slowstang06

I've searched around but i keep finding threads about 5.0s or older mustangs, but im curious about ours.. I'm not quite ready to commit to buying a real set of springs (but i will eventually down the road) but im acheing for a nice DIY freebee kind of mod... (I need a hobby!) So would it be ok and what would i use to cut? And i'f i'm looking for 1.5" (even front and back) would that be like 1 coil in the front and like 2 in the back? and would this be potentially harmfull for the car?

mustanglouie

dude don't... There is a reason why you can't find any threads on our body style. Just buy some cheap roush springs to lower the rear a bit. I wouldn't cut the springs, but that is just me.

96GT34

agree, u cut the springs u screw up the spring rate, that can cause early spring failure and give u a nasty hard ride, basically don't b/s ur way through with one, not worth it

stangdude81

do it right or don't do it at all. Cutting springs is dumb in my opinion, you are taking chances tearing up other stuff or causing undue wear on other parts. Just wait until you have the cash to do it right.

acascianelli

Don't do it...

The only thing dumber than cutting springs is heating them.

Norm Peterson

Yes, a spring's rate increases as you cut coils off of it, and yes, how much it increases can be estimated. Generally though, you don't gain rate as fast as you drop ride height, and you become somewhat more likely to hit the bump stops. This might not be an issue with a mild drop, light loads, and smooth roads - but eventually you'll run into circumstances where it does matter.

Cut springs are more likely to sag, because there is a higher amount of energy being applied to each unit volume of spring metal. The higher this gets (because when you cut away coils or parts of coils the amount of spring metal decreases), the sooner the spring starts to take permanent set.

How accurately you know and measure where to cut, and how equally you cut right and left side springs is a separate story. This is where you can upset the handling a bit, by ending up with springs that no longer match, left vs right. I imagine that there are race shops in your neck of the woods that might be pretty good at this, but at that point you may not be saving any money.

I have cut springs successfully before, so I know it can be done (and it really isn't that hard if you know what you're getting into, both technically and fabrication-wise). Just so you know, in each case I used springs that came off heavier cars that fit the spring seats, not the originals off the car I was working on.


Norm

moosestang

A set of springs is going to break you? I never get tired of saying this, you're driving a $25,000 car!! Spend the $200 bones on some springs man!

Cutting springs is not an exact science. You could very well ruin your stock springs and have to buy new ones anyway.

mygt500

DO NOT DO IT!>>>>>PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Argonaut

Springs are so cheap I would also question why you'd want to cut them. But I have to disagree with all the DONT DO IT DUDE comments. DIY types, low budget racers, hot rod builders, etc have been doing it for decades. They is nothing unique about the S197 that makes it any different than the thousands of other cars its been done on. I just finished reading a Suspension and Chassis setup book by Herb Adams and he even has a section showing you how to do it. But again, unless you have the right tools and know how, just buy a set.

157dB

Buy some springs.
They are cheap enough.
Its the items that are required to
support lowering springs thats costly.