I know I have read this, but for the life of me can't find it.
What is the rule of thumb for cutting the Frount springs to lower the car.
Is it 1 Coil = approx. 1 inch or is it 1/2 a coil = approx. 1 inch ?

Also which end is the prefered end to cut....I would think the top.

Yep, cut from the top, I'm not real sure on the rule of thumb, but I'm thinking most guys cut 1 coil out of the front, and half a coil from the rear.

well if your gonna cut them anyway cut them .5 coil first see if you like it then if you want more cut another .5 coil

I cut 1.25 coils, and the car rides way to rough, i wish i would have only cut about 1/2 coil now, it lowered the car about 1.75" and its way too much drop for me.

matthew

quote Originally posted by TaurusThug: well if your gonna cut them anyway cut them .5 coil first see if you like it then if you want more cut another .5 coil

Ok this is just a temp. setup while I am in between working on my new frontend setup. I am pulling the ACE-EIBACH off the front and
Going to cut a set of old coupe springs to put on the Formula until I get everything setup to install the new setup. Got a buyer for the ACE-Eibach springs so I am going to go ahead and pull them.

One coil dropped my coupe approximately 1 - 1.5 inches.

One method to make an estimate would be to look at the space between coils with the car on the ground. Cutting one coil should drop it by about that much, or maybe a bit less since the spring rate will increase a little.

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Raydar
88 3.4 coupe...........

Coming soon...
88 Formula, presently under the knife.

Zoom the rule of thumb I remember is 1:1.5 on the rear and 1:1 on the front. Just to be clear 1 coil equals 1.5" on the rear. But being a cautious man I would do like someone above mentioned and take half a coil at a time to see what I liked. Good luck.

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Thanks everyone for the advice and tips. I believe I will take the smart route as suggested and take 1/2 a coil out first and go from there. + to everyone It lets me !!!

What are you using to cut the springs with?

Zoom: good ole Herb Adams suggests (prob means 'recommends' to us! ;D) to make sure you leave a "FLAT" end on the spring - so you need to work that into your formula/measurement for finished length/height.

Have a look at where and how the spring sits/seats at the top AND bottom and make sure that the cut end won't end up chewing something up. Herb says no prob using a torch, but be sure to let it cool SLOWLY and all he did (shows in his book) is to heat around 1/3 to 1/2 way around from the cut point and then flip the spring upside down to "press" a flat into it - you DON'T want a 'single point of contact' after you make the cut.

I don't want to copy pix to here in case of copyright infringement...... so words will have to do.

I guess in other words, make sure the final product looks like the spring you started with; FLAT at both ends. Making the "flat" will further shorten your spring, so keep it in mind.

quote Originally posted by Kento: What are you using to cut the springs with?

A electric band saw.

heres my daily driver, WS6 springs chopped 2 rungs,off, then pounded the cut part over to make a flat spot to sit in there nicley, its about a 2-1/4" drop and rides conciderably nice
also has KYB's and 225-50-16's now
pictured was the stock 205-60-15's and thats the front pass. side wheel
mine rides real nice i couldnt be happier



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Rich AIM: ONE FAST 2M8
white-- 86se V6 daily driver
Gold--- 86se 355 SBC

[This message has been edited by $Rich$ (edited 04-05-2004).]

Personally rich, i dont see how your car even has suspension travel, unless you modified the bumpstops, I cut 1.25 coils off my car, and found it dropped about 1.6 inches or so, and i found that my car had about 1/2-1" of travel before it hit the bumpstops.

matthew

honestly, my car rides nice, all concidering of corse, ya.. it's a little bouncy but its NOT obnoxioux and not bone Jaring
i used to have WCF 400lb/inch springs and these are like a caddy compared to them

With the Ace-Eibach springs I have on the front now I cut 3/4" off the bumpstops.
The temp spring setup I am going with after I pull the Eibachs are softer than the Original springs that come on the Formula.
They are off an 88 4 Cyl car. Since its just a temp. setup I believe I am going to cut them 1 full coil just to see how it looks.
I doubt if I will worry about trying to get them flat again or any damage they may cause to the control arms after cutting them because I will be replacing all the Control arms as well as the cut springs anyway when I start the final front end setup.

Zoom,

If you've seen pics of my car, I cut one coil off of stock coupe springs.

Also, FWIW, I noticed when I parted out a wrecked Formula, that the coil at one end of the springs was flattened. The end of the wire came within an inch or so of touching the previous coil. The coil at the other end maintained the same spacing as between all the other coils, all the way to the end of the wire. The wire at this end was not flattened. The edges were just beveled, so that it wouldn't present a sharp edge to whatever it was seated in.

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Raydar
88 3.4 coupe...........

Coming soon...
88 Formula, presently under the knife.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Zoom, If you've seen pics of my car, I cut one coil off of stock coupe springs. Also, FWIW, I noticed when I parted out a wrecked Formula, that the coil at one end of the springs was flattened. The end of the wire came within an inch or so of touching the previous coil. The coil at the other end maintained the same spacing as between all the other coils, all the way to the end of the wire. The wire at this end was not flattened. The edges were just beveled, so that it wouldn't present a sharp edge to whatever it was seated in.

Thanks Raydar for your input !!

I wouldn't cut front bumpstops unless you know what you're doing, they're there to save your tires and fenders...

I am supposed to have an Eibach set, but the front dropped 2" and the rear about 1". So at the rear I cut 1/2 coil at the top (it still needs some more) but now the problem is; when I jack up the car the springs will come loose. So when I lower the car I have to check both sides continiously to make sure they sit right....I have been thinking about drilling 2 holes in the disc above the spring and put tie-wraps through the spring and disc to keep the spring in place......but going coil-over in the rear seems appealing too nowadays!

I need to clarify... I only cut my front springs. The rear suspension is box-stock Formula. Stock height.

quote Originally posted by Fie Ro: I wouldn't cut front bumpstops unless you know what you're doing, they're there to save your tires and fenders... I am supposed to have an Eibach set, but the front dropped 2" and the rear about 1". So at the rear I cut 1/2 coil at the top (it still needs some more) but now the problem is; when I jack up the car the springs will come loose. So when I lower the car I have to check both sides continiously to make sure they sit right....I have been thinking about drilling 2 holes in the disc above the spring and put tie-wraps through the spring and disc to keep the spring in place......but going coil-over in the rear seems appealing too nowadays!

I agree...don't cut the bumpstops if you don't know what your doing. Make sure you get good advice on this and take accurate measurements before doing any cutting. On the other hand if you lower your car by just cutting springs or adding drop springs and you do not have enough travel not only will the ride be rougher than nessessary, all frontend parts will wear prematurely. Anytime you do anything to lower the car you need to make sure you have enough clearance , that you have enough travel for the shocks to work correctly, and that you are not bottoming out on the bumpstops constantly . Of course I am aware that not everyone even needs to worry about the bumpstops.
Long as you have enough movement for your shocks to work ok I don't think one would have any problems.