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Makes no sense [Coil spring installation]

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Just converted the Lincoln from air bag to coil spring. Varible rate springs, instructions say install tigher coils to the top. What difference would that make? The whole spring is under compression. Curly part is currently towards the bottom. The spring doesn't know which way is up, neither does the bump in the road. Am I missing something?
 
The tighter coils are stiffer/ harder to compress than the looser coils. you want the "soft" end of the spring attached to the axle taking all the shock from the road and the stiff end on the body that is floating along much smoother. Installed backwards the ride is noticeably harsher.
 
Banjo said:
The tighter coils are stiffer/ harder to compress than the looser coils. .
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You got it backwards. Tighter coils mean a longer piece of bar per inch of height, which means it's easier to twist. (springs twist just like a torsion bar when compressed.)

Ben, direction shouldn't make a difference as the whole spring takes the shock. Shock/ load has to travel through the whole lenth of spring before it can be compressed. I can see it posssibly making a slight difference in feel at a super high spring speed but I should be able to tell going down my driveway.

The way I have it now the softer end is down. I did that so I can block up the coils if compressed too much when I have a trailer on the back.
 
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