Whats a good spring rate?

[dohcfiend]

500? i have a coilover kit and the spring rate is 400lbs and that is barely streetable, 500 sounds like more like autocross springs.

[mfuller]

To tell what the ideal spring rates are for your car, get ready to do a ton of math.....you need to look at motion ratios and a whole bunch of other stuff.
I think your front suspension just uses struts (as most GM passenger cars do, because it's cheap).....500# linear springs will be way stiff....as in rattle your teeth stiff.
Case in point....a couple of years ago, I had a set of coilovers fabricated for my 2000 Olds Alero - I know, different car, but the size and weight are pretty close to your application, and it uses struts all around.
I had Koni Yellow dampers and Eibach ERS linear rate springs, 300# in front and 200# in back. They were glorious on the track and smmoth surfaces.....but in the real world of expansion joints and potholes......let's just say I started to drive my wife's car when I could.

[dohcfiend]

ya mine is a coilover kit. rates are 400# front and 300# rear and the frame is just high enough to get a floor jack under it. i mean it, 1/4 inch lower and the only way it would work would be one of the low profile floor jacks(maybe). the car handles great although it wasn't my intention. i wanted to A) help reduce wheelhop and B) reduce front to rear weight transfer. it was a sucess, wheelhop was greatly reduced and the weight transfer is undetectable.

but ya, it is right on the line for street manners. while i do not have a problem with it being my daily driver, i do not think i would use it for long trips. while i kinda like it, if i decide to sell the car it would most likely hurt me b/c most others will not like it.

[radman3120]

Well, my suspension is pretty much done and ive run an autocross and have had some time to drive around on it.

First of all, here is what was done:
KYB GR2s all around with all new mounts, bearings, etc
St 1.2" Front Lowering Springs
Control Arm Bushings
Ball Joints
Tie Rod Ends
Rear Spring Isolator Pads
GMPP Rear Trailing Arms came later so they are waiting to be put on

1) The autocross definitely felt a lot better
2) I wouldnt say that the srping stiffness is anything like "tooth jarring." Maybe its just me but maybe the 500 lb linear rate that they told me was incorrect. Who knows. All i know is that its a lot better than it was and its not uncomfortable to me

Thanks everyone for all the input

[radman3120]

oops double post sorry