[chevybuilder18]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Cutting coils increases the springs rate over a given amount of travel (if it took 350# of force to compress the spring 1", now it might take 400# to compress it that same inch).

That being said, cutting the coils decreases the amount of available travel but doesn't increase the spring rate enough to balance the difference. This is why you shouldn't cut more than 1 coil. If it takes more than that to set your ride height, you need coils w/more spring rate.

Did you align the front end after cutting the coils? The toe must be reset since the geometry of things has been altered. Caster/camber also has an impact depending on the alignment specs used. What was the alignment set @?

Using the 'coil spacers' is a bandaid @ best & not a good one. Better shocks w/the correct range of travel are a great idea.

Anything worth doing is worth doing right....

yea i just figured the cheapest route wouldnt be a good idea. and no i dont have my front end balanced. i have 3 inch drop spindles which with non cut coils could have offset the balance by a hair, however since i did take a coil.. Insidious is correct. the balance is the right is pointing to the right and the left tire is pointing to the left. if i happen to reset the toe, which is now on the agenda, would i also need to fix the cambar?

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

When our trucks are at stock height the tie rods angle down to the spindles. When you cut the springs they angle up much further making your toe angle get really extreme since the tie rods push out. Try running with your toes pointe to the side kinda hard right? So that squealing is from your tires tring to turn right on the right side and left on the left side. They are fighting each other as your driving which vastly increases your rolling resistance this is why it isn't accelerating for beans.

When I got my truck someone had cut the springs to get a 5 inch drop with no spindles. Which resulted in a horrible ride on the bumps stops and horrible toe out. So they aligned it and brought the alignment back in spec the dealer put in three inch lowering springs and raised the front back up but that brought my toe angle way way in a a result and it never got re aligned. Before I knew much about suspension my truck just ate the front tires up. So take a like at the inside an outside of your tires. They should be even with no feathered edges or rubber eraser dust substance.

My before and after 45* is pretty bad.




My specs are pretty harsh for normal driving. 13* toe out with low profile tires would be great and -.5 camber is a good place to start get as much caster as you can. 7.5* was about the most the can get with mine with the specs I provided but I also have an inch forward on my lca's
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your right about the toe on my truck, and sorta scary on rain. does this mean ill have to fix the cambar adjustments as well?