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Old 01-27-2004, 07:00 AM   #1
TIMSPEED
 
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Decided to cut my factory springs..logic behind this...

Yessem', I've decided, that I'm going to tinker with my factory springs. Seeing as I have 255/55 17's up front, and the fender is nowhere CLOSE to touching the tire with a 3" drop spindle, I'm gonna cut a little off the spring, to get it within 1" of touching. I may have a LITTLE rake after doing this, but this is going to give me the idea of if I want to take off my headers and go lower than 4" of drop, or stick with 4" of drop.
Trust me, I'm buying new springs, just wanna see how it'll look first, since the truck doesn't get driven much. It won't matter
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Old 01-27-2004, 08:49 AM   #2
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IMO, go ahead and buy the drop springs and be done with it. If you are already planning on getting the drop springs, why perform the event twice?

You said this in another thread about stereos...

"I wished I had a stereo in my truck again...Hmm..Best Buy is running an ad this week for 4 6½'s for $60, might have to go pick those up, then get a DEH-1500 for $80 from a local shop. At least then I'd have SOME tunes."

Take that $140 and go get some springs.

BTW, did you ever change out your cab mount bushings??
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Old 01-27-2004, 09:37 AM   #3
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My opinion, you won't like the way that rides on cut springs........be more like a lumber wagon.....

Bought one that had been done that way....ended up changing the springs.
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Old 01-27-2004, 09:38 AM   #4
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You know to cut them with a cut-off wheel or a plasma torch right?
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Old 01-27-2004, 12:45 PM   #5
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Don't waste your time, Tim.

Either go 5/7" or bag it.....simple as that.
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Old 01-27-2004, 01:14 PM   #6
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Drop springs aren't that expensive.
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Old 01-27-2004, 02:04 PM   #7
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i don't think you will have a problem just trying to lower it an inch by cutting. i'm going to cut my passenger side spring to drop it about 3/4 inch b/c it sits that much higher than the drivers side. i doubt taking 1/4 or less of a coil off is going to turn something that rides good into riding like crap. it would be different if you were gonna hack a full coil off and try to drop it like 3 inches by cutting, but i don't think you will have a problem.
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Old 01-27-2004, 02:10 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally posted by BaggedC10
Don't waste your time, Tim.

Either go 5/7" or bag it.....simple as that.
I agree 350%.

I tried cutting the springs once in high school, I couldn't get it right. Bending the bottem back flat is quite hard if you have no idea what to do
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Old 01-27-2004, 02:16 PM   #9
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I wouldn't do this simply because of the time involved. Just buy some new springs and do it once.

How long would it take to do this once?

Multiply that by how much you make an hour.

It would probably be enough to pay for a new set of springs.
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Old 01-27-2004, 02:31 PM   #10
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i could take my spring out, cut it, and have it back in in 30 min. lol, i think drop springs are more than 5 bucks
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Old 01-27-2004, 03:31 PM   #11
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Either way, Tim will never make his mind up.

Don't worry, I've been there too.
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Old 01-27-2004, 03:42 PM   #12
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How do you plan to control exactly how much it drops? The top and bottom of the spring both will only fit in one position. This means you have to remove one whole coil at a time.

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Old 01-27-2004, 09:05 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally posted by Blue Beard
My opinion, you won't like the way that rides on cut springs........be more like a lumber wagon.....
It rides like a TOTAL lumber wagon right NOW! I have no idea why, but the ride is TERRIBLE. Maybe it's the PST Front Kit? I haven't replaced my Cab/Body Mount Bushings yet...but they don't LOOK bad...I know for a fact that all my springs and stuff are shot, because my dad used to have a FULLSIZE camper on the back of this truck, as well as TOW a boat...and this isn't optioned in any way/shape/form/fashion for that kinda abuse...
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Old 01-27-2004, 10:06 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally posted by TIMSPEED

It rides like a TOTAL lumber wagon right NOW! I have no idea why, but the ride is TERRIBLE. Maybe it's the PST Front Kit? I haven't replaced my Cab/Body Mount Bushings yet...but they don't LOOK bad...I know for a fact that all my springs and stuff are shot, because my dad used to have a FULLSIZE camper on the back of this truck, as well as TOW a boat...and this isn't optioned in any way/shape/form/fashion for that kinda abuse...


The front-end kit and body mounts won't affect the ride to that degree at all.

The springs are "shot" f/r and your wondering why the ride is terrible...???
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Old 01-27-2004, 11:06 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally posted by BaggedC10
The springs are "shot" f/r and your wondering why the ride is terrible...???
So after I get new front springs, the ride will get noticeably better? Hmm..still gotta get new leaf springs...
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Old 01-27-2004, 11:12 PM   #16
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duh! if you took a pair of shoes out of the trash, would you expect them to be comfortable? food out of the trash to taste good.

Tim, are you sure you can handle something this involved? i mean after all, you are the guy who cant tell if you have a TH350 or a TH400...

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Old 01-28-2004, 12:14 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally posted by TIMSPEED
So after I get new front springs, the ride will get noticeably better? Hmm..still gotta get new leaf springs...


I'de be willing to put money on it.
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Old 01-28-2004, 12:44 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally posted by 1FaastC10
if you took a pair of shoes out of the trash, would you expect them to be comfortable? food out of the trash to taste good.
Well, shoes out of the trash usually ARE comfortable, and food out of the trash CAN taste good. LOL
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Old 01-28-2004, 12:45 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally posted by BaggedC10
I'de be willing to put money on it.
SCHAWEET! Then I'll put them damn 1" drop springs on there in a HURRY! Cuz I can't even STAND the ride in the truck.
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Old 01-28-2004, 06:07 AM   #20
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f*ck cutting them. torch em. heat em up until you acheive the desired sag. Dont even have to get out a wrench. Better make sure you know exactly how its going to react before attempting this little stunt though!

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Old 01-28-2004, 06:19 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally posted by mike reeh
f*ck cutting them. torch em. heat em up until you acheive the desired sag. Dont even have to get out a wrench. Better make sure you know exactly how its going to react before attempting this little stunt though!
That's what my friend did to his 78 C10 to drop his. He said he just put 2x4's under the control arms, and heated the coils until the control arms were laying against the 2x4's...damn him, looks 100x better cuz it's lower. I rode in it, and it actually rode BETTER than my truck!
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