Cutting coil springs - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Bulldog · 04-02-2001, 04:00 PM

Has anyone ever cut a coil spring to lower a truck? If so how much do you cut off and does it effect the ride?
Bulldog in Texas

Rusty67C10 · 04-02-2001, 04:02 PM

Yes I have cut mine. It does effect the ride some, but not to bad. I cut off about a coil and a half and it lowered mine like this: http://y42.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/ch...dir=/My%2bDocu ments%26.src=bc%26.view=l

Primer_72 · 04-02-2001, 04:07 PM

I cut my original ones but accidentally took too much off!!! I now have 3" dropped springs...(the ride was a back-breaker compared to my new springs)...

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72 chevy in black prima...350sb, performer intake, 1405 carb, Speed Pro cam, double-roller timing chain, headers, HEI, professionally built TH350

BadAzz70PU · 04-02-2001, 04:17 PM

I did the same as primer and had the same experience as primer. I now have 3" dropped coils and it rides great (I think better than original). Spend the cash, its not much and do it the right way.

------------------
1970 C10 LWB
-Worked 350
-Dropped
-Tangier Orange Paint
Visit my Web Site: www.low70.com
College student at Clemson (SC)
Home in Langhorne Pa

**Downtown** · 04-02-2001, 04:29 PM

I cut my front ones. I full coil drop it 2". It still rides nice.

ImpalaSS · 04-02-2001, 05:30 PM

100 bucks for coils..... if your taking the coil springs out have to seperate ball joints etc i would just spend the 100 bucks...

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www.xframeimpala.com

68 4x4 short fleetside deluxe cab 327 air
56 big window short stepside 235 dual 1 brls
64ImpalaSS 327
70 C10 LWB fleetside custom/10 350/TH350

bigd65 · 04-02-2001, 05:40 PM

cut a hole coil on an 85 and it drops it 4 inches. i did it and replaced them with some originals. next time i will just cut half a coil.

------------------
85 C10 350/700r4
HOLLEY STREET DOMINATOR IANTAKE
EDELBROCK 1406 COMP. SERIES CARB.
HYPERTECH POWER COIL
FACTORY HEADERS
MAGNAFLOW CAT/MUFFLER/3in. EXHAUST
3.42 REAR GEARS
PROTHANE SUSPENSION-TOTAL KIT
and still going
"thats my toy"
Jeff Dodson
Angleton,Tx.

BadAzz70PU · 04-02-2001, 09:41 PM

You dont have to remove the ball joints. I did mine in like 10 minutes just taking the U-bolts out that hold in the lower control arm (where it is attached to the cross member). I would still definatly go with purchased coils, you cannot go wrong with them.

Primer_72 · 04-02-2001, 09:44 PM

for the record he said "seperate" the ball joints, not remove them

....

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72 chevy in black prima...350sb, performer intake, 1405 carb, Speed Pro cam, double-roller timing chain, headers, HEI, professionally built TH350

LeRoy · 04-02-2001, 10:15 PM

Don't think about heating them up to lower. It'll ride like crap. I cut 1 1/2 off the drivers side and needed to cut 1 3/4 off the pass. side, to get it to, sit level. This is the max. I'm riding really close to the bump stops. The 60 series, front tires lowered it another 1 1/2". If it's a truck you value go with the new coils.

------------------
MOUNT VERNON, WASH. STATE
GOT MY BASES COVERED
-Big and bad 70 CST Blazer
-Work in progress 72 SWB
-71, 3/4 ton, 402/400, Custom Camper
-69, 2wd, V8, auto, 1/2ton, LWB
-Ticket getter 81 Vette
-88 1ton BB workhorse
-95 Ford Explorer LTD
Add or Delete Daily

chevymad · 04-02-2001, 11:08 PM

I cut one coil from mine on my last truck. Also had 1 1/2" drop a-arms. set it down about 4" . When i cut the coil i put the spring in a bucket of water with only the coil i wanted cut sticking out. That kept the rest of the spring from sagging. Rode and handled great!

BadAzz70PU · 04-02-2001, 11:11 PM

Thanks for the correction primer...lol

*Randy70C-10* · 04-03-2001, 08:51 AM

For every 1/4 coil you cut off is approx 1" of drop. Hope this helps.

------------------
Randy
70 C-10 SWB Stepside
47 Chevy Fleetline
30 Model A Coupe
87 Harley Sportster
Built in USA!!!!

*Randy70C-10* · 04-03-2001, 08:54 AM

Hey Rusty, that's one bad truck! Hey, who's the cute girl??

------------------
Randy
70 C-10 SWB Stepside
47 Chevy Fleetline
30 Model A Coupe
87 Harley Sportster
Built in USA!!!!

Rusty67C10 · 04-03-2001, 10:15 AM

Appreciate it! That would be my wife!

*Randy70C-10* · 04-03-2001, 02:26 PM

You lucky dog. Tell her that some strange dude said "HI" hehehe

------------------
Randy
70 C-10 SWB Stepside
47 Chevy Fleetline
30 Model A Coupe
87 Harley Sportster
Built in USA!!!!

04-02-2001, 04:00 PM	#1
Bulldog Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Hamilton,Texas Posts: 66	Cutting coil springs Has anyone ever cut a coil spring to lower a truck? If so how much do you cut off and does it effect the ride? Bulldog in Texas __________________ Bulldog in Hamilton, Texas 69 GMC Stepside 350 Voetec SBC

04-02-2001, 04:02 PM	#2
Rusty67C10 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Athens, AL Posts: 100	Yes I have cut mine. It does effect the ride some, but not to bad. I cut off about a coil and a half and it lowered mine like this: http://y42.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/ch...dir=/My%2bDocu ments%26.src=bc%26.view=l __________________ RUSTY chevyc101967@yahoo.com 1967 Chevrolet C10 Wanting a BURB

04-02-2001, 04:07 PM	#3
Primer_72 User and Abuser Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Merry Land Posts: 1,671	I cut my original ones but accidentally took too much off!!! I now have 3" dropped springs...(the ride was a back-breaker compared to my new springs)... ------------------ 72 chevy in black prima...350sb, performer intake, 1405 carb, Speed Pro cam, double-roller timing chain, headers, HEI, professionally built TH350 __________________ RIP.... '99 Sierra 2x '93 Sierra 4x '72 C-10 Back in business: 68 C-10 lwb

04-02-2001, 04:17 PM	#4
BadAzz70PU Long Lost Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Clemson SC/ Langhorne Pa Posts: 1,183	I did the same as primer and had the same experience as primer. I now have 3" dropped coils and it rides great (I think better than original). Spend the cash, its not much and do it the right way. ------------------ 1970 C10 LWB -Worked 350 -Dropped -Tangier Orange Paint Visit my Web Site: www.low70.com College student at Clemson (SC) Home in Langhorne Pa __________________ Tony 1970 C10 LWB -14.09 @ 96mph Web Site 1995 Eclipse GSX -15.46 @ 88mph (stock, not for long) College student at Clemson (SC) Home in Langhorne Pa

04-02-2001, 04:29 PM	#5
Downtown Senior Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: New Palestine, IN Posts: 471	I cut my front ones. I full coil drop it 2". It still rides nice. __________________ 72 Super Cheyenne Longbed 350 49,000 original miles and My dad ordered it new 66 Chevy Caprice 2 dr 77 Caprice Estate Wagon New Palestine, IN

04-02-2001, 05:30 PM	#6
ImpalaSS Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Aromas CA Posts: 0	100 bucks for coils..... if your taking the coil springs out have to seperate ball joints etc i would just spend the 100 bucks... ------------------ www.xframeimpala.com 68 4x4 short fleetside deluxe cab 327 air 56 big window short stepside 235 dual 1 brls 64ImpalaSS 327 70 C10 LWB fleetside custom/10 350/TH350

04-02-2001, 05:40 PM	#7
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Clute, TX. Posts: 1,935	cut a hole coil on an 85 and it drops it 4 inches. i did it and replaced them with some originals. next time i will just cut half a coil. ------------------ 85 C10 350/700r4 HOLLEY STREET DOMINATOR IANTAKE EDELBROCK 1406 COMP. SERIES CARB. HYPERTECH POWER COIL FACTORY HEADERS MAGNAFLOW CAT/MUFFLER/3in. EXHAUST 3.42 REAR GEARS PROTHANE SUSPENSION-TOTAL KIT and still going "thats my toy" Jeff Dodson Angleton,Tx. __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab 1972 Chevy Monte Carlo 2017 Chevy Tahoe

04-02-2001, 09:41 PM	#8
BadAzz70PU Long Lost Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Clemson SC/ Langhorne Pa Posts: 1,183	You dont have to remove the ball joints. I did mine in like 10 minutes just taking the U-bolts out that hold in the lower control arm (where it is attached to the cross member). I would still definatly go with purchased coils, you cannot go wrong with them. __________________ Tony 1970 C10 LWB -14.09 @ 96mph Web Site 1995 Eclipse GSX -15.46 @ 88mph (stock, not for long) College student at Clemson (SC) Home in Langhorne Pa

04-02-2001, 09:44 PM	#9
Primer_72 User and Abuser Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Merry Land Posts: 1,671	for the record he said "seperate" the ball joints, not remove them .... ------------------ 72 chevy in black prima...350sb, performer intake, 1405 carb, Speed Pro cam, double-roller timing chain, headers, HEI, professionally built TH350 __________________ RIP.... '99 Sierra 2x '93 Sierra 4x '72 C-10 Back in business: 68 C-10 lwb

04-02-2001, 10:15 PM	#10
LeRoy Registered truck nut Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Mt. Vernon, Washington, USA Posts: 1,584	Don't think about heating them up to lower. It'll ride like crap. I cut 1 1/2 off the drivers side and needed to cut 1 3/4 off the pass. side, to get it to, sit level. This is the max. I'm riding really close to the bump stops. The 60 series, front tires lowered it another 1 1/2". If it's a truck you value go with the new coils. ------------------ MOUNT VERNON, WASH. STATE GOT MY BASES COVERED -Big and bad 70 CST Blazer -Work in progress 72 SWB -71, 3/4 ton, 402/400, Custom Camper -69, 2wd, V8, auto, 1/2ton, LWB -Ticket getter 81 Vette -88 1ton BB workhorse -95 Ford Explorer LTD Add or Delete Daily __________________ MOUNT VERNON, WASH. STATE Need a part? Just PM me

04-02-2001, 11:08 PM	#11
chevymad Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: skamokawa, WA, USA Posts: 527	I cut one coil from mine on my last truck. Also had 1 1/2" drop a-arms. set it down about 4" . When i cut the coil i put the spring in a bucket of water with only the coil i wanted cut sticking out. That kept the rest of the spring from sagging. Rode and handled great! __________________ 70 C10 long fleet, 355/200 4r, 6 lug disc conversion, 3" drop 70 gmc changed to 67/8 chevy, 454 with voodoo cam, th400, all 74 running gear.. in progress

04-02-2001, 11:11 PM	#12
BadAzz70PU Long Lost Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Clemson SC/ Langhorne Pa Posts: 1,183	Thanks for the correction primer...lol __________________ Tony 1970 C10 LWB -14.09 @ 96mph Web Site 1995 Eclipse GSX -15.46 @ 88mph (stock, not for long) College student at Clemson (SC) Home in Langhorne Pa

04-03-2001, 08:51 AM	#13
Randy70C-10 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A. Posts: 15,320	For every 1/4 coil you cut off is approx 1" of drop. Hope this helps. ------------------ Randy 70 C-10 SWB Stepside 47 Chevy Fleetline 30 Model A Coupe 87 Harley Sportster Built in USA!!!!

04-03-2001, 08:54 AM	#14
Randy70C-10 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A. Posts: 15,320	Hey Rusty, that's one bad truck! Hey, who's the cute girl?? ------------------ Randy 70 C-10 SWB Stepside 47 Chevy Fleetline 30 Model A Coupe 87 Harley Sportster Built in USA!!!!

04-03-2001, 10:15 AM	#15
Rusty67C10 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Athens, AL Posts: 100	Appreciate it! That would be my wife! __________________ RUSTY chevyc101967@yahoo.com 1967 Chevrolet C10 Wanting a BURB



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04-03-2001, 02:26 PM	#16
Randy70C-10 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A. Posts: 15,320	You lucky dog. Tell her that some strange dude said "HI" hehehe ------------------ Randy 70 C-10 SWB Stepside 47 Chevy Fleetline 30 Model A Coupe 87 Harley Sportster Built in USA!!!!

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.