cutting coil springs

[white_van_man]

hi all has any one cut there front coil spring down to make them lower , and if so did they work ok and was there any problems when the car was taken for its mot thanks white_van_man

[johnny_h]

I chopped out a load on my springs, they were 2" lowering springs on billies. Even with the 2" drop they were tooooo high so I chopped out another coil. They were fine except every time you jacked the car up you had to make sure they were reseated correctly in the cups. People here will tell you it is dangerous but as long as you are not using it for rallying or jumping tieing the springs to the cups with wire is an age old tradition. They won't pass an MOT tho.

[DAZZA]

On this subject..... after the coil is cut its left at the wrong angle for seating.

 

I remember years ago trying to heat and flatten the top of the spring to its original shape but was told it weakens it.

 

Whats your opinions? ( aside from being told to stop being a tight a*se and buy proper ones)

[johnny_h]

If you cut the coil parallel to the spring seat instead of vertical it will sit at the right angle.

[mossy]

dont do it!

 

well personally i wouldnt! friend of mine ended up in a ditch in his rs turbo when he cut the springs and one snapped when he was booting it..

 

also my friends colt, the spring snapped and the suspension came through the wing!

[tim]

for the little coil springs cost to buy and the number of different rating and length,i cant see the reason to need to cut them

[DAZZA]

Christ..............OK,

 

ill put the grinder away and call speedshak.

[johnny_h]

for the little coil springs cost to buy and the number of different rating and length,i cant see the reason to need to cut them

 

The reason I cut mine is because the 2" lowering springs I bought were not low enough and you can't get 3". There's a reason right there.

[Stu_B]

You can't buy 'em for Anglia's!

[escort21]

Its dodgy it changes the spring rate etc, Can get springs made in any shape/size you want so why bother?

Just a thought though...last night on Overhaulin' they cut the springs on a firebird and the're supposed to be proffesionals!

[jay]

for the little coil springs cost to buy and the number of different rating and length,i cant see the reason to need to cut them

 

The reason I cut mine is because the 2" lowering springs I bought were not low enough and you can't get 3". There's a reason right there.

 

same reason as mine are cut on me eccie...

 

passed all mots too......

[escort21]

If one fails and you have an accident which hurts or kills someone and the accident investigators will be round and they WILL find it........you'll be fooked...simple as

[jpayne]

I cannot see how a cut spring will fail, other than falling out of the cup when raised. When manufactured how do they detatch the wire from the reel after winding the coil. They cut it! cutting a coil of a spring will change its characteristics, will stop it from seating as well but wont cause it to snap or fall apart. I used cut springs 3.5 inches lower on heavily modified struts for 13 years on the road and track and never had a problem.

 

However! if you can get them made to your needs all the better as insurance and MOT dont like owner modified elements no matter how safe.

 

Justin P.

[Toby]

for the little coil springs cost to buy and the number of different rating and length,i cant see the reason to need to cut them

 

The reason I cut mine is because the 2" lowering springs I bought were not low enough and you can't get 3". There's a reason right there.

 

same reason as mine are cut on me eccie...

 

passed all mots too......

 

"

 

Mine are welded to the bottom platform. I don't feel it's right but it's cheaper than adjustable coil overs, which is the only way to get the height you desire if the right length springs aren't available.

 

One thing to note is that I have found new springs tend to settle a bit so Johhny I recon you might find yours gets a bit lower in time. (Looks perfect now )

 

It would weaken the spring if you "nick" the coil near the cut with the grinder as it will be a locallised stress raiser, maybe thats why others have failed.

 

Me and my mates have driven round on cut springs for 15 years - no problems, but you may wish to take notice of others advice!!

 

Better to be safe than sorry.

[jay]

If one fails and you have an accident which hurts or kills someone and the accident investigators will be round and they WILL find it........you'll be fooked...simple as

 

 

 

well if the mot man dont mind??

 

cant see the problem, there well secured top and bottom, dont fall out when jacked up, if i thought for a second that it was dangerous, i'd of pulled them off years ago.......

[Twinkle]

my st24 was always snapping front springs and they werent cut!

 

have had cut downs in the past without any problem though

[Jimbob-Squarepants ©]

my st24 was always snapping front springs and they werent cut!

 

have had cut downs in the past without any problem though

 

Funny you should say that mate, my Escort Estate TD had a phase of breaking springs... it seems to be behaving itself now though. BTW these were standard springs.

 

On my old Orion though, I took the grinder to the springs on that. I only removed one complete coil though, that way it sits in the locators. That has flown through about 3 MoT's since without even a mention.

 

Saying this though, I wouldn't suggest to anyone that cutting your sprngs down is a good idea.

[Fiesta Steve]

Been on cut springs for 10+ years with no problems and not one has failed an MOT and they are usually cut enough too fall out.

 

All those that say it changes the characteristics, well isn't that the idea The more you cut them the stiffer and lower they get and the better the car handles in my experience.

 

I've also been asked why my cars sit so low by the fuzz and I tell them I cut the springs and they haven't ever bothered about them.

 

The only springs I've ever had fail me are standard uncut springs !!

[tim]

my st24 was always snapping front springs and they werent cut!

 

have had cut downs in the past without any problem though

 

common problem on mondeo,ive seen them in mot where they are rubbin the wheel on lock and 1 where the pointed edge was just centimeters from the top of the tyre when it broke

 

a cut spring wont fail the mot as long as it stays seated with it on full hang but if you were unlucky enough to be involved in a crash and in some way they could connect the crash to the spring failing as a result of cuttin it then you would be on the line. just my opinion. i personlly would rather buy a pair of spring for mine as there ready avalible.

[Doc]

I saw chip foose chop some springs on a 500hp something or other .

Ive done it with no probs

 

[jpayne]

are these spring failures as a result of corrosion. Never heard of it in my neck of the woods. must be crap steel!

 

JP

[samcos]

years ago i had a mk1 astra i cut the springs on the front of that and the rear ones i heated up and squashed under a four poster ramp, seemed to do the trick although im sure that it would of been better to buy proper ones as they are all set for different poundage etc

[bigglesmk2]

Had a mondeo spring go only a couple of month's back,got told it was a common fault.

 

Think my escy has got cut down spring's,done b4 i got it and neva a prob

[tonymk2wagon]

ive alway run cut coils and never once had a problem no matter how much abuse ive given them. alway mot'ed ok as long as there wired. i heat the last 3 inches and bend flat so they seat nicely. my daily driver starlet has coils nearly half the original size and it handles great, firm but not really harsh. and never ever broke one .had a friend that just heated the springs and they broke in 3 places.

[hotrodholty]

The more you cut them the stiffer and lower they get and the better the car handles in my experience.

 

quote]

cutting the springs will lower the car, but it will not stiffen it (unless you cut em that much its on its bumpstops in the bends)

the amount of coils and thickness of the spring dictates its

stiffness/lbs-age removing coils makes the springs softer.