Cutting springs

[Gmcfolife]

I purchased 1" front lowering springs from ECE and now want to drop another inch. Can I just cut them or would it be better to purchase new ones? Thanks
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[lolife99]

Cut 1/2 coil for a 1" drop.

[rattle69]

My research on here tells me yes you can cut front but best to go 1/2 coil at a time because once you go to far you cant go back. The rear cant be cut if you were wondering.

[Gmcfolife]

If I cut half a coil will it still sit in the pocket correctly?
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[rattle69]

Originally Posted by Gmcfolife

If I cut half a coil will it still sit in the pocket correctly?
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Just make sure the top is turned into the pocket correctly, the bottom is no issue

[Gmcfolife]

Ok perfect. Thanks for the quick response.
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[Square_78]

Originally Posted by rattle69

Just make sure the top is turned into the pocket correctly, the bottom is no issue

Its actually the bottom that needs to sit correctly into the lower control arm. The top doesnt matter. If you get the spring out of place on the bottom, it can make up to an inch difference in height and make the truck sit crooked.

[CC69Rat]

I can't express enough, go a little at a time. I cut one full coil off a CPP spring expecting about 2" drop and it was more like 2.5+"

I think the spring not only loses overall length but also if you think about that loss of spring tension will also cause it to drop. It's a little deceiving. Ex: Cut one full coil off, and stand on it (the part you cut off) Can you compress that 'one round' of the original coil? You not only lost the length of the spring, but the weight it once held up..

.. just kinda how it was explained to me. My .02
Chad

[cdowns]

if u cut too much they are quite dificult to glue back together

[b.eddy's72]

Originally Posted by cdowns

if u cut too much they are quite dificult to glue back together

3M is making a great epoxy that you might try

[brad_man_72]

Originally Posted by CC69Rat

I can't express enough, go a little at a time. I cut one full coil off a CPP spring expecting about 2" drop and it was more like 2.5+"

I think the spring not only loses overall length but also if you think about that loss of spring tension will also cause it to drop. It's a little deceiving. Ex: Cut one full coil off, and stand on it (the part you cut off) Can you compress that 'one round' of the original coil? You not only lost the length of the spring, but the weight it once held up..

.. just kinda how it was explained to me. My .02
Chad

The spring actually gets stiffer as it gets shorter.
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[CC69Rat]

Cut 2 in off the length, why would it drop more than 2" ? Not arguing.. just asking. If it got stiffer would it only drop say.. 1.5" ?
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[rattle69]

Originally Posted by Square_78

Its actually the bottom that needs to sit correctly into the lower control arm. The top doesnt matter. If you get the spring out of place on the bottom, it can make up to an inch difference in height and make the truck sit crooked.

thanks for the correction, memory is a little foggy at times.

[Square_78]

Originally Posted by brad_man_72

The spring actually gets stiffer as it gets shorter.
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This is correct. A spring is the same as a lever, except in the form of a coil. The shorter you cut it, the rougher the vehicle will ride because you increase the spring rate. On the old dirtbikes, we used to stiffen the front forks by cutting an inch off the coil springs inside the fork tubes and installing a 1" spacer. That way you have the same ride height, but a stiffer spring. You can google it if you want. Its physics and engineering.

[CC69Rat]

I stand corrected. So why does cutting 2" of spring length off, drop the truck more than 2" ?? Just curious.
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