So until I can afford springs I was thinking about cutting my stock springs a lithe. I was thinking about somewhere in the neighborhood of 1.25 in. My question to you all is: How much do I cut the springs to active that. Anyone have any idea?
Cutting springs (i know, i know)
- Thread starter L_King
- Start date
trickett90
Well-Known LVC Member
Cut them in half.
Dont think there is like an exact measurement on how much to cut off to get a 1.25 drop.. I wouldn't cut stock springs at all but if I were going to I would start by cutting half of a coil, let them settle and see if you want to cut more.
I know I have seen (at least for the old muscle cars) a rule of thumb that 1in of cut coil in the front equals 1.5 drop and a 1 to 1 ratio in the rear. didn't know if there was a similar rule for these cars
2002_lincolnLS
Custom User Title
L-King, the rule of thumb here would be to not cut your springs.
The reason I say this it that if you do not cut them all the same you will have an un-level ride and handling will suffer. If you have the confidence to do this then more power to you.
Will will want to make sure you are on a level as possible surface when you start measuring.
As far as figuring out the amount you need to cut off this is what i would try:
get some masking tape and run it down the length of the spring and then measure an inch from the center of the top coil down one inch and where that ends up on the coil I would cut.
I also would cut horizontal across the coil to make a flat seating surface.
The reason I say this it that if you do not cut them all the same you will have an un-level ride and handling will suffer. If you have the confidence to do this then more power to you.
Will will want to make sure you are on a level as possible surface when you start measuring.
As far as figuring out the amount you need to cut off this is what i would try:
get some masking tape and run it down the length of the spring and then measure an inch from the center of the top coil down one inch and where that ends up on the coil I would cut.
I also would cut horizontal across the coil to make a flat seating surface.
jolinc01
Dedicated LVC Member
I would start with cutting 1 coil off each spring to see where you sit then.
1LoudLS
Dedicated LVC Member
doesn't the coils at the center of the spring have a larger circumference than the coils at the ends of the spring?
this would mean that cutting off too much would make the spring not seat right anymore.
this would mean that cutting off too much would make the spring not seat right anymore.
G-RELL
FULLY DIPPED LS
thats why you have to cut horizontally, you are taking the original "full coil" contact surface away and replacing it with your new cut surface area... thats why you dont cut off very much.