anyone know how to tell what spring rate you have with DMS springs?

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Jon Burke - KI6LSW
Blog: http://psgrallywrx.blogspot.com/

Jon Burke Wrote:
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> anyone know how to tell what spring rate you have
> with DMS springs?

No.
>
> Jon Burke - KI6LSW
> RallyX Team Up TwoMountains
> Team Blog:
>

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

cuz I think I have really high (tarmac?) spring rates on these.....harsh ride (even on full soft) and seems very stiff for a gravel set up (but does well on corners, etc).

Very bouncy on the high way (over sprung?) but when I had 11 cases of motor oil in my backseat and trunk, it was a much nicer ride.

but I don't have a reference point, so I'm not sure. on any big dips/bumps at speed, they're really nice. its the high frequency stuff that's really harsh.

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Jon Burke - KI6LSW
Blog: http://psgrallywrx.blogspot.com/

This is what I squeezed out of DMS once...

Four types of spring winds:

KST (tarmac, or when ride height is needed)
MG (street, tarmac)
DP (gravel, some street)
OEM fitment

General guidelines, not written in stone.

DSP-M-225-DP-350FL

MEANS:
DSP = DMS SPRING
225 = SPRING RATING
DP = TYPE of WIND
350 = spring length
FL = FREE LENGTH OF SPRING (goes with 350)

ALSO can have something like this

DSP-KST-225-M-270FL
Numbers mean the same thing, different order.


HTH

Simon

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Simon Wright
Owner/Driver USUK Racing - Home of the USUK Racing LED Light Bars!

North America Rally Map

simoniac Wrote:
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> This is what I squeezed out of DMS once...
>
> Four types of spring winds:
>
> KST (tarmac, or when ride height is needed)
> MG (street, tarmac)
> DP (gravel, some street)
> OEM fitment
>
> General guidelines, not written in stone.
>
> DSP-M-225-DP-350FL
>
> MEANS:
> DSP = DMS SPRING
> 225 = SPRING RATING
> DP = TYPE of WIND
> 350 = spring length
> FL = FREE LENGTH OF SPRING (goes with 350)
>
> ALSO can have something like this
>
> DSP-KST-225-M-270FL
> Numbers mean the same thing, different order.
>
>
> HTH
>
> Simon


Except looking at most DMS springs they are clearly a taper ground wire or a true progressive spring.

Now i say if you're aren't Progressive, you're reactionary, but when not discussing politics I prefer to avoid progressives if I can because of the difficulty in a) accurate rate call-out (Ford rates their springs in three rates when they do progressives: initial-mid stroke and near full bump) and the non linear way they act when putzing with ride height.

The major reason I don't like DMSs springs is replacements cost a million dollars each.



This is an election year so now more than ever remember:
You aren't right if you aren't left.

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

yeah, but don't progressive springs typically have an 'effective' spring rate, which is essentially an average (just like if you have a dual spring set up on a pre-runner or something similar)?

anyway, I'll see what's written on these springs tonight....I just don't remember anything being on there.

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Jon Burke - KI6LSW
Blog: http://psgrallywrx.blogspot.com/

My understanding is that the progressive windings on DMS springs act more as a helper spring than anything else to keep the spring from coming loose when the suspension is decompressed. They sure flatten out in a hurry when I put the Focus on its wheels.

^^^^ What he said.

I almost never see any space between the thinner coils when they're normally compressed.

Oh, and I wasn't promoting DMS springs up above, just imparting the info I got from DMS.

Simon

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Simon Wright
Owner/Driver USUK Racing - Home of the USUK Racing LED Light Bars!

North America Rally Map

Andrew_Frick Wrote:
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> My understanding is that the progressive windings
> on DMS springs act more as a helper spring than
> anything else to keep the spring from coming loose
> when the suspension is decompressed. They sure
> flatten out in a hurry when I put the Focus on its
> wheels.


This is true. DMS springs (actually made by King springs in Australia) can be thought of and compared to as a normal linear spring. The taper portions are designed to act as a tender spring and are completely taken up at static ride height.

As for spring rate markings, they will be laser etched on one of the middle coils but if the springs have suffered a lot of stone chipping the powder coating may be worn away and make it very difficult to read. However, if you have a Subaru then you probably have 225lb/in front and 180lb/in rear spring rates. If you think it's higher than that then measure the diameter of the wire of one of the middle coils and I can tell you whether you have the normal spring rate or not. More likely the stiff ride (other than that's how they normally ride) is from struts that are badly overdue for service/regreasing and possibly bushings. If you hear a "gurgling" sound when you compress the strut you could have water in the housing and it needs to be serviced immediately. If the gurgling is coming from the insert itself then it is bad and needs to be rebuilt.

nothing etched on the springs (nothing I could see, at least).

I don't have a nice vernier caliper, but eyeballing it with a tape measure, it appears the spring's ID is 7cm (+/- 5% eyeball error rate)

2 rebuild kits on the way from Odi, we'll see how this goes: could be fun learning experience, could quickly turn into a nightmare learning experience.

...which reminds me, I need to buy a heat gun and a new thing of thread lock...

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Jon Burke - KI6LSW
Blog: http://psgrallywrx.blogspot.com/

Where can you buy other stuff for DMS? I need a new Subaru GC rear strut body and breather (don't need the insert or springs, etc). Thanks. Don Kennedy

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Don Kennedy

imnotcrazy Wrote:
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> Where can you buy other stuff for DMS? I need a
> new Subaru GC rear strut body and breather (don't
> need the insert or springs, etc). Thanks. Don
> Kennedy

Don there's some chance that Dave Clark might have some used ones kicking around.

My 50mm stuff is dimensionall interchangable with the DMS Stuff, same threads , same seals, but different bottom fixing and length of body and of course my mounting ears are 3/16". So maybe 2 bodies and you'd be set.

Try Dave and if that strikes out, try me.

As anybody who ever talks to me will assure you, I'm not the monster as portrayed by many on SS.com

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Jon Burke Wrote:
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> cool, because I'm definitely going to have to
> rebuild one of these right away, getting a nasty
> rubbing sound from one of the rears.
>
> Jon Burke - KI6LSW
> Blog:
> 'Holy Shit!' @ 4:10

so I serviced these this weekend (re-greased only) and got rid of that nasty rubbing. Rides much nicer as well.

However, one of my inserts is done. Makes a funny sound when compressing it, and it wasn't smooth at all (when pulled apart). Also, when fully compressed, instead of stopping, it kept going in and actually started leaking nitrogen...scared the hell out of me!

So no options but to buy a new one? Anyone rebuild these inserts?

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Jon Burke - KI6LSW
Blog: http://psgrallywrx.blogspot.com/

Call Odi at Fealsuspension.com he rebuilt one of mine on short notice before Gorman. Excellent work and appropriate price.

Also I have my DMS with Bilstein right now. I'm told they will have an insert solution for us, hopefully before next season starts.

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I like open light.

cool, I've been talking to Odi as well. i have an email over to him already. thx.

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Jon Burke - KI6LSW
Blog: http://psgrallywrx.blogspot.com/