FMS lowering springs

[freshtiva]

Can someone tell me which is the top and bottom of these springs ? Does the narrower spacing go towards the top ? Or does it matter ?

[gergorian]

If I remember correctly the narrower spaced coils go it the bottom so as the spring compresses the spring rate will go up progressively.

[freshtiva]

That's what I was thinking too. But then I saw this video and at 11:25 it looks like the narrow spaced coil go up.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lMK9...o_ypTTKEV7pLX7

[Pu241]

Fresh, if you look closely on the springs themselves, they are marked "Front" and "Rear".

In a dot matrix like font.
Not easy to see unless you know it's there.

Your thrid spring from the left and 5th coil down from the top shows some markings.
I just can't make it out at the resolution of your pics.

Update: after loading your pic to Paint and zooming in.
Your 3rd sping from the left ID definitely labeled as "rear".

[freshtiva]

I noticed the front and rear label, its the top and bottom I'm wondering about. The coils are wrapped tighter on one end and looser on the other end. I was just wondering if it matters which end goes up.

[Prafeston]

He's asking about which end goes up though...not front/rear.

[TominMO]

99% sure that they go on as pictured, i.e. the top of the pic goes to the top hat. With the rubber piece that goes onto the spring itself. The flatter end goes onto the bottom spring perch. If you have another Festy :-) , you can confirm this by comparison.

Edit: John did not supply the wrong answer, you just asked the wrong question! :highly_amused:

[freshtiva]

^ HA 8^) Maybe these pics will help. The coils on one end are spaced 1" apart. The coils on the other end are spaced 1 1/2 apart.

[TominMO]

Another way to put it: the end you can stand the springs up on without falling over is the bottom of the spring.

Edit: the more I think about it, I think I have it wrong. Flatter end goes on top, with the rubber isolator piece. Just try it out: one will seem right, the other won't.

[sketchman]

I'd put the soft ones(the ones spaced closer together) on the bottom. Small bumps that aren't enough to move the stiffer coils could be absorbed by the softer ones without disturbing the ride as much, if I'm thinking correctly. If this is how they work, putting the stiffer bunch on top should remove a tiny bit of unsprung weight and make it that much easier on the soft springs to do their job. If the soft coils are completely bound on installation it probably makes no difference either way.

This is theory in my brain. Not experience talking.

EDIT: Just saw the post above mine. Less thinking, more feeling. Good.

[Chobobulous]

I read somewhere the tighter coils go up top. That's where i have mine.

Edit: just ran outside and looked at them. On the back the top 4ish coils are completely compressed. I have a 75ish pound speakerbox inthe trunk On the front the top 2.5-3 Coils are compressed. Tighter coils on top.

[FestYboy]

^ correct.

[freshtiva]

The back springs will stand on either end . I'm going with the (tighter) narrower spaced coils on top. Thank you everyone for your input, I didn't want to do it twice. I'm wrong 85% of the time with 50/50 chances.

[Chobobulous]

I can post a photo of how it sits with the tight coils on top if you want. Though im thinking it sits the same either way

[kumalaba]

fresh i cut my stock springs down & used zip ties on bottom but im not sure if you need to do that on fms springs. arty would know. danny