beat to death topic with a twist....cutting springs

[Strype]

The mustangs stock springs I think are progressive... but that might be an 87+ thing... anyone know?

 

[STANGateURlilSS]

How do you know all 4 springs have depreciated equally? You are working under the assumption that all 4 have decreased by the same %

i agree there totally.. you may end up having a car that sags to one side.. and the ride with cut springs just sucks.. and the time and effort to take them out and install them u might as well wait til u get a set of springs.. e-bay or even save and buy eibachs...

 

[bryce93lx]

i got a set of bbk caster camber plates i will let you have cheap, pm me

 

[rd]

I cut all 4 springs on my 82 with a cutoff wheel. It seems to ride fine to me, except that the traction bars and air bag in the rear make it a bit bumpy.

 

[Stormwalker]

im just looking for something that is going to have a stiffer ride and handle better. yeah, i know cutting springs is the wrong way to do it.

Well, that statement right there pretty much nullified this entire thread.

It's pretty obvious that cutting old worn out stock springs isn't going to get you anywhere as far as a "stiffer/better ride" and "handling" are concerned.

 

[dragnazz5.0]

Assuming the spring is not progressive, the spring constant for a helical spring is:

k=(d^4*G)/(8*D^3*N)

Where:
d = wire diameter
D = diameter of coil
G = Modulus of rigidity (a constant)
N = Number of coils

If you remove a coil you will raise the spring rate, because all else is constant. If you have 400lb/in springs with 10 coils, then

k = 4000/N

because,

k = constant/N

with,

k = 400 lb/in

N = 10

the constant must be,

constant = 4000 = (d^4*G)/(8*D^3)

If you remove one coil, N=9,

k = 4000/9 = 444 lb/in

so basically what you are saying is that cutting the springs will just make them have a higher spring rate? thats what i was getting at. ill see if i cant get the shock dyno into the shop when i do it and ill get an accurate before and after spring rate for the springs before and after they are cut.