I've been trying to find answers through searches on here for the purpose of preloading the spring but have come up empty. I was wondering if someone with knowledge could answer some questions for me like is it better to have them preloaded or not? what happens for each setting. does it create a more bouncy ride? thanks in advance guys.

 

I have a set of Tein RA's with the Helper spring.. is that what you are refering to? i belive the helper spring is to minimize the slack when you lower the car ALOT... thus no loose spring...just a guess

 

no i belive he is talking about spring preload. is when you can compress the spring and release the tension on it. its only possible on coilovers that you adjust the ride hight on the lower bracket and not by lowering down the spring. i belive that the more you tighten down the spring the stiffer the spring rate will be and the ride quality will be affected. but you also dont want the spring to be loose because that will minimize the shock travel. correct me if a am wrong or add more info to that.

 

yep im talking about the spring preload. Im asking because when I took my car back to the shop to have them raise it up a bit he told me that he preloaded the spring so that it would ride nicer. but I find that on the same stretch of bumpy road that its more bouncy now? like it'll hop and I'll here a clunking sound from the strut fully extending. is this an affect of preloading? or maybe its all in my head so that is why I ask.

 

you sure hes not talking about the preload in the control arms.

 

First, what kind of coilovers are they? Some adjust height by compressing the spring while others have independent spring preload and height adjustment. I can better awnser when I know what you have.

 

well, in motorcycle racing Preloading the spring doesnt increase spring rate but changes where on the shaft the suspension travels. preload will increase the initial sprint tention( because of the preload) and decrease overall travel, so with MORE preload you would figure bumpy is still bumpy.

 

In My SIG: JIC FLTA2

 

Sorry, I missed that. Yes you can adjust the preload seperate on those from the ride height. If they tightened up the spring to raise the car then yes the ride would get rougher. You could tighten it up until the shock fully extends. if ride was OK and you just wanted it lifted, they should have just adjusted the lower portion that that makes the coilover longer.

 

its a common misconception that increasing preload affects spring rates. This is not the case. The only thing that changes is just the moment of initial force required to cause movement.

Why is it do you want to run a preload?