Heat or Cut - Coils

[LUV2XCLR8]

I am wanting to lower my 2wd a bit, gonna eventually bag it, but for now
it just sits up a little to high for my liking, In the past I have always been
the idiot who has heated up the springs and cut the snubbers in 1/2, It's
been said here to cut one coil off the springs and still retain the ride, Will
either one of these options make a diffeance later when I bag it? I don't
want to mess anything up I might need later, for once I'm thinking ahead.

[Captkaos]

I personally don't recommend heating a spring EVER. Cutting a coil or half a coil or etc is not a problem though. Once you bag it, you won't need the coils.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

Once you bag it, you won't need the coils.

I was assuming that, but will it damage anything else? Thanks

[70short/step]

I would cut the coils. You still have same ride just lower. Heating the coils will make it bounce more and you will loose your ride quality. Either way it wont damage anything.
Maybe heating the coils might wear stuff out faster because it will bounce more because of the springs will be soft.

[N2TRUX]

Heating the coils ruins the coils and ruins the ride. It may not matter about the coils since you plan to trash them when you bag it. In the meantime the springs will sag and the ride will turn to crap. Take the time to cut a coil and keep the ride.

[johnnyrockets187]

correct me if im wrong but the rear coil springs are tapered right? so if you were to cut a coil out they wouldnt be able to be bolted back down to the little mounting brackets that secure them to the trailing arms and or frame (depending on what side you cut)

[70short/step]

Originally Posted by johnnyrockets187

correct me if im wrong but the rear coil springs are tapered right? so if you were to cut a coil out they wouldnt be able to be bolted back down to the little mounting brackets that secure them to the trailing arms and or frame (depending on what side you cut)

You are correct about the rear coils. I was assuming that He knew that he couldnt cut the rears and was talking about the front spring which can be cut and better to cut than heat. If you wanted to lower the rear of a coil spring truck, I have always used coils out of a car like an Olds cutlass and you can usally get those for $5 to $10 buck at junk yard. And they ride so much better than the stock truck springs, just cant haul the weight!

[chevydog66]

Definatley CUT them!! I cut 1 round out of the front of my 72 GMC and it dropped it about 2". Which is good enough for me for now, until I install the 2" drop spindles next year, and a whole new front end. I used a die grinder with a cut off wheel on it. Worked great.

[camaro__thunder]

just use some lowering blocks on the rear of a coil spring truck.

[race-n-jason]

I completely agree with everyone else, heating the springs IS the worst way to go. However, if you plan on replacing them soon and your just needin' to get "in the weeds" immediately, then you'll probably be alright. Your surely not the first to do it.

Stack a series of wood blocks or a pair of jack stands underneath your frame rails (front or rear depending on which end your working on) with a gap approximately the same amount you plan to drop the truck. Using a torch, start heating the bottom of the spring working your way around so that second coil collapses onto the first. If this isn't enough, then start heating the 3rd coil so that it collapses on the second. You don't want to start heating the spring in the middle or you will "overly" distort the spring. As the truck begins to touch your blocks or jack stands, stop. Let the coils cool, then remove the blocks or stands. I would do the above in small increments, say 1/2" at a time.

Your ride quality will no doubt get worse. It will be stiff and uncomfortable. And depending on how low you go, you may find that everytime you "jack-up" the front end of your truck, your springs will shift and will not seat properly in the upper perch.