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clarification on spring rates

Locksmith, thank you for your research and providing this thread for us.

I need to clarify though that an extra coil means more material to flex, so if the spring is wound from the same gauge wire it will get "softer" as it gets longer and stiffer as it gets shorter. More coils equals a longer wire, more material, more flex.
The thicker wire helps make up for the extra coil.
The extra preload makes a difference too, but too much preload has its own problems.
The extra coil might help make up for the extra preload, I dont know.

You have a bunch of them and say this is a good solution if you keep your Element loaded with a few hundred pounds of weight. Your recommendation is good enough for me to give it a try. Most of the crap I read on internet forums is from people who have never done what they are recommending.

I just wanted to mention that an extra coil does not mean more load capacity.
Thanks again.