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Hi there
i need to lower my car because the new composite spring makes it site 2-3 inches higher but the longer bolts will hit my wheels and or tires because of the edge of spring
can I cut off 1/2 to 3/4 inch off?
if so what should it be cut with ?
thanks I am an amateur big time
Doesn't the end of the spring have a metal reinforcement around the hole?
where did you buy this spring?
people use longer bolts all the time with composite springs so it doesn't make sense that say an 8" bolt would hit the wheel if your camber is correctly set.
Doesn't the end of the spring have a metal reinforcement around the hole?
where did you buy this spring?
people use longer bolts all the time with composite springs so it doesn't make sense that say an 8" bolt would hit the wheel if your camber is correctly set.
yes around the hole hole but not at the ends because of the wheels that are on it I was told it will hit the tire
or put 3/8 wheel spacers on
I know I would not modify the hole due to possible fear of casing the spring to fatigue and split in time. ,maybe I am over thinking it. But with my luck if I did it I would have to buy the customer a new spring and have to deal with this stuff all over again.
IF I used a spacer. I then would ALSO have to either look to make 100% sure the lug nuts would still grip with enough threads. IF NOT....then I would install longer wheel studs like I have done before.
Some of these aftermarket monosprings were not engineered 'well'. When installed and compressed under normal loading, some springs may be wider (or narrower) than the stock spring dimension. You need to have clearance between the end of the spring and the inside wall of the tire...especially when making a hard turn that will move one of the rear tires inward as it rolls thru the turn. But, there shouldn't be much movement if the end of the spring is near the rim of the steel wheel.
Cutting any material from the end of the spring enhances the probability of weakening the spring and resulting in a stress failure. Do what you think is necessary, but 'adjust' it as little as possible.
If it's a NOS VB&P spring, I doubt you'd have these issues, but they did custom cut their springs before they went out of business. Mine was cut, by VB&P, and redrilled, on one side only. If it's a Van Steel spring, call them, perhaps they have a solution. I'd really like to know, since I see this being a big problem in the future with over curved repro springs.
If it is a different aftermarket spring, I don't know what to suggest. Perhaps cut it in half and call Van Steel.
My spring was purchased from Van Steel. It is a 330# spring. I had them cut an inch off of each end of it. Just not enough clearance for my set up so I cut it another inch.
Last edited by Street Rat; Feb 8, 2019 at 08:58 AM.
If it's a NOS VB&P spring, I doubt you'd have these issues, but they did custom cut their springs before they went out of business. Mine was cut, by VB&P, and redrilled, on one side only. If it's a Van Steel spring, call them, perhaps they have a solution. I'd really like to know, since I see this being a big problem in the future with over curved repro springs.
If it is a different aftermarket spring, I don't know what to suggest. Perhaps cut it in half and call Van Steel.
‘yes call vanstell they have 1/2’’ A side shorter springs and 1’’ a side shorter
to help this sort of problem
bfit
I'll be honest and say I cut my VB&P spring to allow for wider wheels about 7 years ago and haven't had any issues at this point. I removed the end reinforcements, cut the spring, re-drilled the hole, and put the reinforcements back on. Thinking about it today, I probably wouldn't do it again and would order a shorter spring, but i was younger and didn't have the money to buy a new spring after I paid for new wheels and tires.
If it's a NOS VB&P spring, I doubt you'd have these issues, but they did custom cut their springs before they went out of business. Mine was cut, by VB&P, and redrilled, on one side only. If it's a Van Steel spring, call them, perhaps they have a solution. I'd really like to know, since I see this being a big problem in the future with over curved repro springs.
If it is a different aftermarket spring, I don't know what to suggest. Perhaps cut it in half and call Van Steel.
I have an original VB&P spring on my car from around 2003, 10" bolts hit the c5 zo6 wheels I had on it.
Cutting composite leaf spring
