Whats the procedure for cutting front springs..

[oldblue1968chevy]

Id like to cut my front springs approximately 2 1/2" drop.

How many coils (1 full round) And whats the best way to get em out and what to use to cut em with)..

I was thinking cutting em with a torch but dont wanna heat em and make em sag lol

So...

Thanks!

And will this affect my alighnemtn(will I need to re align it?) Thanks

[Hubscrub]

with a cut off wheel i would say, and most say 1 round is about 2inchs give or take

[oldblue1968chevy]

whatta bout a band saw thing, its on legs and comes down for a chop like thing?

will I need an alignment afterwards?

(I have jeep springs on the back and trying to get a slight rake (not as much as factory but still SOME rake)

[Hubscrub]

as long as you keep the heat down is the main thing that should work, and yes i would get my alignment checked

[lolife99]

Back in the 70's and 80's it was common to cut the spring with a torch. You could keep the rest of the spring "cool" by cutting it while the spring was in a bucket of water.

I normally use a grinder with a thin cut-off wheel.
Make sure and cut the bottom of the spring.

Break the lower a-arm loose at the ball joint and remove the spring carefully.
The shock and sway bar will have to be disconnected from the a-arm also.

Some people run a chain thru the spring to keep it from flying out. Some use a spring compressor. I'm just careful.
Definitely get an alignment when you are done cutting.

[sleepertruck72]

I may be crazy, but if you take the springs out, it is probably faster to install some lowering spring rather than backyard engineer, measure and cut, and re-install your springs.... What if you cut too much ? or not enough ? But that's only if you ask me

[laid_out_70]

most people have either time or money. yes, drop springs would be quicker but cost money. cutting your stock ones are freeeeeee. if you have time AND money, i envy you.

[GMCPaul]

Every 1/2 a coil you cut off drops it 1", so you would need to cut 1 1/4 to lower it 2 1/2" in the front, be sure to make the cuts precise otherwise a slight difference in the cuts will result in a un-even stance. A cut off wheel or saw-z-all generally works best. You will definately need a alignment when done as the top of the tires will tuck in when you lower it with springs and will require more shims behind the upper a-arm to align. Dad showed me a neat trick to get alignment really close if not spot on, place a level againest the outside of the tire running top to bottom then put a angle indicator againest the level and after you are done cutting & installing the springs just add shims equally behind the upper a-arm 2 studs to bring the alingment back out to what it was originally before you started using the level & angle indicator.
GMCPaul Jr.

[69nova]

Becareful when doing this. Yes one full coil is about 2" but the top and bottom arms are designed for the spring to fit in them a certain way. It is shaped like the spring in the lower arm (meaning that it is contoured like the spring and rises with the coil of the spring). If you cut less than a full coil off then it just sits higher in the purch in the lower arm which results in very little lowering at all until you remove one full coil and the spring drops back into the lower arm contour. The upper arm is also designed to fit the top of the spring. Only suppose to fit one way. Its kinda like its keyed at the top. Said all of that to say that one full coil is plenty but you then will have to remove or shorten rubber bump stops because it will be low. Also if you ever jack up the vehicle after this is done then the spring is too short for the suspension drop so you have to reposition the spring while lower the truck back to the ground (talk about dangerous). How do I know this you may ask!?!

[cdowns]

its a good time to change balljoints and tierod ends when u have the front suspension apart

[Shane]

Here ya go ...

[oldblue1968chevy]

I had already searched after I posted the tread..thanks shane! Ive already got new balljoints and tierod ends etc in last summer along with disc brakes

I may do this and I may just leave it and save for drop spindles I think thats really the way to go with suspension, I just wanna get rid of my 'ridin cali' I think its called style. lol

[Hubscrub]

i agree i am thinking of getting some drop spindles myself i believe they would be better

[Camaro_nut2001]

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[junkyardjohn]

THERES NO DOUBT THAT THERES A WHOLE BUNCH OF BETTER, MORE EXPENSIVE, JUST A WHOLE DIFFERENT DIRECTION WAYS OF DOING THAT. I'VE DONE IT.. ON SEVERAL TRUCKS. USE A CUT OFF WHEEL & DON'T GET IT HOT. I FULL COIL= ABOUT 2" . YOUR SPRINGS WONT FALL OUT WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP OR WILL YOU HAVE TO REMOVE ANYTHING LIKE BUMPSTOPS. (SEEMS LIKE I DID CUT AN INCH OFF ONE OF THE RUBBER BUMPSTOPS FOR SOME REASON THOUGH. PROBABLY WASN'T EVEN RELATED TO THIS) HECK YOUR SHOCKS WILL BE O-K PROBABLY? I'D PROBABLY TRY THAT GMCPAULSR s LITTLE ALIGHNMENT TRICK. WONT TAKE A HOUR AN A HALF. NEXT TIME YOUR IN A BONEYARD LOOK AT 70s 80?? ELCAMINO REAR COILS. THEY BOLT RIGHT UP & USSUALLY DROP IT AROUND 3". MAKES YOU'RE TRUCK ONE WITH A PRETTY LIGHT PAYLOAD AS THERE MORE CAR SPRING THAN TRUCK THOUGH. BUT IF YOU'RE NOT HAULING WEIGHT... THEY RIDE NICE..... THATS JUST ME THOUGH. JOHN

[oldblue1968chevy]

I already got jeep springs out back, here is my current stance, its about 100* out (literally!)so hard heavy work is outta the ? until LATE evening or dark..

[Hubscrub]

hard heavy work? heck my shirt is soaking wet just from putting a lace up steering wheel cover on

[oldblue1968chevy]

LOL...

Ive got everything painted up, In the comming days I may chop the springs...(dont wanna separate balljoints lol)

[Hubscrub]

the more i think about it i would like to lower mine but i'm gonna wait. i need so much other stuff i want to make it comfortable first and really i just wanna put some miles on it. Have you been looking for a cab any?

[oldblue1968chevy]

Nope lol, I sure need to though. I found one via a truck bud but havent gotten back to him, I get distracted easy! Oh i'll have me a motor built, opps imma try rust repair, ops imma cut my springs and lower it, opps its gonna be cold with winter with a huge hole in the floor of my truck!...Yeah...I need to look for a cab.

Do you haul much hub? You could do jeep springs, make a adj. tracbar (i plan on doing one, ive got the bar just no time yet, and cut the front springs get about a 2/4 drop or so

[Hubscrub]

not sure how i'm gonna use it yet, i would like to have trailer hitch so i can do some pullin

[oldblue1968chevy]

yeah me too, i wanna hitch, therefore bye bye jeep springs lol

[Camaro_nut2001]

What year & model jeep did you get the rear springs from? How much drop did it give you? I have a buddy that wants to lower his '69 but he doesn't want to go to low. I told him I would let him have these springs i've got for the front & help him put em in but he's not wanting to go that low.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Check out the picture towards the top, thats my current stance

Does he haul anything heavy? Because these springs arent very hauling friendly...

There from a JEEP TJ late 90's I think..(rear springs) try 4x4 shops etc where they've lifted jeeps and have no use for the old springs...I can make a call and maybe get ya some, (local 4x4 place in town)

[Camaro_nut2001]

Originally Posted by oldblue1968chevy

Check out the picture towards the top, thats my current stance

Does he haul anything heavy? Because these springs arent very hauling friendly...

There from a JEEP TJ late 90's I think..(rear springs) try 4x4 shops etc where they've lifted jeeps and have no use for the old springs...I can make a call and maybe get ya some, (local 4x4 place in town)

He just got a set from Pull-A-Part. Thanks though.