Shock valving/getting stiffer springs

[dano17]

I have a set of coilovers with low spring rates, approx 380# front and 360# rear (can anyone guess the brand!?!?!). I want to get stiffer springs i was told that if you drastically change it will blow the shock (I thought that would only be a problem if getting a softer spring...). Im thinking 600# front and 800# rears.... Should the shocks be fine with that being as im going with stiffer springs instead of softer?

Cliffnotes:

Current spring rates:
380 front 360 rear

Upgrading to:
550 or 600 front 800 rear

Question:
Will my shocks be able to handle this w/o blowing?
(not sure how much +/- a shock can take from its stock valving)

Pic of car so your click wasnt worthless....

[S.F. Maxcy]

Will the shocks blow? No

Will the ride quality suffer? Probably so. You are adding a lot of rate so the shock isn't going to control the spring as well. How much worse the ride will be depends on the shock.

Hope I helped!

[Kielan]

It's going to be bouncy as all hell, I would go to like 500/600 at MOST and ride quality will still suck at that level.

I would highly recommend saving your money and upgrading coilovers.

[Jesus Christ]

I'm assuming they are racelands or Rokkor, in which case I wouldn't add more than 150lbs. 600/800 wont let the spring compress enough for the damper to do it's job and you'd be riding on the spring. It would be terribly bouncy.

The shock blowing is a myth unless you use shorter springs and bottom them out. Can't blow a shock that doesn't compress.

In any case, when you add up buying 4 springs and the coils you were 3/4ths of the way from getting something tailored to your preferences. We carry swift spring and have upgraded a few RLs with success by adding 100-150 lbs. Let me know if you have any questions, we specialize in this.

[Schultz28]

I'm assuming they are racelands or Rokkor, in which case I wouldn't add more than 150lbs. 600/800 wont let the spring compress enough for the damper to do it's job and you'd be riding on the spring. It would be terribly bouncy.

The shock blowing is a myth unless you use shorter springs and bottom them out. Can't blow a shock that doesn't compress.

In any case, when you add up buying 4 springs and the coils you were 3/4ths of the way from getting something tailored to your preferences. We carry swift spring and have upgraded a few RLs with success by adding 100-150 lbs. Let me know if you have any questions, we specialize in this.

this.

...you should just save up and buy new suspension!

[Tuck&Poke]

I'm assuming they are racelands or Rokkor, in which case I wouldn't add more than 150lbs. 600/800 wont let the spring compress enough for the damper to do it's job and you'd be riding on the spring. It would be terribly bouncy.

The shock blowing is a myth unless you use shorter springs and bottom them out. Can't blow a shock that doesn't compress.

In any case, when you add up buying 4 springs and the coils you were 3/4ths of the way from getting something tailored to your preferences. We carry swift spring and have upgraded a few RLs with success by adding 100-150 lbs. Let me know if you have any questions, we specialize in this.

Everything I know about shocks is making me contradict this statement. What you are saying would be true if the suspension didn't articulate at all, but it does, and it will more with an under-valved shock. Remember that springs oscillate when a force is applied, the reason we put shocks.

Just because he upped the spring rate doesn't mean the spring is not going to move. This may be true if he put a solid spring on there, but the car is still going to articulate the suspension. Any time a shock bounds or rebounds it creates heat. A properly valved shock will limit spring motion to one oscillation, maybe two. Putting a stiffer spring will allow the spring to oscillate more, therefore creating more heat than the shock can handle, and then it blows. Moving a shock out of its efficiency range will exacerbate this problem because there is very little damping out of range (its like putting an even softer shock), therefore more movement and a blown shock.

Shocks can be re-valved, prices vary, but they can be matched to the spring rate you are looking for. It depends on how much you are willing to invest into these coilovers. For example I've heard that with KW's you can up the spring rates 25% safely. I don't know what coils you have, but remember that KW's are lifetime warranty high quality coilovers. Figure out if its worth it, proceed from there.

[Jesus Christ]

Everything I know about shocks is making me contradict this statement. What you are saying would be true if the suspension didn't articulate at all, but it does, and it will more with an under-valved shock. Remember that springs oscillate when a force is applied, the reason we put shocks.

Just because he upped the spring rate doesn't mean the spring is not going to move. This may be true if he put a solid spring on there, but the car is still going to articulate the suspension. Any time a shock bounds or rebounds it creates heat. A properly valved shock will limit spring motion to one oscillation, maybe two. Putting a stiffer spring will allow the spring to oscillate more, therefore creating more heat than the shock can handle, and then it blows. Moving a shock out of its efficiency range will exacerbate this problem because there is very little damping out of range (its like putting an even softer shock), therefore more movement and a blown shock.

Shocks can be re-valved, prices vary, but they can be matched to the spring rate you are looking for. It depends on how much you are willing to invest into these coilovers. For example I've heard that with KW's you can up the spring rates 25% safely. I don't know what coils you have, but remember that KW's are lifetime warranty high quality coilovers. Figure out if its worth it, proceed from there.

Saying a shock will blow from heat caused by spring bind is like saying a tire will blow because it's stretched. Yes they are being used beyond their advertised capability but they take it alright. It certainly does happen but those examples are few and far in between during street usage and usually with lower quality coils. I DO NOT recommend changing the spring without valving the shock, that goes without saying but my personal experience from upping rates on various cars at Fortune Auto, personally dynoying 95% of the shocks on the market (including the RL's that op has) with different rates, and dynoying our own Broadway Static Coilovers has taught me that you can go up to 150lbs without consequence except for a bouncier ride. If you are still worried about bind (which a lot of people are) then we offer a roller bearing kit you put on the spring perch and that dramatically decreases it. So yes you are right, but you're right in the same way that falken is for saying don't use anything over a 8" wide wheel on a 205.

Doubling the spring rate like OP is trying to do WILL create more heat but it's negligible in the short term. the short term problem he will have is not the spring not compressing enough for the shock to actually dampen.

Kw doesn't do anything special so they can up the rates a bit without re valving, its just that it's not a big deal to up the rates a little.

KW makes a good coilover and an unbeatable warranty but it is my firm belief we at BWS make the best internal reservoir coilover on the market for 3 series BMW's. I invite anyone to ride in my car at SOWO or any show so they can decide for themselves.

[dano17]

Jesus, I will try and get in touch with you at Sowo if I can infact make it. Ive really been thinking about getting broadways, but cant afford them yet...

Thanks everyone for their input, just thought If I got stiffer springs it could make the rubbing subside enough for me to stop worrying. And you guessed right, theyre Rokkors.

[Dibaltic]

i want BWS coilovers too

[Tuck&Poke]

Saying a shock will blow from heat caused by spring bind is like saying a tire will blow because it's stretched. Yes they are being used beyond their advertised capability but they take it alright. It certainly does happen but those examples are few and far in between during street usage and usually with lower quality coils. I DO NOT recommend changing the spring without valving the shock, that goes without saying but my personal experience from upping rates on various cars at Fortune Auto, personally dynoying 95% of the shocks on the market (including the RL's that op has) with different rates, and dynoying our own Broadway Static Coilovers has taught me that you can go up to 150lbs without consequence except for a bouncier ride. If you are still worried about bind (which a lot of people are) then we offer a roller bearing kit you put on the spring perch and that dramatically decreases it. So yes you are right, but you're right in the same way that falken is for saying don't use anything over a 8" wide wheel on a 205.

Doubling the spring rate like OP is trying to do WILL create more heat but it's negligible in the short term. the short term problem he will have is not the spring not compressing enough for the shock to actually dampen.

Kw doesn't do anything special so they can up the rates a bit without re valving, its just that it's not a big deal to up the rates a little.

KW makes a good coilover and an unbeatable warranty but it is my firm belief we at BWS make the best internal reservoir coilover on the market for 3 series BMW's. I invite anyone to ride in my car at SOWO or any show so they can decide for themselves.

Gotcha, I was interested in this too because I have new stiffer springs for the rear and I was worried about blowing the shocks. I have progressive rear springs and the rates aren't listed and I'm switching to linear ones.

[Hdrasta]

I just ordered new springs for my coil overs at a higher spring rate and due to the valving of the shock I had to buy new shock cartridges for the fronts I already had rears for mine valved for what I wanted.

So it depends on how your shocks are valved if your going up to a certain spring rate you might have to buy new shocks. or buy better one's depending on what you have

[brandyn]

I invite anyone to ride in my car at SOWO or any show so they can decide for themselves.

Not doubting you in anyway, but i would love to experience how this suspension is. as i also am on rokkors.

Jesus, I will try and get in touch with you at Sowo if I can infact make it. Ive really been thinking about getting broadways, but cant afford them yet...

Thanks everyone for their input, just thought If I got stiffer springs it could make the rubbing subside enough for me to stop worrying. And you guessed right, theyre Rokkors.

ROKKORS FTL

Dano, you better park beside meh at sowo

i want BWS coilovers too

Dont u have function n form type 2?
and dont they adjust the same way as BWS? jw