B11 springs

1944 Views 12 Replies 5 Participants Last post by xXB12RacerXx, May 7, 2003

wrnealis

Discussion Starter · Jun 10, 2002

I'm racing an 84 sentra on my local circle track. As weird as that seems, the car does make decent power with a few mods.

I'm now searching for any B11 springs kits. I need something with about 2" drop and very stiff. If anyone has developed a custom setup for this car, I would very much like to hear about it. I am tired of bouncing out of the corners!

Save

1 - 13 of 13 Posts

RiceBox

· #2 · Jun 10, 2002

I'm not sure how much the B11 and B12 share as far as suspension goes. If they are similar you could get some Eibach springs, there are some other companies that make springs for the B12s but Eibach is the best.

Save

PatScottAKA99XE

· #3 · Jun 10, 2002

Cut them..dont let the others here fool with non belife of cut springs. 2 reasons..Cutting them lowers your ride height and stiffens the rate(only a lil though). Of course you have to consider suspension travel, you dont want to be bottoming out. If you are going to swap them anyway, just try it. I am preparing to be flamed.hehe

Save

RiceBox

· #4 · Jun 10, 2002

How does cutting springs make the stiffer??? Enlighten me please.

Save

PatScottAKA99XE

· #5 · Jun 10, 2002

RiceBox,

This is a lil trickey to explain, but I will try.
It works becasue you are keeping the same spring rod diameter, but you are getting rid of some of the springs compliance due to the fact that you are missing coils(or part of a coil). If I can find my source for this info I will share it. BTW this is what happens. If you have a spring with 10 coils and you remove 1 coil, that spring will be 10% stiffer.

Save

PatScottAKA99XE

· #6 · Jun 10, 2002 (Edited)

Here are some interesting links

http://www.allpar.com/eek/coils.html

http://www.brickboard.com/ARCHIVES/1999OCT/50007837.shtml

http://www.hotrodders.com/cgibin/ubb/18/000140 read all post in that thread

http://moab.off-road.com/pipermail/desertracer/msg03823.html read all repies

If you say"But dont cut spring cause a bouncey ride" I will say "You need to brush up on suspension theory and operation" In case you are wondering why I would say that. Well if you increase the spring rate beyond the damping capabilities of your dampers(shocks/struts) you will get bounce. Can we say B14 lowering springs with stock struts? Thats exactly why Sportline/stock strut setup bounces. For all those interested I am going to have the rates checked on my stock B14 springs, then I am going to cut them and recheck the rate. The proof is in the pudding, right. Then thanks to "By Nature" and "dho" I am going to compare this to the rates of my Sportlines("dho" posted the rates and "By Nature" pointed me to them). Look for the results in the suspension forum by the end of the week.

See less See more

Save

RiceBox

· #7 · Jun 10, 2002

PatScottAKA99XE said:
RiceBox,

This is a lil trickey to explain, but I will try.
It works becasue you are keeping the same spring rod diameter, but you are getting rid of some of the springs compliance due to the fact that you are missing coils(or part of a coil). If I can find my source for this info I will share it. BTW this is what happens. If you have a spring with 10 coils and you remove 1 coil, that spring will be 10% stiffer.

The part that I don't agree with is that there is now less metal to absorb the weight therefore the ramaining coils will flex more to absorb the same amount of weight.

Save

PatScottAKA99XE

· #8 · Jun 10, 2002

RiceBox,
Since I am too lazy to type it right now and it says it better than I could, go to the first link I posted above. Since I am sure you are like me and want good proof, like I said above, I am going to test cut springs this week. The only problem is you will have to trust my word on the test results(unless you can think of a fool proof way for me to do it, and I would be happy to do it that way)

"Damn, am I the only one???"

Save

RiceBox

· #9 · Jun 11, 2002

I'm no arguing with you, I just don't see it your way. And I did read the first link, but as I already said I think their thinking is faulty. I would love to see cut springs work as well as sport springs but so many people have tried and failed.

Save

PatScottAKA99XE

· #10 · Jun 11, 2002 (Edited)

RiceBox,

Like I said the proof is in the pudding, so I will test it myself. Why not right? I know you are not arguing, Just searching for the truth as am I(Wow you can tell Im a X-files fan). I didnt mean to imply that cut springs will work as good as "sport" springs, mearly that if you want a cheap(and sutible, I belive in some cases) way to lower and stiffen a car you can try cutting the springs. What the hell if you are just going to toss the stockers why not give it a shot and see what happens. As for people trying and failing, I am sure just as many people have succeded. BTW I dont think they were posting there thoughts, I think it was experience.

Save

blownb310

· #11 · May 7, 2003

wrnealis said:
I'm racing an 84 sentra on my local circle track. As weird as that seems, the car does make decent power with a few mods.

I'm now searching for any B11 springs kits. I need something with about 2" drop and very stiff. If anyone has developed a custom setup for this car, I would very much like to hear about it. I am tired of bouncing out of the corners!

***** Hello wrnealis,
I'll bet this answer came a bit late for you, but better late than never!

I started to run my '86 B11 Sentra at some rallycross events here in the northeast, and got tired of bottoming out the exhuast system. I needed some stiffer front springs. To stay with the low dollar approach, I had to search the boneyard for something that would fit. Well, I found that front struts and springs from an M10 Stanza wagon will work, with slight modification. First, you'll need to cut 1.5 coils off of the springs, for proper ride height. I found this out by cutting off a half a coil at a time until I got it right. Secondly, you have to use the strut tops off of the original B11 struts. That's right, the coil springs are the same diameter, it all goes together fine. Lastly, the M10 struts are about a ¼" wider at the bottom mounting points, where the two bolts go through the spindle. I had to make ¼" steel shims and drill two mounting bolt holes in them. Now, for practically pennies, I had some serious rally springs up front. This should work well for your paved oval races.

See less See more

Save

xXB12RacerXx

· #12 · May 7, 2003

i talked to someone when i was looking to drop my car and he said he coudl take my springs off, and either cut them or rebend them so that they were dropped according....well, he also told me that i would retain that soft gooey suspension feel, and that there wouldnt be stiff...

also if you need suspenion, just get some good coilcovers and some nice KYB struts...

everyone talks about the kyb/agx struts being the best, but they aint cheap...

Save

xXB12RacerXx

· #13 · May 7, 2003

after reading soem of those links id say its ok now...

Save

1 - 13 of 13 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month