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Torsion bar spring rates

Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2007 4:55 pm
by NWbuspilot
I am wondering what the equivalent spring rate for a coilover would be to match the spring rate of the front torsion bars. Any happen to know this info?

Re: Torsion bar spring rates

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 11:53 am
by Amskeptic
NWbuspilot wrote:I am wondering what the equivalent spring rate for a coilover would be to match the spring rate of the front torsion bars. Any happen to know this info?
Interesting question. Spring rate for torsion bars is utterly flat. The snubbers are the only method to introduce a progressive rate.

What do you want to achieve?
Colin

Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:55 pm
by NWbuspilot
I'd like to remove some of the torsion bars to make the bus slightly lower, and add coilover shocks to have it still perform at least like a stock setup, if not a little better. I have seen drop spindles for sale to achieve this, but they are spendy, and the push your wheels out by about 10mm.

Although I'm not sure if the shock absorber mounts can handle the extra stress of coilovers. I do remember reading somewhere though that there are coilover shocks on the VW microfiche.