Kings vs Lovells - Comfort levels

dadem0n · 25-07-2013, 05:39 PM

I'm keen to buy some Superlows (or combination front SL and rear UL) and am tossing up between Kings springs and Lovells springs.

Does anyone know which give the better ride quality?

Is there anywhere online with spring rates for these?

The car is a daily driver so I'd be looking for the ones with a softer ride.

Thanks.

ebv8 · 25-07-2013, 05:53 PM

the lower you go the harder they get, if you want comfort get your factory springs reset and get shocks to suit the length.

dadem0n · 25-07-2013, 06:10 PM

Are the factory spring rates listed anywhere?

Bushbasher · 26-07-2013, 12:28 AM

Give a mob called "Industrial Springs" a call and tell them what you want and they can custom make you whatever you're after. Back in 09 I had a set of springs made for the rear of my Fairlane and the price was very reasonable and the service outstanding. If you search their site for the download page I think there's a PDF for calculating spring rates among other things.

Here's their link;

http://www.industrialsprings.com.au/index.htm

Bushbasher

madmelon · 26-07-2013, 10:03 AM

I'd recommend against lowering a car without increasing the spring rate. The vehicle will have a similar tendancy to roll and the suspension will hit the bumpstops far more often and that will actually hurt your ride quality rather than improve it.

I notice you've not mentioned shocks or bushes. Keep in mind that it's a suspension SYSTEM and everything works with everything else to give the ride and handling you experience. If you want to go lower, there are compromises- ride quality is usually one of them. That doesn't mean it has to be a complete dog though- a well set up suspension system can provide good looks, good handling and reasonable ride quality.

FYI, I have an AUIII XR8 with lowered springs from Industrial springs (Aurora), Adjustable Koni shocks and selected bushes replaced by Nolathane. The shocks work wonders and go from reasonable to quite hard with two turns. The thing I've noticed the most though is that the replacement Nolathane bushes have made the ride harsher- the rubber bushes would 'take the edge off' harsher bumps whereas the harder bushes don't do that nearly as well. I chose this route because I want the best feedback when I'm at track days but as my suspension guy said- definitely better off without hard bushes on the road. Fortunately, it's a weekender not an every day vehicle.