Cutting Rear springs...to level the car...(not a newb at cutting) but...
#21
I'm not an expert on suspension by far, but I'd say the intelligent way to get your desired height is mark the springs out in 1" increments and start low. If it doesn't look enough, go to the next mark. And do so with a full tank so you're at full weight.
But then again, you've done this before. You should know that....
But then again, you've done this before. You should know that....
#23
If the length of the cut spring end up being shorter more than one inch over the OEM, it could get crooked into its seat. Not good.
If it's much shorter, it will eventually fall out... how sweet!
It wouldn't be a problem up front where the spring has nowhere to go on a Mac Person design but in the back, it's totally independent from the shock.
So you guys with the "It's been done since springs were invented" comment, please don't quit your day job!
The cutting doesn't work in all applications...
If it's much shorter, it will eventually fall out... how sweet!
It wouldn't be a problem up front where the spring has nowhere to go on a Mac Person design but in the back, it's totally independent from the shock.
So you guys with the "It's been done since springs were invented" comment, please don't quit your day job!
The cutting doesn't work in all applications...
#24
It wouldn't be a problem up front where the spring has nowhere to go on a Mac Person design but in the back, it's totally independent from the shock. So you guys with the "It's been done since springs were invented" comment, please don't quit your day job!
The cutting doesn't work in all applications...
The cutting doesn't work in all applications...
Please let me know if Im mistaken so I can add to my knowledge base.
#25
I still wouldn't suggest cutting them though, especially if you don't even have the means to measure equal cuts! That will cause you to have different spring rates on either side of the car (not sure what this could damage, but will probably create problems when cornering/braking).
#26
Not questioning your almighty car knowlegde, Pascal, but since the weight of the car rides on the springs and not the shocks, the springs should stay in place unless you completely unload the suspension, regardless if its a independent spring/shock or a coil-over design, as in the macpherson.
Please let me know if Im mistaken so I can add to my knowledge base.
Please let me know if Im mistaken so I can add to my knowledge base.
#27
Not questioning your almighty car knowlegde, Pascal, but since the weight of the car rides on the springs and not the shocks, the springs should stay in place unless you completely unload the suspension, regardless if its a independent spring/shock or a coil-over design, as in the macpherson.
Please let me know if Im mistaken so I can add to my knowledge base.
Please let me know if Im mistaken so I can add to my knowledge base.
#28
Cut a rear spring on these cars too short and it can easily fall out if the suspension ever goes to "full droop".
Cut it badly enough so that it's trying to bow out sideways and it will always trying to pop out. Might not have to completely unload the suspension to full droop for that to happen in this situation.
Cut them with poor enough technique and you can make the spring metal brittle and it can and will break. Then you have a too-short spring with an end that's pretty much guaranteed to be the wrong shape (plus a loose piece of spring that's either going to get in the way or fall off the car).
All that said, cutting springs is in fact successfully "do-able" - even if the springs are progressive - if you understand spring design and what to avoid doing. But if you don't even know what the questions you need to ask are, don't try it.
Norm
Cut it badly enough so that it's trying to bow out sideways and it will always trying to pop out. Might not have to completely unload the suspension to full droop for that to happen in this situation.
Cut them with poor enough technique and you can make the spring metal brittle and it can and will break. Then you have a too-short spring with an end that's pretty much guaranteed to be the wrong shape (plus a loose piece of spring that's either going to get in the way or fall off the car).
All that said, cutting springs is in fact successfully "do-able" - even if the springs are progressive - if you understand spring design and what to avoid doing. But if you don't even know what the questions you need to ask are, don't try it.
Norm
Last edited by Norm Peterson; 10-22-2012 at 05:48 PM.
#29
Not questioning your almighty car knowlegde, Pascal, but since the weight of the car rides on the springs and not the shocks, the springs should stay in place unless you completely unload the suspension, regardless if its a independent spring/shock or a coil-over design, as in the macpherson.
Please let me know if Im mistaken so I can add to my knowledge base.
Please let me know if Im mistaken so I can add to my knowledge base.
It is not that uncommon to unload the suspension on normal driving.
So like Norms says, cut them too short and they will bail.
Don't know if you dropped your car or not but if you did and did it yourself, did you notice how easily that shorter spring goes back into place? And the OEM one isn't that hard to remove BTW...
So you don't have to cut them a lot before you get in trouble.
#30
Cut springs compromise the ride integrity.
Sure it looks cool, but take a corner to fast and
the weirdness of the rear suspension could just
catapult you right into the ditch.
I personally like looks and function hence the
Roush rear springs and shocks only.
I have heard that heating them while under pressure
is the way to go to shorten an OEM spring.
It can be done using the vehicle as the pressure part.
Just heat the coils until the rear end drops to the desired
height. Done deal and you didnt even have to remove
the springs. Dont worry about the gas tank under there
as it is made of Asbestos and it fireproof.
A strap to limit the suspension travel will help
keep those now shorter than OEM springs in the seats.
Or just buy a set of $100 Roush rear springs...
Sure it looks cool, but take a corner to fast and
the weirdness of the rear suspension could just
catapult you right into the ditch.
I personally like looks and function hence the
Roush rear springs and shocks only.
I have heard that heating them while under pressure
is the way to go to shorten an OEM spring.
It can be done using the vehicle as the pressure part.
Just heat the coils until the rear end drops to the desired
height. Done deal and you didnt even have to remove
the springs. Dont worry about the gas tank under there
as it is made of Asbestos and it fireproof.
A strap to limit the suspension travel will help
keep those now shorter than OEM springs in the seats.
Or just buy a set of $100 Roush rear springs...
Last edited by 157dB; 10-27-2012 at 01:37 PM.