4000 Q spring rates

[Jason Gray]

I took measurements if the spring coil size and calulated that the front
stock springs on my 4000Q were 110#/in and the rears were 160#/in.

I have an entire parts car and recently played with swaping springs a bit, I
put the extra set of the rear springs onto the front of my daily driver. It
would be driveable to some like this but was a bit too low for my taste
(need enough clearance to get through the snow when it is deep) so I
relocated the spring perch upward on the strut by 1" to ensure I had
clearance and adequate suspension travel so it didnt bottom out as often. I
think that the combination of stock rear spring on the front and addition of
a sway bar to the rear work well to reduce cornering body roll and maintain
somewhat neutral handeling. (Stiffer front springs alone would increase
understeer, additon of the rear sway bar promotes oversteer so the two
somewhat cancel out).
 The rear spring that were originaly on my 4000Q had sagged noticeably and I
had very little rear clearance and little suspension travel left for rough
roads. I didnt particularly want to change the rear spring rate or get new
springs so I relocated the lower spring perch higher on the strut to restore
ride height at the rear using poor mans coil-overs; The stock spring perch
can easily be cut off the strut with hacksaw without cutting into the strut
tube, cut around below the weld, then grind the old weld off the strut tube
so the perch can be raised and relocated. To relocate the perch on the strut
tube, I have it "resting" on a muffler clamp (2" size for rear, 1-7/8" size
for front) that is fixed around the strut tube. I would suggest actually
resting the perch on a "stack" of 2 muffler clamps, one underneath the other
for extra security so it cannot possibly slip. Use the stronger 3/8" bolt
size clamps, JG whitney even sell stainless steel muff clamps if you are
worried about rusting. Much cheaper solution  for semi-adjustment ride
height than using threaded collar coil-overs if you dont mind dissasembling
the strut to adjust!

Jason  Gray
Anchorage, Alaska
87' 4Kcsq

Original message;
 4000 Q spring rates
Anthony Pelletier vwnuts at yahoo.com
Thu, 26 Sep 2002 13:21:40 -0700 (PDT)
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Hello all,

I have a friend who is doing a MC1 swap into a 4000
and is also upgrading the supsension.  He was
wondering what the stock spring rates were so he can
judge what he wants to put on.  I think he is going
with a Ground Control/ bilstein sport set up.  Anyone
running something similar?  He likes his cars to ride
pretty firm.

If you could reply to vwnuts at yahoo.com in addition to
the list it would be helpful as I am on digest mode.
TIA
Tony