Cutting the Springs

Zach9865 · Aug 19, 2005

Hey guys. New to this forum. On my 98 I am considering lowering it. To save money for other mods, I was trying to think why cutting a coil of the spring off wouldn't do the same thing as lowering springs. Yea, it may ride a little rougher, but a rough ride comes with a pony car. Has anyone here cut a coil out, and if so what did you use? I don't have a torch so I might try a cutting wheel. I was thinking just leave the springs right on the car and let it boom down once the coil is cut through. I only want to cut enough to lower the car about 2". Thanks for the input.

myanarchy · Aug 19, 2005

Don't use a torch to cut a spring as you'll screw up its tempering.

Just cut a coil out with a good cut off wheel and see where that gets you. By removing coils you'll be changing the rate by a percentage. Could make for fun characteristics

limey · Aug 20, 2005

Not worth it!
My 2 cents
Cheers
Cooper

GT 5spd · Aug 20, 2005

I say save a lil more money and do it right it would be the best thing......

wannabe2000GT · Aug 20, 2005

just get some lowering springs. they are cheap enought. if you use a torch you will kill all the springs integrity and if you cut them to much you will have a very bad ride. dont do it.

streetstang03 · Aug 21, 2005

MT.com has C-springs on sale for $132 right now

Pughman · Aug 21, 2005

streetstang03 said:
MT.com has C-springs on sale for $132 right now

that is a sweet price !

Shiroelex · Aug 21, 2005

...and on the Bay of E's, you can get those Maxspeed lowering springs buy it now for $74.95. Better in my opinion over having to spend a crapton more on damage caused by a jauncy suspension setup. The last cut spring car I rode in hopped a lane over on it's own when it hit a pothole.

bryan0 · Aug 21, 2005

Im no expert in the art of spring cutting, but I would suggest taking it all the way out of the car and using a cutting wheel.

Try it. If you don't like it, just "spring" (please excuse the pun) for the eBay springs @ $75.00

White Stang · Aug 21, 2005

Cut your hair not your springs J/K Some springs have dead coils which can be cut just for ride height prefrences but factory springs are not one of them Some have cut them and say no problem but if you drive over 90 mph well I can think of other descisions you can make that would be smarter. Like selling your car and taking the bus.

Shiroelex · Aug 21, 2005

Wow.... That was a very.....active....post.

Gearbanger 101 · Aug 21, 2005

I've cut springs in the past and the difference in handling and ride quality is negligible. Most of you clowns commenting negatively on it have never even done it; you're just regurgitating something you read or heard someone else say that's probably never done it either. While I agree that dropping the car drastically should be done with “legitimate” aftermarket lowering springs, dropping the car anywhere from ½-1 ½ should pose absolutely no problem and other than the obvious drop in stance, you probably won’t notice a difference in ride quality at all. Use a cutting disk like suggested above, not a torch. Cut ¼ coil off at a time until you reach the desired ride height and you’ll be fine. Remember, between each cut, you're going to have to put it back on the ground and drive the car up the driveway and back to make sure the spring and suspension settle back into their natural position before deciding whether you need to make another cut.

Zach9865 · Aug 21, 2005

Thanks for all the input. I am planning on lowering it less than 2 in. and I am doing it to achieve a better stance, not for handling. I guess it can't hurt, if I jag it then i order some lowering springs. It's worth a try in my mind. Doesn't cost anyting but time. Using the cutoff wheel was exactly what I wanted to hear. Thanks again.

tomustang · Aug 21, 2005

What Brain said is right, just don't remember how many coils are their that you can cut off that are dead ones.

Zach - If you 'plan to slam' you will change the geometry of the front suspension. Correction would be a nice set of C/C Plates so start saving up.

downsouthman1 · Aug 22, 2005

tomustang said:
What Brain said is right, just don't remember how many coils are their that you can cut off that are dead ones.

Zach - If you 'plan to slam' you will change the geometry of the front suspension. Correction would be a nice set of C/C Plates so start saving up.

Unless I am wrong, there are no dead coils on stock Springs. Now my H&Rs have dead coils. Not even my stock Mach Springs had dead coils. I have some Steeda Sport Springs, which I can't remember whether or not any of their coils are dead.

tomustang · Aug 22, 2005

I heard atleast two

MaxedGT · Aug 22, 2005

Gearbanger 101 said:
I've cut springs in the past and the difference in handling and ride quality is negligible. Most of you clowns commenting negatively on it have never even done it; you're just regurgitating something you read or heard someone else say that's probably never done it either. While I agree that dropping the car drastically should be done with “legitimate” aftermarket lowering springs, dropping the car anywhere from ½-1 ½ should pose absolutely no problem and other than the obvious drop in stance, you probably won’t notice a difference in ride quality at all. Use a cutting disk like suggested above, not a torch. Cut ¼ coil off at a time until you reach the desired ride height and you’ll be fine. Remember, between each cut, you're going to have to put it back on the ground and drive the car up the driveway and back to make sure the spring and suspension settle back into their natural position before deciding whether you need to make another cut.

I cut mine. 1 coil fronts and 1 1/2 rears, that's counting the flat part on the rears. Dropped about 1 1/4". Looks good. No ground clearance issues. Handles much better, almost no body roll. Rears are a little stiffer, but not too bad. At high speed, smooth as silk. I'm thrilled by the results, actually. I found the bump steer I had, is gone. It's like the hight is actually where it should be from the factory. I wouldn't recommend cutting much, if any more though. Take your time cutting the springs, so you don't heat them up too much.
I was nervous about doing it, but stumbled on some free stock springs I could cut. So I figured what the hell. All I'll lose is time. My orignal springs aren't going back in.

lockw33d · Aug 22, 2005

MaxedGT said:
I cut mine. 1 coil fronts and 1 1/2 rears, that's counting the flat part on the rears. Dropped about 1 1/4". Looks good. No ground clearance issues. Handles much better, almost no body roll. Rears are a little stiffer, but not too bad. At high speed, smooth as silk. I'm thrilled by the results, actually. I found the bump steer I had, is gone. It's like the hight is actually where it should be from the factory. I wouldn't recommend cutting much, if any more though. Take your time cutting the springs, so you don't heat them up too much.
I was nervous about doing it, but stumbled on some free stock springs I could cut. So I figured what the hell. All I'll lose is time. My orignal springs aren't going back in.

So you count coils from teh bottomw up when you cut them? Can someone post pics of fronts and rears and maybe draw a line in abotu where 1.5 coils are at. Thanks

Kilgore Trout · Aug 22, 2005

I think you should just buy new springs that are designed to take your ride height where you want it to be. They are not that expensive...

Ronald Jones · Aug 22, 2005

Gearbanger 101 said:
I've cut springs in the past and the difference in handling and ride quality is negligible. Most of you clowns commenting negatively on it have never even done it; you're just regurgitating something you read or heard someone else say that's probably never done it either. While I agree that dropping the car drastically should be done with “legitimate” aftermarket lowering springs, dropping the car anywhere from ½-1 ½ should pose absolutely no problem and other than the obvious drop in stance, you probably won’t notice a difference in ride quality at all. Use a cutting disk like suggested above, not a torch.

Cutting the Springs

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