Axial springs vs Losi springs question

[PowerCrazy]

Axial super soft red springs claim to be 1.32 lb/inch and Losi whites are 1.8. I have both and the Axials are much more stiff. Whats the deal on this?

[TSK]

Originally Posted by PowerCrazy

Axial super soft red springs claim to be 1.32 lb/inch and Losi whites are 1.8. I have both and the Axials are much more stiff. Whats the deal on this?

Perhaps they need to be broken in?

And how did you measure the stiffness of the spring?

[Cave Dave]

Originally Posted by PowerCrazy

Axial super soft red springs claim to be 1.32 lb/inch and Losi whites are 1.8. I have both and the Axials are much more stiff. Whats the deal on this?

I don't have a springometer but I do have both sets of springs and agree the Losi's "feel" softer.Both have been used about the same amount of time on the same rig.

[JeremyH]

Arent the Axial springs longer? If so, then that is the reason why they feel stiffer.....

[PowerCrazy]

I didn't do any test or anything but they are not even close. I have 8 white losi springs and 4 of the soft axial ones so its not a couple of off springs. They are not even close. I think somehow they are rated differently by the two manufacturers

[JeremyH]

A spring rate is a spring rate....no other way around that. Now, the manufacturer could possibly have listed them incorrectly, I dont know.

Either way here is the math:

Axial - 1.32lb/in * 3.54" = 4.67lb for full compression
Losi - 1.80lb/in * 2.75" = 4.95lb for full compression

So, not taking into account the differences in thickness of the wire, the Losi should be a bit more firm. Since you dont think they are, there might be something else coming into play here. Are the springs both brand new?

[PowerCrazy]

The Losi ones have a little use on them and the axials are new. With the axials on the truck its almost solid like a link is bolted there instead of a shock. The Losi ones are bigger around, dont know if that makes a difference.

[JeremyH]

Ahhh....ok....then you might compress and rebound the Axial springs a few times to break them in. Also, are you sure that the shocks arent binding??

[PowerCrazy]

yeah, no binding I have losi shocks with the cap mod so they work well. I'll try compressing and rebounding them a while to see if they loosen up. I was expecting them to be softer I guess I should order some Losi Greys to have some softer ones for sure.

[JeremyH]

Just go straight for the gold springs....

BTW, I have never tried those axial springs on the Losi crawler shocks, but I am guessing that they are too long.

[Duuuuuuuude]

Easy DIY spring-o-meter:

Scale (digital is best)
Springs to test
Your fingers

Put the spring on the scale and zero it out. Slowly apply pressure to the spring until it is almost collapsed. Look at the scale and see how much weight is being applied.

Easy peasy.

[JeremyH]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

Easy peasy.

That will work when comparing two springs of equal length, but if they are different, then only compress the two by the same amount (1" makes it easy).

[Duuuuuuuude]

Originally Posted by JeremyH

That will work when comparing two springs of equal length, but if they are different, then only compress the two by the same amount (1" makes it easy).

What if they're progressive? Hmmmm, Mr. Smarty Pants?

[PowerCrazy]

I wonder if the golds will even hold up my truck. I have some HR gold low cg springs and after the truck compresses them they stay all the way down. Currently I have losi whites on all 4. I have been taking some video that maybe I can post and get some suggestions because I'm so new to crawling that I could use some advice on tuning. I have an SWX chassis, aluminum upper links, ti lowers, 4s lipo on front axle, mmp, Tekin Redline 21.5 axial trans all steel internals, 93t plastic spur, no dig, MIP driveshafts, underdrive rear........and a stripped out front diff from this morning(guess that gives me an oppurtunity to install my beef toobs)

[Duuuuuuuude]

I run Losi golds on mine and it holds up just fine.

[JeremyH]

Originally Posted by Duuuuuuuude

What if they're progressive? Hmmmm, Mr. Smarty Pants?

What if they are progressive AND different lengths?!?!

PowerCrazy, feel free to post up the video!

[PowerCrazy]

I'll try to get the video posted up in a little bit, see what the experts think. You will get to see the bottom of my truck a lot So you have the golds all the way around? Did you have to put some preload on them with the nut on the shocks? Is it sprung up or drooped?

[JeremyH]

Originally Posted by PowerCrazy

Is it sprung up or drooped?

If he has external springs, then it isn't droop.

[Duuuuuuuude]

All the way around, just a wee bit of preload on the left rear.

[PowerCrazy]

I might have to try that see how it feels. I'm going to try to get into comping when I get back to germany in august/september.....stuck in Kuwait right now. There seems to be a lot going on in the area where I live.