Front Springs
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 471
Likes: 1
From: Hometown The best
Front Springs
I need to lower the height of my front end about 1 1/2 to 2 inches. It seems there are three options to choose from (correct me if I'm wrong) . 1 Heat spring until it compresses, hence lowering the car. 2. Remove the springs and cut the desired amount of coils off of the spring. 3. Buy new springs with the desired height and spring rates built in. Which method do most guys use.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Remove the springs and cut them. Heating them will change the heat treat of the springs and they will not be correct. When ever you buy a set you will never know what the ride height until they are installed
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 471
Likes: 1
From: Hometown The best
What is the rule of thumb for determining how much to cut to achive an 1 1/2 0r 2 inch drop. If you cut too much you can't put it back but on the other hand I don't want to take the springs out but one time if I can help it.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 471
Likes: 1
From: Hometown The best
If I wanted a 2" drop in ride height and I measured a 2" space in the compressed spring with the weight of the car as it sits and I counted the amount of coils or partial coils in that space and cut off that amount of coils then that should give me my 2" drop in ride height. Does that make sense. What do ya think?
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 415
Likes: 10
From: Richmond Va
As Gordan said, heating=BAD. Heating has a negative effect on spring tensile strength and hard to get the two sides the same. I have cut several sets, some too short, and I would recommend cutting 1/2 coil at a time, install and drive it around if possible to let them settle in to the ride height. I know many of the members on here go to the shorter high performance springs to obtatin the lower ride height too. Search front springs, lower stance, lower ride height and you should get a pretty good rule of thumb as far as how much you have to cut to lower it 1"..
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 464
Likes: 0
From: Concord CA
I agree that heating the spring is a bad idea. To lower my height, on my 70, the first time I wanted to also lower the car 2" and took off a whole link and it was too much. For the next spring I took about 50% of a link which lowered the car less than an inch and then I took about 25% of link and the cars sits good. Good luck
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