I ended up using a 7” main spring with “long” 5” tenders with a 50lb rate. They’re compressed 1.5-2” at full droop, and don’t gap at the spring coupler. I keep zip ties on them anyway - perches are about a 1/4” from fully bottomed, so it’s set up for maximum spring travel - my rear shocks have 3/4” extra travel in both compression (shorter bumpstop) and droop (longer extension) compared to the stock shocks.
I didn’t like the way the zero rate tenders handled big bumps - like a broken mattress in the back. They also felt squirrelly in the back when they unloaded. The 100lb tenders had the opposite problem - too much preload and the rear end would “launch” off of bumps. Switched them out for the 50lb tenders and it feels good - 75-100lbs of preload at full droop seems to be a sweet spot for keeping the springs seated and minimizing the transition lifting a rear wheel especially on rough roads.
Attached photos of the spring fully extended during install (with the old 225lb springs) and also at ride height, where you can see the main spring sits pretty straight and the tender takes up the angular misalignment. Don’t have a picture at droop for some reason.
The spring rubber is there (only on the left side) to even out frequencies between left and right as my corner weights are slightly heavier on the left with me in the car. Helps cancel out the lateral “sway bar wobble” you get going over a bump.
I didn’t like the way the zero rate tenders handled big bumps - like a broken mattress in the back. They also felt squirrelly in the back when they unloaded. The 100lb tenders had the opposite problem - too much preload and the rear end would “launch” off of bumps. Switched them out for the 50lb tenders and it feels good - 75-100lbs of preload at full droop seems to be a sweet spot for keeping the springs seated and minimizing the transition lifting a rear wheel especially on rough roads.
Attached photos of the spring fully extended during install (with the old 225lb springs) and also at ride height, where you can see the main spring sits pretty straight and the tender takes up the angular misalignment. Don’t have a picture at droop for some reason.
The spring rubber is there (only on the left side) to even out frequencies between left and right as my corner weights are slightly heavier on the left with me in the car. Helps cancel out the lateral “sway bar wobble” you get going over a bump.
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