cutting springs?

[truckguy_69]

whats the best way to cut the front springs.

[blukangoo]

Are you just trying to get them out or do you think you can lower the truck this way?
If you are trying to lower it like that, forget it!

[Longhorn Man]

there's nothing wrong with cutting them, ppl have done it for decades. It'll ride rough, and you shouldn't go more than one coil, but it doesn't make them weak like heating them for lowering. (which isn't as bad as many make it out to be)
A cut off wheel will do it if you have a lot of time and wheels, or a cutting torch will do it faster.

[corn]

Longhorn is right, its no big deal & 1 coil. Dont cut a half a coil because it wont sit back in the spring pocket. Ive done it with a cut off wheel or a plas works good too. Ive also heated a springs before & am still here to tell about it. Gotta add, Id rather cut than heat though.

[blukangoo]

I think I would buy a lowering kit before I did something like that.
I guess if they say it´s OK, then cut them with a hacksaw.

[Evans]

use a 4" angle grinder with a cut-off wheel , each spring will take @ 30 sec. to cut and you should only need 1 wheel to cut 2 springs.... 1 coil = 2 1/2 " drop

[crazy longhorn]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

there's nothing wrong with cutting them, ppl have done it for decades. It'll ride rough, and you shouldn't go more than one coil, but it doesn't make them weak like heating them for lowering. (which isn't as bad as many make it out to be)
A cut off wheel will do it if you have a lot of time and wheels, or a cutting torch will do it faster.

I agree with 1 round off the bottom(no more, no less). This seats the spring back in the pocket as originally intended. I tossed my springs upside down in a 3/4 full 5 gallon bucket & lopped off the bottom ring with a torch. Contrary to popular belief tho, they DO NOT ride rough! Anybody that has ever rode in my old longhorn , has commented on the ride .....He11 , ill bet you it rides better than your stocker ....... L

[truckguy_69]

the other thing was that i have 235/75r15 on my truck and was wondering if the will rub or not.im going to cut only one coil off the bottom.Is it bad if it is 1/8in more than one coil or do i need to try my hardest to get it exactly one coil?

[corn]

1/8" wont hurt anything & 1 coil will drop the front 2-3". You should be fine with those tires...

[Evans]

Originally Posted by truckguy_69

the other thing was that i have 235/75r15 on my truck and was wondering if the will rub or not.im going to cut only one coil off the bottom.Is it bad if it is 1/8in more than one coil or do i need to try my hardest to get it exactly one coil?

I cut 1 coil and am running 235-70-15's on 8" truck ralleys and have plenty of room

[gnarkill]

what about cutting the rears, I know its not recommended due to the spring shape but has anyone said, SCREW IT! Cause im at the point right now where i just dont care or at least my own coil pockets

[dubs68SWB]

You can't cut the rears because the spring is tapered at both ends.....The clamps you use to attach to the frame and trailing arms won't work. You will be getting into safty problems if you go there.

[Shane]

you can cut the rears ... but you will need to build a larger diameter spring retainer, which is a LOT more trouble than it's worth. do yourself a favor, save your lunch money and buy a set for the rear.

you'll be headache's and money ahead.

[magsnubby]

You can cut the rears. You just have to fab up something to hold the top of the coil in place. I did it years ago on my nephew's '68 stepside. Or you can use the rear coils from a early 70's (can't remember the exact year) Chevell station wagon on the rear. I got about 3" of drop using them on my '71 longbed.

A side note:
When i was trying to figure out how much i wanted to lower my '71 longbed, and i knew the coils would be replaced, i decided to experiment a little so i grabbed the torch and heated the crap out of the springs. I let it sit for a couple of days so the springs would settle then measured it. It dropped about 3 1/2". I wanted to see if it rode as bad as people said it would so i took it for a short drive. I was surprised. It actually rode almost like it did when stock.

I DID THIS AS AN EXPERIMENT. NOT TO BE USED AS A DAILY DRIVER.

If i was doing a lowering job today, i'ld but dropped springs.

[corn]

Save the hassle & go with chevelle springs. Your load cap will drop with them though, so if you want to haul stuff you would be better off just buying some drop truck springs...

[72short]

monte carlo springs thats what i used for the rear

[magsnubby]

I used to have tons of notes as to what fit what on the '67 to '72 trucks, but i have no idea where i put 'em. So i'm not sure what different coils will fit.

But as corn said...

Originally Posted by corn

Save the hassle & go with chevelle springs. Your load cap will drop with them though, so if you want to haul stuff you would be better off just buying some drop truck springs...

[Longhorn Man]

I've heated many sets of springs, and never had any shatter like ppl say. Yes, i know they CAN... but, none that I did, nor any of my buddys in high school did, ever broke.
Another cheap way to do the rear, is blocks. New U bolts and some scrap metal cut and drilled to fit is all it takes.

[T-H]

I had Chevlle springs on my Burban for a while until one day I walked outta school and noticed my truck was sitting funny in the front, turned out the left front spring was fuXXord and the rear springs weren't much better, same thing with both front shocks so I ended up having to dip into my savings and get new shocks and coils all around. But to be fair the springs were on my truck for quite a while and lord knows how much stress they had endured at the hands of the previous owner. But back to your question, I personally wouldn't cut the springs if I were you, I know that it doesn't cause problems in alot of cases if you do it right but I'm still wary of it since I have heard some stories. I'd save up and get some lowering springs and drop shocks.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

I've heated many sets of springs, and never had any shatter like ppl say. Yes, i know they CAN... but,....

I have never seen proof that they will break or "shatter" either. I can say I have seen a few sets that have sagged untill they were useless.


Cut the front, block the rear and call it a day...

[Spray-Bomb]

I just heated up my rears the other day, doesn't really ride much different than before

I was gonna cut my fronts, but decide not to because I need to rebuild my front end & while I have it that far down I'm gonna bag it
But I have a truck with cut springs up front & have had no problems

Cut the front, block & or heat the rear & plan on doing something better in the future is what I say

[sdkid]

I'll be cutting the front and blocking the rear just to see if its what I want it to look like. Then getting the correct parts for the job.

[Spray-Bomb]

Originally Posted by sdkid

I'll be cutting the front and blocking the rear just to see if its what I want it to look like. Then getting the correct parts for the job.

Basically what I did

I was just really tired of my truck looking like a 4x4, so I told my dad "I don't care if it rides like a tank, I want it down" but it didn't really ride any different

Even if it did ride like a 2-ton truck, I wouldn't care too much cuz I plan to bag it

[Wreckless_71]

I also heard that for a 4" drop you can get the springs out of a BMW M5 or M8 that's just what an alignment guy I know said... Cut the front, Heat the rear... hot rodders have done it for decades, you'll be fine

[wreckless_68]

i cut my front coils in place with the help of my dad we just used two cro bars and a cutting torch. it worked fine. but it was a waste of time. it rode like hell. bounced like crazy your better off spnding the cash and getting drop spindels and srings