What are the major differences between the two?

All I know is that progressive springs are a bit softer and the ride quality is better then the linear. But proformance wise linear handles better then progressive.

I would like to upgrade my springs and I would really only be using my FD for street use and auto X.

Should I get linears or progressive springs?

Thanks

 

In my opinion, go linear, all the way. Linear springs are more predictable than progressive. Progressive springs have a softer spring rate when not pushed to hard, but when you start pushing your car hard and the springs compress more the rate goes up. Theoretically this sounds great, but the problem is the transition point. The car will feel soft going into a corner and then stiffen up suddenly when a certain pressure is put on the springs. If you want a good ride and linear springs, just make sure not to get a spring rate that is too stiff for your car. I run 375lbs. front and 325lbs rear, thats probably a bit overboard for you though, 325, 250 might work, or even lower would be still be MUCH better than stock.

 

I have the progressive rate H&R springs, and HAD the Racing Beat linear rate springs. I like the H&R sport springs much better for street and track driving, but not for autocrossing.

Speedracer is correct in that the transitions are not as crisp with the progressive rate springs, and this really hurts the slalom runs. The flip side to this is that out on high speed tracks, there are very few of these transitions. The progressive rate helps in "progressively" loading the outside tires to "ease" the transition from no load to load, and, in effect, helps with being smoother, and decreases the likelihood of spinning out.

During my time with the linear rate RBs I would spinout at least once during a given track event weekend. With the H&Rs I spunout ONCE out of 8 track event weekends. The H&Rs are soft enough that my buddies can see my car lifting my right front tire 2 inches off of the ground while rounding Putnam Park Turns 9-10 (tight, right hand sweeper)! I just wish someone would be shooting video at that moment (shooting fire out of your tailpipe doesn't compare to lifting a front tire through a corner!) I never lifted a tire until I went with Hoosiers; much of the tire lifting is tire stick outgunning the spring rate

Out on the low speed autocross stuff, the RBs were better feeling. I don't think they were necessarily faster than the H&Rs, but the RBs were very predictable UNTIL you ran out of tire stick (because you load the tire faster, and reach and exceed tire stick limits faster).

Street driving over rough roads is MUCH better with progressive rate sprigns. The RBs would bash your teeth in. The H&Rs almost feel touring car smooth over smooth roads. It's great, and that's good for my aching back

If you do a combination of street/track/autocross, with more street/track than autocross, then then H&Rs are for you. If you autocross every weekend, and drive over smooth roads daily, then get the linear rate RBs. It just depends on your situation.

 

SleepR1, nice write up. Now I have a question. I wasnt really into autocross before, and I RARELY push my car on the streets as far as handling goes. I went into a ditch, hit a tree, then rolled over in my 89 GTU when I was 17. And I wasnt even pushing my car(that wreck is a long story), but that left me quite scared to push my car on the street, and thats probably a good thing.

Now I am working on the suspension on my 90 GTU, and I do plan to start autocrossing it soon. Im doing poly suspension bushings now, and sway bars soon. Then Im doing shocks and springs. Ive already decided on KYB AGX's(unless someone convinces me otherwise before I buy), but Im trying to decide between progressive and linear springs.

Given that I will just be learning how my car really handles, will the learning curve for progressive and linear springs be about the same? I would really prefer progressive from a ride quality standpoint. I want a car that really handles, and makes a good autocross car, but I dont want the ride to rattle my teeth out with the bad roads here.

The specific progressive springs Imlooking at are 130/250 lb for the front, and 100/200 lb for the rear.

BTW, I also drag race occasionally, and dont want to go too stiff in the back, I dont enjoy breaking diff mounts from wheel hop.

 

Hard to say what the right answer is for you. I guess if you plan to autocross more, you will like the linear rate springs better than the progressive spring, ESPECIALLY when manuevering through slaloms (I hate slaloms).

 

Well, the car will still primarily be street driven. But I dont want springs that will make me embarass my self autocrossing. I dont want to use really stiff linear springs for 2 reasons. One, it is a street car, and right now I drive it daily. It wont be my daily driver for much longer, but it will still be driven mostly on the street. Second, I dont want to have major problems with wheel hop when launching like I would with really stiff springs.

Heres my decision. Progressive springs in the rates I posted above, or linear springs that fall somewhere within the middle of the range of the progressive springs. Either way, I know I will be making compromises. I just want to choose the spring with the least compromises.

 

speedracer,

do you know what the stock spring rate is for an FD? is it true the R1 and touring have the same spring rate?

sorry, I'm a newbie to the suspension forum

 

The Wheel Rate is 106 lbs per inch of compression. I'm not sure what the actualy spring rate is. Yes. the wheel rate is the same for all FDs, only the dampers (shocks) are differently valved. The R models have stiffer valved Showa shocks.