom, because the lower seat seem to match the dead coil part of the spring angle better, i haven't had any trouble so far. and now that i'm thinking more about it, i'm pretty sure the dead coils should be closer to the bottom, because if you have a few dead coils off, and you jack up the rear, the springs will seat a lot better and have less of a chance of falling off... I will be redoing my front suspension a bit next week, and then i'll start cutting coils in the back to match the front, so we'll see what happens...

Alvin

 

Dead coils are just that, dead. They are a filler and take up space, which can then be cut out to adjust ride height They are designed not have any affect on the spring rate.

 

can anyone tell me what the front spring rate is with the GC/Eibach coilover setup?...or do they make them in all different rates?

 

the front is mean to be used as a coilover setup, and you can therefore use almost anyrate 2.5" front coils, but I believe the pro 7 setup is 350, 375, or 400 lb springs with the 175/200 rear.

I'm actually running 375 front and 175 rear for my daily driven autoxer and it's not too stiff (though i guess i'm still young and can tolerate more bumps and stuff...)



Alvin

 

Theoretically it is best to put the dead coils on top, so that they are unsprung weight.

There are two schools of thought on this... one, with the live axle you need every bit of help that you can get unsprung-wise. On the flip side, it really doesn't matter all that much, percentagewise.

Here's a question. Is one end of the spring tapered off (so the spring has a flat seat)? If so, put that side facing up. The spring pad on the body is flat, while the spring pad on the axle is "notched" for spring coils. Practicality always wins out over what is theoretically best.

 

The Eibach springs from GC have stencil on them, my front coilover springs have the following;
700.250.400= 7inch tall, 2.50in dia, 400lb rate

Hope that helps

 

Damn! I had to opportunity to buy four 7" 400lb springs for $20 (yes $20 for all four) but I figured, nah, what good would they be?

D'oh!