Is there any reason why there are different springs for front and rear? I have spare rear springs and want to put them on the front - would this be a problem?

 

The rear springs are variable rate springs; they compress easier for the first inch or so of travel, and much harder after that. They are designed to allow for heavy loads that would load up primarily the rear end of the vehicle. If you look closely at them, you will see that the diameter of the "wire" that makes up the spring is fatter in the middle and gets narrower as it approaches the end.

For performance reasons, some people replace the OEM variable rate springs with constant rate custom-wound springs, especially for lighter trucks like race vehicles - they compress more easily and you tend to get more flex and compression out of them.

Putting the variable rate rear springs in the front would probably produce undesirably results. I would recommend you go with winch or snowplow rated springs instead, depending upon your application.

 

well... not ALL of the rear springs are vairable rate.... Basically meaning the "k" value of the spring isn't linear, there is a "knee" in the curve....

Please look at a post that I made on the HML listed in the Hummer Knowledgebase

I agree with Manny, Rear springs are for the rear. There are different vehicle dynamics due to the loading of the vehicle (engine location of CG etc) that you would have to take into account for the spring rates.... As you can see, the spring rates aren't the same front to rear due to these reasons.... (typically the rear springs are MUCH stiffer)

 

Thanks for the advice! My truck is rarely loaded and the current front springs are collapsing! The Winch was added later without a spring change - I suspect this is the reason the springs are bottoming out. And since the front of the truck is heavier (engine, winch and so on) I figured the use of rear springs would actually be better. Since they (rear) taper as mentioned, they may compress under the current load and not produce a desired result! Thanks for the comments. I wanted to also put in a billet lift kit (for the suspension - not body) and whilst at it just replace the front springs with the ones I have. If nobody thinks it will be an absolute disaster then I might give it a try (switching the springs) and post the results! Worst case scenario, I will order some front springs and change them after.

 

I would order the front springs for the winch trucks and be done with it. No point doing all the work twice.