Stock, rear spring rate?

[Alfred1]

For a '73, was it 100lbs? I think I read somewhere that it was actually lower so what would happen to the handling (understeer/oversteer) by adding the 100lb rear springs to a car with stock suspension?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Depending on a bunch of factors (including who you ask!), the stock rear spring rate was anything from 65 lbs - 100 lbs. The best source I've seen (an old article from Porsche Panorama, collected in "Up-Fixin Der Porsche") said 65-90 lbs, with the 90s being installed on the 914-6.

Putting 100s on the rear of an otherwise-stock car will probably tend to make it a little more tail-happy. But I doubt it's enough to worry about. I bet that a stock front swaybar (with no rear) would return the handling of the car to neutral. Likewise a smallish (19mm) adjustable aftermarket one, set to relatively loose.

--DD

[Alfred1]

Thanks. Being more tail-happy may be a "good thing". A February '73 Road & Track article on the 2.0L 914 says this:


" The 914 is as nimble as a car of the mid-engine configuration should be. The steering is quick if not too light and placing the lump in the center makes the car willing to heed the helm. Driven hard and within the 914's intended design, it handles very well and with complete control.

This brings with it a limitation. The engineers evidently have taken this opportunity to eliminate forever the tendency of Porsches and VWs toward terminal oversteer. The relative stiffness of the front and rear anti-roll bars seem to have been chosen to provide understeer, at all times and under all conditions. When driven around a curve, the front end slides and the back end sticks. Apply full power and the front end pushes toward the outside of the turn. Let up on the throttle and the front end tucks toward the inside of the turn. At no time do the rear wheels do anything but track. This is very safe, very predictable and not really bad. But the sporting driver may wish sometimes for the freedom of, say, a 911S, in which an occasional "nasty" trait can be provoked and exploited with skill. Perhaps the not-quite-Porsche 914 isn't allowed to provide that sort of test and perhaps that's why the 914/2 isn't allowed to be the 914S".

[maf 914]

I replaced my sagging old original springs with 100# Weltmeisters and could tell little difference in the ride stiffness and handling due to the springs. But, I also installed new Koni reds front and rear at the same time, so that may have masked the differences. For normal fun driving I am not aware of an oversteer tendancy. The combination works well I think.

Mike

[Dave Bell]

He-He-He....

When you drive a car with oversteer and it breaks away on you for the first time.... on a fast pace corner/turn... you may not enjoy the "excitement" of oversteer so much... I like a little understeer on the street... save the excitement for the track.

[Alfred1]

I drove a '78 Trans Am in high school and even though it weighed 3600 lbs, when it reached its limits it would drift in a nice, neutral, four-wheel slide. That's where I learned the meaning of seat-of-the-pants driving.

[Bleyseng]

I don't like a tail happy 914 cuz if you get into trouble the damn thing will snap spin and there is no warning. For AX ing I like the front stiff and the rear to be controlable as to how much I can let it slide out. AXing with the stock setup ok as the cars are fairly balanced other than the body lean.

Geoff