Need Help ASAP : FRPP C springs cut

[00PearlGT]

Okay so I installed the c springs on my 2000 GT a few months back. There was way too much rake for my liking so I decided to cut the rear dead coil. I figured since it needed to drop another half inch or more I cut a full coil off the top. I then proceeded to replace the upper isolator with a piece of bike tire inner tube wrapped around it, similar to the lower isolator on the front springs. The tube works well and is much thinner than the stock isolator. Anyways I cut the coil on each side, installed the spring with pigtails ends facing the driver side, I go to get it on the wheels and find out it did nothing. The ride height is exactly the same as before. How the hell is this possible? I just cut the entire dead coil off the rear springs. Is there any way to rotate the spring slightly to get more drop? Also, the ends of the pigtails are near perpendicular to the rear axle. Is this correct? I need to find out how to fix this since the raked look is bothering me everytime I look at it. Any opinions would help. Thanks

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Buy some actual lowering springs

 

[00PearlGT]

Buy some actual lowering springs

I can't afford the struts, shocks, and other stuff needed to support lower springs so no that won't work.

 

[ShortThrow50]

I have c springs in my fox. Had a rake too. when i cut my dead coils off, it dropped my car in the rear 2 fingers (little over an inch). Car sits straight as an arrow.What you explain is impossible. Make sure you have pigtasils in right

 

[00PearlGT]

Believe me the pigtails are in the right direction. I made sure the ends faced exactly toward the driver side. Unless the left side of the car is not the driver side then yes I messed up. I was completely shocked to see it didn't drop at all. I was pissed. Wasted 2 hours to get nothing.

 

[Stang|ess]

let it settle a bit more. i cut off the dead coil in the rear, and it dropped it about an inch and a half or so.

 

[00PearlGT]

I don't think the springs could settle anymore. I've already put about 1000 miles on these springs. I just don't understand how this even could be possible. The ends of the pigtails face the driver side on both sides, yet nothing moved.

 

[ShortThrow50]

just doesnt make sense. i agree. i know others would never advise it, but i would go ahead and cut another half off and go from there. but thats just me

 

[supastang03]

i may do this with my c-springs...how exactly did u cut them, and how much should be taken off...?

 

[ShortThrow50]

i may do this with my c-springs...how exactly did u cut them, and how much should be taken off...?

if you want another inch drop, you cut one full coil off. The dead coil. obviously it didnd work for this guy

 

[supastang03]

yea, i dont know how it couldnt have worked...kinda defies a few laws of basic physics...

anyways...i have no idea what the "dead coil" is, or have scissors sharp enough to simply cut them...how would this be done...

...sorry this is so off topic 00PearlGT

 

[ShortThrow50]

the dead coil is the flat coil that goes to the top. Right where the coil ends is right where you want to cut on the lower coil. I tried using a sawzall but it wouldnt cut it. I took it to the locally mechanic and gave him 5 bucks and he did it with something other than heat. You do not want to use a torch or something cause it will ***** up the spring rate. you will need to use a cutting wheel on a grinder or something.

 

[ShortThrow50]

one coil cut is one coil cut place your cutting wheel right at the etch where the tail ends and cut it

 

[Orange...]

I don't see how cutting springs is any different then buying lowering springs... as per the comment of how you couldn't buy the supporting mods... cutting springs is still putting more stress on the suspension/ride components just as much as getting a set of lowering springs...

I know this doesn't help the fact that your springs didn't settle... well anything different... but I'm just confused...

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I don't see how cutting springs is any different then buying lowering springs...

In most cases it is better to buy the correct new parts to reach your goals rather than rigging used parts. Of course available funds is always a factor but I say if you cannot afford to do the mod the best way possible then you should consider waiting until you can. Doing it right the first time is better than doing it half azz and having to keep tearing it back apart to address issue after issue...

 

[ShortThrow50]

yeah, but the "c"springs came with instructions that "recommend" you cut the dead coil off if you are not happy with the height. They are lowering springs and give you the lowering specs. Some peoples cars are different. I had this problem with my 03 cobra when i did the eibach pro kit. I wound up removing rear iso's.

 

[00PearlGT]

C springs are made to be cut to a certain extent. They come with a dead coil that has no affect on the suspension stiffness at all. Its just a flat spot for the rest of the coils to rest on. If you look at springs like H&R they don't have the dead coil and therefore have a lower drop. Its not like I ghetto rigged my springs and cut some stockers. Many people cut the C's since ford made them to be cut. Get over it.

About buying springs for the drop, not many springs offer this drop. H&R's slam the **** outta the car. Eibachs are known for sagging so that wasn't gonna happen. Steeda sports are similar but way over priced for the drop. C springs had the drop I wanted but like most people, they have random drops. Some of the kits come out even, some come out raked. I ended up with a more raked stance that I don't like. Telling me to go out and buy new springs is no help.

 

[04DarkShadowGT]

The C springs are lowering springs, in fact they are an awesome spring setup. I had them on two previous cars. I didnt cut anything but then again I liked the slight rake it gave.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I know the C springs are lowering springs I did not know they were designed to be cut if needed.

 

[00PearlGT]

I'm gonna try messing with the rear isolators bit tonight. I ended up using a tire tube for the top isolator similar to the lower iso on the front springs. It look like the rubber between the spring is just barely getting in the way of the spring. It wouldn't do much but it may do a little. Also, I just relized that before I cut the springs there wa no top isolator. Now there is a small one. I figured cutting a full coil would drop it even with the added isolator but guess I was wrong. Also the bottom isolators are crapping out so I may use some more of the tire tubing for a smaller isolator on the bottom.