nod1stgen

I was up all night reading about coil spring reduction.

Id like to hear everyones thoughts on it.

Especailly if youve done it.

Id like to take a coil and a half off all the way around. Maybe just a coil. But anyway I have extra spings to do it with so I was thinking, why not?

(I Know, Id buy some shorter springs but) I have been getting pretty deep into DIY mods and I could save money for something I cant make myself, like shocks.

ZenRXSeven

It's generally not a good idea. When you cut stock springs, they retain their spring rates, but now have less room to travel, allowing the car to bottom out easily. Its also a lot harsher on the stock shocks, which might cause them to fail, resulting in a sad, droopy car. Cutting stock springs also doesn't give you any added benefit to handling, besides the slightly lower center of gravity. A higher spring rate will give you better handling. When it comes to suspension, it's best to go with aftermarket parts. Besides, a set of new Eibach springs aren't that expensive; about $200. You can buy them from the Nopistons Store.



Besides, cutting stock springs to lower your car is ghe-tto.

phinsup

Yea with lowering springs so cheap why waste your time and the potential damage?

lilgt6

Don't cut your springs. When I bought my FD the previous owner had cut the springs. While the car looked better, it bottomed the suspension on even the smallest bumps and it really screwed up the way the car handled. Needless to say a set of used stock springs was on my "short list". Now that I have the correct springs on the car again it rides and handles much better. I do however have a lot of clunks and other noises which I attribute to the accelerated wear caused by cutting the springs. Oh, and the occational nose bleed due to the high altitude!

nod1stgen

No, Thats why I was Up reading about this all night.

Actually, By cutting the spring you increase the spring rate and spring life. Take a 250lbs per inch spring and cut it in half and you now have a 500lbs per inch spring, and that goes for all springs, push or pull. And the rumor that cutting it in thirds retores the spring rate to normal is wrong too. you just increase the spring rate to 750lbs per inch. Skipping all the scientific jarga theres really only three rules: The bigger aound the coil is, the lower the spring rate. The longer the spring is, the lower the spring rate. And, The more coils there are in a spring, the lower the spring rate. This is why those long, long springs on monster trucks keep getting smaller and smaller around. And it does improve handling and, as you said, LCG. It helps LCG by lowering the car AND stiffining the springs side to side/sway rate. and it increases handleing by making the spring rate stiffer. They wont bottom out because I wont be taking that much off. And it would take more force to bottom them out anyway. And as for the GETTO crack, well if cutting springs is getto then so is block plating, straight piping, hose routing, and all that other stuff that you can do without going to your mechanic, by simply gaining the knowledge and the skills to do it your self. You call it Getto, I call it modifiying and saving money and time. If it makes you feel any better I'll paint them red before I put them back in.



Thanks man. Not downing your opinion, just looking for a little more input.

Anybodyelse? Anybody know anybody that has done this or have any of you ridden in a car with cut spings.

Im probably going to atleast try this since I have full sets of springs laying around anyway. I was just hoping for some input first.

nod1stgen

HOW MUCH WERE THEY CUT LILGT6?

Im not saying you cant make them bottom, but most people make the mistake of taking too much spring out.

phinsup

I don't see how you can get any accurate numbers cutting the springs, but have fun!

nod1stgen

So you guys are definitly against this, huh?

Its better then those guys that ride around with u-bolts and clamps.

nod1stgen

No, your right about the numbers, I really just plan on using springs all from the same car so they will all be equally worn and the spring rate will be the same all the way around.

If I had a press and a good scale I could probably make something too get the numbers.

phinsup

Its more my personal preference, there is no way to really get an even spring rate, ride characteristics, etc. For me, I would just buy a new set of springs, that are made to do what I want them to do and no rigging of any kind.



I'd rather spend a couple bucks and know I am getting what I want then waste my time and effort and have an end result that my be less then desirable.