What is your opinion progressive springs?

Bluemustang · Jan 26, 2017

It's in the title. I want to pose the question to gain more information and opinions. Most folks here seem to dislike progressive springs and favor linear ones. But other folks have said that there's nothing wrong with them and can actually handle better if setup right.

What's your view on progressives and why?

jc1804 · Jan 26, 2017

I like mine, but im one who doesn't track at all. strictly a DD car.

xXANCHORMONXx · Jan 26, 2017

Trash.

A linear spring with a proper shock will be hard to beat.

jbailer · Jan 26, 2017

LOL it depends what you use your car for. Mine is a DD that will never see track time, I love the progressives and wouldn't change. When you lower the car, you decrease the spring travel. Without using a progressive spring, you have to use a stiffer spring due to the shorter travel. The progressive allows for a softer initial spring rate and progressively gets stiffer.

The Steeda Progressive springs provide a soft initial rate to absorb bumps, even better than stock but then get pretty stiff after initial deflection providing great stability in cornering. Of course you would get better predictable performance from a linear spring if you are tracking the car. Half the people that say they are trash have no clue what they are talking about or why they think that, only that someone said it...

Niz55 · Jan 26, 2017

Sportlines are one of my favorite springs. They actullay ride on the softer included bump stops to achieve the spring rate.

Burkey · Jan 26, 2017

What are you doing with the car?

xXANCHORMONXx · Jan 27, 2017

jbailer said:
LOL it depends what you use your car for. Mine is a DD that will never see track time, I love the progressives and wouldn't change. When you lower the car, you decrease the spring travel. Without using a progressive spring, you have to use a stiffer spring due to the shorter travel. The progressive allows for a softer initial spring rate and progressively gets stiffer.

The Steeda Progressive springs provide a soft initial rate to absorb bumps, even better than stock but then get pretty stiff after initial deflection providing great stability in cornering. Of course you would get better predictable performance from a linear spring if you are tracking the car. Half the people that say they are trash have no clue what they are talking about or why they think that, only that someone said it...

LOL thanks for that intuitive answer.

AmericanLegend · Jan 27, 2017

Linear spring = More predictable performance.

You've also got to consider spring rate. The spring rate must be matched to the dampeners performance....or you'll get a bouncy ride.

BMR Performance Springs have close to stock spring rates, which makes them perfect for the stock Performance Pack shocks.

BMR SP080: (F) 170 lb/in, (R) 740 lb/in
Stock springs (PP): (F) 165 lb/in, 728 lb/in

EFI · Jan 27, 2017

Unless you're a track rat and only use the car for racing, the progressives beat the linears anyday of the week due to smoother ride. On the track they don't compare like others mentioned and you should get linears, but I doubt very much that you will reach the limits of a progressive spring on the street where a linear one would benefit you.

And unless you're driving on R comps on the street, your tires will be the first limit you hit on the street not springs...so the difference between linear and progressive on street performance is very little if any.

BmacIL · Jan 27, 2017

EFI said:
Unless you're a track rat and only use the car for racing, the progressives beat the linears anyday of the week due to smoother ride. On the track they don't compare like others mentioned and you should get linears, but I doubt very much that you will reach the limits of a progressive spring on the street where a linear one would benefit you.

And unless you're driving on R comps on the street, your tires will be the first limit you hit on the street not springs...so the difference between linear and progressive on street performance is very little if any.

The handling improvements of a linear spring are noticeable on regular street tires too, even when you're just driving spiritedly and not at the limit.

Progressives are great for people who want a drop without sacrificing much ride quality, but are much less concerned with handling consistency or performance....i.e. a huge portion of Mustang buyers/modders.

EFI · Jan 27, 2017

The handling improvements of a linear spring are noticeable on regular street tires too, even when you're just driving spiritedly and not at the limit.

I personally haven't noticed much (besides smoothness and ride quality) between the two, but maybe it's because I'm comparing a set of coilovers with progressive springs vs. a set of aftermarket struts/shocks with linear springs. Even on the track, my times were similar between the two combos but then again I'm not at a point skill level wise to really push the limits of the car.

DB83 · Jan 27, 2017

Its all subjective too.

KW V3 uses a progressive spring, and i would much rather run that than a cheap linear spring coilover. I know your only talking springs, but i'm just giving another scenario.

I ran HKS Hipermax III (linear) and KW V3 (progressive) on my 350Z on the track, and to be honest, i preferred the KW's.

Bluemustang · Jan 27, 2017

One reason I am asking is that my Ford Racing springs are progressive and i don't feel any lack of consistency? But maybe because I am just on the street. But why else would Ford Racing design these for their track pack? Unfortunately their specs are not published.

I'm not thinking of changing, I just want to learn more.

BmacIL · Jan 27, 2017

Bluemustang said:
One reason I am asking is that my Ford Racing springs are progressive and i don't feel any lack of consistency? But maybe because I am just on the street. But why else would Ford Racing design these for their track pack? Unfortunately their specs are not published.

I'm not thinking of changing, I just want to learn more.

I've always been surprised by this, since they offer two sets (one for street, one track-focused, supposedly). The only reason I can think they did this was because the rates they chose were deemed too harsh for the street OR wouldn't be a great match to the dampers. It's hard to know the exact reason.

xXANCHORMONXx · Jan 27, 2017

BmacIL said:
I've always been surprised by this, since they offer two sets (one for street, one track-focused, supposedly). The only reason I can think they did this was because the rates they chose were deemed too harsh for the street OR wouldn't be a great match to the dampers. It's hard to know the exact reason.

My belief is the dampers.

This is also why I believe people who upgrade to linear lowering springs aren't satisfied with the handling compared to those who upgrade both the shocks and springs.

What is your opinion progressive springs?

Bluemustang

Well-Known Member

jc1804

Well-Known Member

xXANCHORMONXx

Well-Known Member

jbailer

Well-Known Member

Niz55

Well-Known Member

Burkey

Well-Known Member

xXANCHORMONXx

Well-Known Member

AmericanLegend

Well-Known Member

EFI

Well-Known Member

BmacIL

Enginerd

EFI

Well-Known Member

DB83

Granny Shifter

Bluemustang

Well-Known Member

BmacIL

Enginerd

xXANCHORMONXx

Well-Known Member