Some Solstice in the Weeds

[David Weiss <dzweiss@worldnet.att.net>]

STEADIRIC@aol.com wrote:

> Bzzzzzttttttt  50% of the spring is unsprung.

Phil Payne wrote:

>I thought that.

An interesting tidbit-- 50% of the _springy_ part of the spring is
unsprung.  For applications w/ dead coils, the dead guys are just that
much rigid metal most of the time (except in extreme rebound) and so are
sprung if at the top, but unsprung if at the bottom.  This was pointed
out by an ME who designed springs for a number of years before turning
to more profitable ventures.  At the time, he was looking at the H&R's
on the rear of the V8; they have the dead coils at the bottom.  Each
spring is 8 lb, of which ~4 lb is dead coils-- thus 6 lb unsprung.  If
at the top, it would be only 2 lb unsprung.

--Dave Weiss
  '91 V8 5-spd
  '93 90CS UnQ