Have you ever used a bow and arrow?
My username is robinhood. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
If you take some leaf springs and bring the ends closer together thus resulting in a steeper arc and some lift do you not think they would be stiffer than they were?
That is not the same situation because you are changing the geometry of the spring, unlike when a tbar is cranked. Like I said before, a better analogy is lift blocks under the leaf springs. Will adding lift blocks make the ride stiffer? Will the leaf be preloaded? Ask yourself why not?
I don't care what any of you say about the "linear" springs rates, all springs will require increasing force as they compress
Yes, nobody is disputing that. A spring rate of 100lbs per inch means if 100lbs were loaded onto the spring, then the spring will compress 1inch. If 300lbs were exerted onto the spring then the spring will compress 3 inches. I think what you are missing is that when a spacer is used or a tbar is cranked and the truck is stationary, the spring is not compressed (or torqued) anymore than normal. This also applies when you are driving down a smooth road.
Now, when you hit a BIG bump and your suspension compresses to the bumpstops, the spring IS compressed more than it normally would be without a spacer (like I said ealier with the 2in spacer example). BUT, when driving normally around town, you most likely will not use this region of suspension travel and will not contribute to a stiffer ride.
Yes the steel in springs can deform, that's why they are springs
No, actually, ideally a spring will not deform at all. When Frank and I were discussing stress relaxation, that was outside the scope of this preload article and doesn't have much to do with it.
