I've searched this and other forums for real world experience with the 5610 coils. I see them used on 2nd Gens as well as GBody cars but no feedback as to how they performed. I've seen the MOOG charts for spring rates, etc. for the 5610. 5660, 5662, 5664. I'm wanting a nice handling street car that won't beat the screws out of the dash on rough roads. I have a 92 RS convertible 305TPI 5/spd w/AC and GR-2 struts/shocks. The 424-lb rate on the 5610 should not be too harsh and I figure I can offset body roll with a 36/21 sway bar combo. What concerns me is that they have a 4+ inch difference between free and loaded height vs @2.5 inch for the 5660, 5662, 5664. Coupled with a 1700lb+ loaded pressure, I'm wondering if that will cause the front to "push up" on the rebound and result in a loose feel. Anyone acually used them? Thanks!

 

I have a pair of Moog 5608 I never installed (got a pair of WS6 fronts cheap) if you're interested. $20 plus shipping if you want 'em, PM me.

 

The 5606/5608/5610 rates are only about where the OE F41 rate for the '79 Malibu was.

I eventually upgraded to 5660's with the car still being entirely daily-driveable. If 600-ish sounds too firm for you, the 5658's are something like 70 lb/in softer which still puts them 100 lb/in or so stiffer.

Ride comfort is going to be more tied to your shock choice than to the difference between 5610's and either of the stiffer springs. Bilsteins would be a good choice. Tokicos probably not.


Norm

 

Going to a low 400lb-in rate spring is less than a stock F41 F-body had, so skip the 5610 entirely.

Budget for high end shocks and struts like adjustable Koni's. Springs can be obscenely high-rate and not kill ride.

You can't, really. An over-swaybarred car can be grossly mis-balanced with regard to at-limit snap over-steer.

KYB has some good product and they have some bad product depending on the car. They have some non-f-body shocks that are absolutely horrendous for ride, but they have some products for other platforms that are great.

A rebound rise like that is a shock with too little rebound control. That will show up a lot when going to a stiffer spring, or using a shock intended for a softer spring.

There's nothing wrong with the 600lb-in front stock springs in the F-chassis for someone who wants ride over handling. Better ride is going to come from shocks. Stock type rear springs (and not Moog CC635 f-body cargo coils) will give a good ride but if there are 3 or 4 part numbers, you may want to choose the middle range to accomodate the added weight of a `vert.

 

Thanks for the replies and info guys. I used the 5610's because they were in my hand and more than what the v6 springs were by a good bit (ex. V6 car). I'm going to replace the 30/18 bars with the F41 bars (34/21) and see how it works. Not a big deal or expense to swap the springs if I'm not happy. jmd.......thanks, I'll keep my 18mm rear bar in case the 21mm proves to be a little much.


BTW....maybe I'm getting old but this 305 runs a LOT stronger than I expected. Especially for a Hawks junkyard motor.