Originally Posted by
beam514
Spring rates are spring rates. They signify amount of force per unit length. A skinny spring can have the same spring rate as a very wide spring. It just depends on certain other characteristics, like material, # of coils, etc. If they are ideal (which they never are) then they will apply the same amount of force for the same amount of compression (hence they will be the same); however, being that they DO give you spring rates, I think they are "close enough" to this state to assume they will be nearly the same.
Just my opinion.
I will make an analogy: You are blind folded, and someone hands you a basket with 2 rather large (in volume) 5 lb weights, totaling 10 lbs. They then you another basket with 5 smaller, 2lb weights, again totaling 10 lbs. You would not recognize the difference.
I think what you mean to say is that coilovers tend to have a lot higher spring rates than normal springs. OP, I'm sure if you wanted coilovers with similar spring rates, it could be done. Or maybe not, since they have to be so small and stiff.
Again, I could be completely off-base. I'm just using my knowledge of physics lol