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[suspension] estimating spring rates



	Gadzooks.  Since it seems that spring rates have recently been a
more touchy topic than Iraqi arms inspections I've been wondering if there
is a way to measure them without taking the coils off and compressing them
in a spring tester?  I'm assuming that some combination of knowing the
difference in spring length with the wheel off the ground and with the car
resting normally, the front/rear weight distribution (or corner weights),
and the sprung mass would yield a lbs/inch value?  Hooke's law, right?
	Or maybe even easier, measure the compression of the spring after
someone sits on a corner although the length change measurement may be very
small.  Reasonable or no?

	It seems that the photos of most progressive rate springs I've seen
in ads show widely spaced coils stacked atop a more closely spaced portion
and someone mentioned that the sudden transition in the rates during
cornering can upset the car.  So why aren't there springs with a gradual
increase in rates?  Harder to manufacture?  Difficulty in matching spring
sets?  Yah, I know, I should be thinking about more important things but
it's late and I saw the Doo Dah parade today.  benton------



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