Munch,Munch pistons for lunch

No my old dato 1600 rally car we just heated all four springs and got my friends and i to sit on each corner for about 2mins....works like a charm

pengaru

cutting a spring will make it stiffer, the only negative effect of cutting springs is when you do it without changing your dampers at the same time. You have to get stiffer shocks to go with the springs or you will just have a bouncy ride.

Hyper4mance2k

okay i cut my stock front springs one drunkin night and i don't regret it too much. I only cut 1-1/3 of a coil off, and franklly the car does handel much better, but the spring rate didn't increase enough for the amount of drop that was given and I hit my bump stops alot. a.k.a. bottom out the suspension. pluss the car looks better. lol Nothing harsh or violent going on just annoying. The stock rear springs are to far apart to cut with out dropping the rear like 2".

SWOOP

Yeah, citting springs is fine. As long as you know what you are doing. Don't just say I'ma cut 2 coils off. Caluculate what you need and what you're going to end up with before hand. There is a formula to determine the rate of any spring you're going to use or cut.

82rotary

I've got an 82 gsl, I cut one coil out of all four springs, and it brought my car down about an inch. You just have to remember not to heat them up too much when cutting or you will change the rate of the spring. Also you should pull them and put them back in the same side. After i finished i did the front alignment, and it handles great.

Doneuuald

Where did you get the information about spring rates when you cut coil springs, a 250# coils is always a 250# coil however you cut it apart! The spring rate doesn't change just the length of the spring, the hot rod guys cut them to adjust preload thereby adjusting ride height. By your theory if you cut a stock spring down 4 coils you should NEVER be able to bottom the car because the spring rate would be so high. When you cut the stock coils al you are doing is lessening the preload of the spring and dropping the car closer to the bump stops which makes it bottom easier, if you want to try the lower height clamp 2 coils together and try it.

Don

PitchBlack

[QUOTE]Where did you get the information about spring rates when you cut coil springs, a 250# coils is always a 250# coil however you cut it apart!"



I think he's referring to the #'s per inch - they will increase as you shorten the coil.



Cutting springs has been going on for many a moon. Racing Beat even suggests it in their catalogue. Go ahead, just make sure they are the same length exactly, and that you flatten out the end of the bottom coil to seat properly

Someone mentioned stiff springs handling better than softer ones - I agree with that to a point, however, IMO softer springs are better for cornering (the car has to be able to lean a little).

I had Tokico coils on my "83 and hated them - they did not improve handling and the ride was much to harsh. On my '85 SE, I now have tokico springs on stock coils and the car handles great. I'm thinking of removing a coil over the winter.

82rotary

I was talking about heating up your springs when you cut them. if you took a cutting torch out and cut your springs the heat will change the properties of the metal. If you want to try it out, put your car on jack stands, take out your torch put a rose bud on and heat ONE of your rear springs till its nice and cherry red. let that cool down and go drive your car around some nice tight corner and see if things have changed.