Just pulled my driver side front coil spring. I have every reason to believe it was the original 170k F41 spring. I put it next to my stock replacement spring from Spohn. The new Spohn spring is about 3 inches shorter, and the material is fatter. Is this by design to allow for easier installation while maintaining stock ride quality, or do I potentially have the wrong spring?

About the strut mounts. How can I test them? I would like to not have to buy new ones if I dont have to, they are pricey.

Also, I have no idea if the strut is original as well, but I can pick up the steering knuckle that is hanging now by just the strut, bring it up, depressing the strut with ease all the way up with one hand, then let go and watch the whole thing drop back down. Is it safe to say that strut hasn't been going a damn thing for many years now? I have some Konis that are waiting to go on, spoil the surprise and tell me what kind of difference I'm in for

 

Yea, those are different springs for sure. I wouldn't lose sleep over it, i'd throw on the new Spohn ones and just enjoy them.
Oh yea, those struts are shot. And no, tough cookies, you learn how those konis treat you on your own

Strut mounts - I'm not sure of any concrete test to say if they're still ok or not. The thing is, stock replacements of those are fairly pricey, might as well go to an aftermarket one anyway. You can leave them for now and do them later if you want, probably won't have too much of a detrimental effect.

 

New springs are exactly one full coil shorter than the (stock F41?) springs I took out. They are also thicker, as you can see.

 

old springs were most likely the non-handling package ones, i forget their technical term, my springs look like the bottom ones though. No issues just pop them in and go.

 

Spohn's, IIRC, are IROC-like springs, so they would be a bit different. You'll experience a noteable difference in ride quality with new springs and struts.

JamesC

 

when i changed out to the new body,the IROC springs are alot shorter,yet thicker than the V6 springs pulled from the parts body,thought it was odd,but put the shorter IROC springs in

 

i believe the longer springs are called "progressive rate springs"

 

No, I think you can only get the progressive rate (aka cargo coil) springs for the rear. And they look REALLY weird. The gap between coils is noticeably different from one end to the other.

 

ahhh