H&R Race Springs making noise in the rear?

[Earendil]

After installing H&R Race and removing the rear swaybar (in preperation for a new one) I'm getting some metal-like chatter when rolling over uneven pavement. Not tire destroying uneven roads, just enough that you feel it in your spine. Think average manhole cover sort of jolt for those not on stock springs.

Anyway, I put the car back in the air and checked everything, and it's all still tight. Worth noting that the only thing that was loosened and tightened was the shock. I put it back on the ground and noticed that my rear springs have three coils compressed together. After some internet searching it seems this is "normal".



Could this be causing some noise? Anything else that commonly causes noise after changing the springs? All spring pads are installed.

[bmwguy325is]

Check the shock mounts tops

[Earendil]

Check the shock mounts tops

Any idea how to spot a defective one? Both sides are brand new E46 mounts.

[MattAvino]

Can someone explain why these springs do this.
It seems useless to me for spring coils to compress all the way together when just sitting on the ground.

[ak-]

Can someone explain why these springs do this.
It seems useless to me for spring coils to compress all the way together when just sitting on the ground.

progressive vs. linear springs I guess

[Van Westervelt]

They are progressive springs, which takes a little bit of the edge off and gives the spring essentially two built in rates. Similar to the idea of a helper spring on coil overs as seen below. Under load those smaller helper springs will collapse.

[Earendil]

Can someone explain why these springs do this.
It seems useless to me for spring coils to compress all the way together when just sitting on the ground.

Permission to thread jack granted. I'm curious for an answer to this that doesn't come out of my hypothesizing rear.

progressive vs. linear springs I guess

They are certainly progressive. If they were linear they would either all be touching (coil bind) or they would all be separated. I get that much. But if the softer "progressive" springs are all smashed together in evenly weighted travel, that means that if a bump is hit the soft portion will do nothing, as they are already used up. So what's the point? It seems the only way they will be useful is if I become airborn.

[Van Westervelt]

They are made that way so that when your shock is at full extension, the spring doesnt fall out. The compression on the spring to that of the shock on an impact is fractional. With the shock fully unloaded, the spring would be loose.

[ak-]

They are certainly progressive. If they were linear they would either all be touching (coil bind) or they would all be separated. I get that much. But if the softer "progressive" springs are all smashed together in evenly weighted travel, that means that if a bump is hit the soft portion will do nothing, as they are already used up. So what's the point? It seems the only way they will be useful is if I become airborn.

I know, but take a good look at the spring.
Behind, where it's not pictured, there is still about half an inch before it compresses and touches the coil below it.
And before that, the first coil which is also the smallest has the ability to compress all the way into the second coil below it without making contact. That is around what a whole inch of travel I think?
So let's hypothetically say we now have 1.5 inches of spring travel from that explanation. Same goes for the bottom of the spring (which is blocked from view by the axle), so that equals 3" of travel.
Since it's progressive, the top is going to compress first into the second coil (for comfort purposes), then the second coil will compress.

[reelizmpro]

The front H&R race springs have the top 2 or 3 coils bind and the rear have the 3 in the middle bind by design. This means, the 2 remaining coils in the rear are doing the work. Really it's the only way they could have done it to achieve the desired drop given the honeycomb shape of the springs.

[Earendil]

Interesting. So it doesn't have as much to do with it being progressive, as it does with mimicking a "helper" spring to keep the spring in place when the car is jacked up.

[reelizmpro]

Interesting. So it doesn't have as much to do with it being progressive, as it does with mimicking a "helper" spring to keep the spring in place when the car is jacked up.

Nothing to do with being progressive. As you noted, those coils bind right away under the weight of the car which makes them inactive and out of the equation. Many springs like HR sport and Eibach's are also progressive but don't bind like the race springs. They aren't as low and aren't as stiff.

[Van Westervelt]

It does have to do with them being progressive (not the noise, but the springs looking as they do) as there are two rates in one spring. Its not for when your car is jacked up persay, moreso just for when the shock is extended in an on road situation to provide some tension still to the perches and to keep the spring in place.

[Earendil]

It does have to do with them being progressive (not the noise, but the springs looking as they do) as there are two rates in one spring. Its not for when your car is jacked up persay, moreso just for when the shock is extended in an on road situation to provide some tension still to the perches and to keep the spring in place.

I think what he means, and the way I'm now think of it, those compressed springs provide no spring action at all. If you are driving down the road and hit a bump, the only thing left is the coils that aren't touching. The remaining coils are still probably progressive, but for all intense and purposes the compressed coils are serving no spring purpose; they are neither progressive or constant, they are infinite-ft/lb.

[carfantiti]

i had sports now race .I dont have any spring pads I have no sqeeks ?