best way

[stich626]

to cut coils..
now I know the gaswrench is a no no.. to heat and sag..
but will cut'n with it cause to much heat?
is a cut off wheel or a sawsall better..
will be doing this to the back first as if I mess up the drop coils and raw stock to make drop blocks are cheap..
fronts I want spindles.. but like most.. money is an issue..

thanks

[chevy_mike]

I used a cut off wheel. Sawsall will take a lot more work because of the spring temper. After cutting, just let it cool naturally, no dipping in water.

[jimmydean]

You can't cut the rear coils because they are tapered (unless you know something I have missed), but use a cutoff wheel and remove no more than one coil on the front.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by jimmydean

You can't cut the rear coils because they are tapered (unless you know something I have missed), but use a cutoff wheel and remove no more than one coil on the front.

They 'can' be cut but you have to figure out another method to secure them on the end thats cut. It's not something I would recommend doing though.

[72BlckButy]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

They 'can' be cut but you have to figure out another method to secure them on the end thats cut. It's not something I would recommend doing though.

New springs are not all that expensive. Check with Summit.

[jimmydean]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

They 'can' be cut but you have to figure out another method to secure them on the end thats cut. It's not something I would recommend doing though.

Good point. More like "the approved method for lowering the rear is to purchase new springs, or bag it if blocks alone are not enough".

Cutting the front is easy enough to do, but the reality is you are working springs that are pretty old and could use a replacement anyway. But if you are looking for a "right now" option, then it's cheap and easy to do.

[skip99]

I just did this to a camaro, the thing is... if it is an old car you don't really know how far the springs have settled, I've seen guys buy "lowering springs" and actually end up higher..I bought 2" lower rear springs from global west and didnt move much..
so rather than guess on the fronts.. I cut a coil, and DON"T cut more than 1 coil. that alone will get you 2-21/2 inches.. plus spring rates blah, blah...it may not look like it it lower when you are done, but let it settle, move back and forth and it will come down, be sure and index the top of the spring , if there is a stop for it, in the a arm, the lower is just for drain..

[N2TRUX]

I agree that its better to buy new rear coils, or find used Jeep coils for the rear. To answer your question about cutting in general, there are several way.

A cut off wheel in a high speed grinder is the easiest and obvious first choice. If one is not available you can also use a thin "tile' blade in a circular saw. It pretty much the same thing just bigger.

If your only tool available is a torch, it will work in a pinch. If you submerge the spring in a 5 gallon bucket of water leaving the coil that need to be cut exposed, you can cut the spring with a fine tip without using excessive heat. Allow the spring to cool naturally and the tempering will be just fine.


Speaking of tempering, the spring is tempered but not hardened. Believe it or not you can cut one with a sawzall, or even a hacksaw. The trick is to keep the spring stationary while cutting it.

Proving once again there are many ways to skin a cat...

[brans72]

can anyone show a picture of one coil cut off just spring part? Thanks

[oldblue1968chevy]

Cut coils/jeep springs check build for pics

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

Cut coils/jeep springs check build for pics

oldblue1968chevy,... are you really happy enough with your "rear Jeep spring" swap to continue to recommend them?
I thought you posted one time,... that they were fine, as long as you didn't carry over 100 lbs. in your truck?

If that's the case,... I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.

[Shane]

late '60's / early '70's malibu/chevelle rear coils work too ...