How much can I take off the front springs???
 

I am building a pair of stepped lower A - Arms which will give me a 2" drop and I know I can cut 2"off the Coil Springs which gives me a 4" drop... How much more can I cut off the coils and still have factory suspension without other mods to make the front end work right. ??????????

Any answers would be appreciated...

Is there anyone else here from London Ont.?????

Thanx

I've heard of people cutting springs but I'd be worried about doing so. I would just buy some lowered springs if you can. But if you're like me, you have no money and the cutting thing sounds really good. :) Sorry, can't really give you any insight on this.

I went to a wedding in London, Ontario. Did some hunting around there about 6 years ago also. My sister-in-law is from Brantford and that's where we were staying when I was up there. Too damn cold for my Texas blood. :)

Good luck with your springs.

Got any pics of your truck? We love to see pics of others' trucks here. :)

Dont cut your springs!!! Buy lowering springs. :)

Hey there fellow Canuck. Welcome to the board.:canada:

I'm not from London, but my wife grew up in Sudbury (Lively), ON.

As far as the front coil springs are concerned, I would agree with BigRed. I don't know if cutting them is good idea. I swapped mine out this last spring. They have a special shape on top and bottom which mates with the control arm and A-frame. If they are cut, I would think you would need to bend the cut end to match the original, so the springs will be properly seated in the frames.

Just my 2 cents.

:canada: :bowtie: :flag:

I've been running cut coils on my Silverado for the last 19 years without any problems, have 2 coils cut out of the bottom half so they fit right in. also have the spacer kit to bring the alignment back in to specs, all this was done before spindles and lowering springs were around, but when it comes time to rebuild the front end, tubular A-arms,spindles and lowering springs will be installed.:D Oh and I wouldn't cut more than 2 coils...

If you can build stepped a-arms, Im sure you could build a pair, sell em, and use the money for drop springs. Cutting the springs sounds good, but its not. I cut the stock HD coils on my 78 back in the day, and put new stock junkyard ones in the next day. Finally steped up and bought drop springs, best idea I ever had!

I agree with everyone else---Do not cut the coil springs! :bowtie:

Lowering springs
 

They say you can cut one coil, never tried it. By the time you go to the work of taking them in and out, new springs don't cost that much, and you will have a matched pair and probably be much happier.
Been in London, a bunch of times. Hockey tournaments over there. Always stop at the Tim Hortons near the 402/401 come together. Best Don Cherry's is in London. Beautiful place. My wife loves the mall there. Ever go to Delaware Speedway?
Just across the river from Sarnia.
Come over to the Mt. Clemens Gibalter Car show some time, or the one at FREEDOM HILL in May. Or Cruise nights in Mt. Clemens.


1981 2WD Blazer
"A WORK IN PROGRESS"

67 Chevy II Nova SS
55 Chevy 210 2DR.
87 GMC P.U.

I have cut several coils to lower a truck and had no problems. You need to cut off a 1/4 at a time until you get them where you want them. Keeping in mind you will need to DRIVE the truck so the springs will settle for proper results. Once you get them close, .5"-1" heat the bottom 1/4 back and flatten them on the ground. ONLY cut from the bottom, and I don't recommend cutting more that 1 round off. If this is you only set of spings, don't do it. Because when cut to much and you hate it, you need new springs......

This isn't an easy process to explain over the net, so results will vary. If you don't think you understand the process or don't think you can do it. Buy dropped springs.

IMO, i would not cut the springs. it seems that if you care enough about your truck to build new control arms (thats pretty cool by the way) that you should be able to spend the couple of bucks for drop springs. i say do it once, do it right, and never look back.

Thanx for all the input guys...
 

Thanx for all the input guys.
I know some of you will shake your heads but I am going to cut the coils, I can't see paying someone over $100 to make drop coils and sell them to me when I can do it myself for nothing.
I must do as much as I can myself to build this truck as I don't have tons of money to spend on it... kinda the way it used to be done before they built and sold all the bolt on accessories for everything.

This is a great site and everyone is so helpfull.

Thanx again.
Have a fabulous day.

Re: Thanx for all the input guys...
 

Just passing on more info. You can get dropped springs for $75 just about anywhere.

where are you people finding $75 lowering springs? cheapest i've found everywhere is like 109 plus shipping

I couldn't have said it better Riptide's 78p/u...
 

But you forgot about the GST and the PST, and the SHIPPING and any Border Taxes etc, etc, etc, you'll probably have to recalculate
your Canadian to U.S. money transfer it would likley add a couple more zeros lol :D

ROFLMAO @ Riptide :) :canada:

Have a fabulous day.

SUMMIT has them for 82 bucks

Dang, I need to move to Canada!!! I would be in the middle class then! ;)

Seriously though, My appologies for not noticing the Canadian connection.