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Old 04-17-2003, 12:42 PM   #1
TIMSPEED
 
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Question about cutting coil springs...How much?

I just want literally 3/4" of drop. Few Questions:
1.) Would that 3/4" drop make me get realigned/new shocks?
2.) How much of the coil should I cut off? (I'm not heating them, I'm going to cut them with a saw.)
3.) Will that 3/4" make my ride BOUNCE? (Cuz I know after you cut your springs, your shiz bounces like a MOFO, but I think that might only be when you cut them SHORT!)
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Old 04-17-2003, 12:46 PM   #2
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3/4" won't affect your shocks. I wouldn't cut coil springs at all, but if I had to it wouldn't be more than one coil. That shouldn't give you the potato wagon effect.
New drop coils are less than $100, especially for a 1" drop (will 0.25" more make you mad?). Why don't you just go with those and save suspension integrity and ride comfort?
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Old 04-17-2003, 12:56 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally posted by Low87
3/4" won't affect your shocks. I wouldn't cut coil springs at all, but if I had to it wouldn't be more than one coil. That shouldn't give you the potato wagon effect.
New drop coils are less than $100, especially for a 1" drop (will 0.25" more make you mad?). Why don't you just go with those and save suspension integrity and ride comfort?
Actually, I think that solid 1" would make my tires rub. Cuz the passenger side is right at 29½"...which means, it would be at 28½" after my drop, which means I would prolly rub if I hit bumps (I have 28" tires)
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Old 04-17-2003, 01:06 PM   #4
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1/2" or 3/4" clearance, either way you're going to rub. I've got almost 2" clearance and mine rub.
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Old 04-17-2003, 01:13 PM   #5
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Hmm...maybe one solid inch wouldn't rub...but maybe they're supposed to be like that so they WON"T rub. I imagine when I hit bumps, they're going to bounce up...so maybe I'll just leave em...
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Old 04-17-2003, 01:16 PM   #6
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Give your truck more than a week to settle also.
Be patient young grasshoppa'
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Old 04-17-2003, 01:22 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally posted by Low87
Give your truck more than a week to settle also.
I'm hearing mixed stuff on that...some say it's not gonna settle much more, but some say it'll settle about a ½"...we'll see after a month of me driving it...soon...
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Old 04-17-2003, 03:34 PM   #8
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dONT CUT EM!!

I have seen springs take a month or more to settle.
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Old 04-17-2003, 04:04 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally posted by LOHRTBT
I have seen springs take a month or more to settle.
That's what I wanna hear!
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Old 04-17-2003, 04:06 PM   #10
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Re: Question about cutting coil springs...How much?

Quote:
1.) Would that 3/4" drop make me get realigned/new shocks?
I won't say yes or no, but I will say if you modify the suspension it should be checked.

Quote:
2.) How much of the coil should I cut off? (I'm not heating them, I'm going to cut them with a saw.)
This isn't an easy question as you are going to have to "experiment" with the spring. IE, you need to cut it stick it back in, drive it. Plus you need to make sure you set it correctly/the same each time. Cut from the top and start about 1/2" from the end at a time (doing both side). put it back in, drive it, measure. Continue until you get close enough and stop. Remember, if you screw up and cut too much you can put it back on.....

Quote:
3.) Will that 3/4" make my ride BOUNCE? (Cuz I know after you cut your springs, your shiz bounces like a MOFO, but I think that might only be when you cut them SHORT!)
You would be incorrect about that, cutting a spring makes it stiffer. You are reducing the effective coils and increasing the wheel rate. Racers did this stiffen up the car. Incorrect shock application (too long a travel with to short a distance) are what cause a bouncy ride because there is no dampener (shock) to stop all the oscillations. I can't tell you the number of springs I have cut. What do ya think they did before they started making drop springs? Ya cut 'em. Of course, since they started making drop springs, I haven't cut any. BTW, I wouldn't attempt more than about 1.5" out of cutting a coil spring.
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