Mailbag: The Frugal Gearhead’s Guide to Determining a Car’s Weight
Q: I am converting my rear suspension to a coil-over system, and I see spring options vary by the weight of the car. What is the most cost-effective way to determine the weight of my car?
A: Many towns have a public scale you can use to weigh your car. If a public scale is not available, a local trucking or moving company may weigh your car for a small fee. Most race tracks have scales available as well. Before you start any suspension project, you should determine the front, rear, and total weight of your vehicle. This will give you a good reference point so you can order the correct suspension parts. A set of quality scales like Longacre’s AccuSet II is a must-have for serious chassis work and suspension set up.
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The smog stations that have a dynamometer have a scale that measures the drive axle weight before they run the smog test. That is also an accurate way to measure axle weight of your vehicle.