ok i did a search, but nothing came up so dont flame me, but i was wondering about springs. i hear people say they want to "cut" the springs to make it look lowered, like u have..performance springs, but..what does cutting the springs do to ur suspensions?? and adjustable springs..arent they like cutting them? its a simple newbie question..

oh yeah, what are coilovers..?

 

cutting the springs is like an old school trick people used to do to lower the car. they wouldnt bother to buy springs so instead theyd just cut a coil or two.
the downsides are pretty huge. the struts go bye bye in no time, the ride is bumpy, it just isnt worth it.

 

Actually the downside is that your stock struts will bottom out because there isn't enough travel. It won't be too bouncy because the spring rate is the same as it was. No it isn't worth it since springs can be as cheap as $40 even if they aren't great.

 

thanks a lot for ur replies, i personally will never cut springs, my friend wanted to know what he needs to use to cut them, and i wanted some info and evidence to back up my arguement that he shouldnt cut them, yeah hes one of those stupid rice boys.

 

heres a pic of my S-tech negative 1. meaning minus 1 coil. Yeah I know stupid. but it looks awesome. Kinda have a bouncy ride. Did it for a few months till I get my coilovers. i had a shop do them. Anyways I have a wagon now and Im gettin coilovers for that. http://jadecrew.com/images/pisteros/DSC06481.jpg http://jadecrew.com/images/pisteros/DSC06483.jpg laters Mikal Ps. dont do it

 

Good lord that is low. do you bottom out alot?

 

How were they before you cut them?

 

The springs were great before I cut them. Just not low enough. After I cut them they got a little bouncy. Coilovers will be next. The fender was rolled in the rear so It wouldnt rub. Laters Mikal

 

Man, that looks SICK that low. I love it! Too bad you have to spend $$$ to get coilovers and do it right...

 

I had a AE86 with cut-springs and it was all bad news. Every little bump, it would bottom out. The chassis was about 1.5 inches off the ground. Never cut your springs. Never.

 

If you really need to lower your car for free don't cut your springs. Just go to the auto parts store and borrow a spring compressor. Remove the springs and compress them to the desired new length. then use a torch and start to evenly heat the spring until you can take the spring compressor off and the spring holds its new shape. this can be danderous though cause if you hold the torch in one place too long. Snap, and you could have a flaming hot peice of sharp spring flying across your garage. also be sure to use a tape measure to get all of your springs the same length.

 

devils advocate.

Gleb83...your statement isn't necessarily true...about spring rates.
Spring rate= (Gd^4)/(8ND^3)

G= torsional module of steel
d= wire diameter
N= Number of active coils
D= mean coil diameter
8= a constant for all coil springs

Cutting your springs actually increases spring rats...
10% reduction in length equals an 11% increase in spring rate.

This is for single rate springs of course.
What makes things so bouncy is two things....struts too long and don't have the correct dampening for the new spring rates...

So in essense...if you have the right struts cutting a single rate spring can actually be beneficial in some cases.

Personally though...I think it's ghetto and in 99% of the cases hazerdous to you and your car and creates a shisty look and feel to the car.

That's why I like progressive springs. You can go lower and an still have good handling and every day driveability. Just have to have the right struts. And with the price of springs these days it's really worth it to buy a good spring...they don't cost that much.....if you're gonna go low you'll be happier with new struts or a coil over set up and you can get pretty decent coil overs for under $1800 so it's not that bad....but I guess free to $1800 is pretty apitizing....but long term...not gonna save you any money.

You'll end up blowing cv boots. Wasting tires. Replacing struts and probably springs...so in the end it's really not a wise move..

so yeah...there is the devils advocate....and my opinion...DO NOT CUT>