Cutting Springs
st170 breaking
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,298
Likes: 1
From: norfolk
ive done it on dozens of cars like mk1/2 fiestas mk3/4 escorts mk4 fiestas, mk6 escorts
alsorts never had issue
i know a mate who have a esc cabbie with no rear springs fuck it was low
riding on cut down bumpstops
alsorts never had issue
i know a mate who have a esc cabbie with no rear springs fuck it was low
riding on cut down bumpstops
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wheeler dealer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 362
Likes: 0
From: telford
i cut my 2.8 sierra xr4x4 springs 3 weeks ago never again in the end i got some lowerd cosworth springs of ebay £20 unused as the ones i cut were moving in the back big time i only cut one coil and the backend was on the floor fuck that again.
yeah just cut them i've done it loads before nobody has come to any harm yet!
There is always a first time but there's no chance of you ever bumping into me so i'm not bothered.
There is always a first time but there's no chance of you ever bumping into me so i'm not bothered.
Wahay!! I've lost my Virginity!!
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: central scotland
had to do this to a mk2 xr2,avo lowering springs on the back,jamex and konishocks front, a good 2 coils back aboutthe same front, with 15in rims looked great with no trouble but cant talk for different cars........
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,116
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From: wigan
i've learned to stop trusting the internet nowadays, theres a hell of a lot of people who think they know what they are on about. better off just putting some thought into it, learning how things work and making your own decisions.
Too many posts.. I need a life!!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 895
Likes: 0
From: BOLTON-lancashire
i done it a few times when i was younger and couldnt afford to buy proper springs the old skool info on chopping springs is class thats the way 2 do it 
i dont recomend it thow
i dont recomend it thow
Cheers,
Grant
Thread Starter
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,750
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From: Tarxien, Malta
I will respray it myself same colour, a 1.8td engine and some rs turbo wheels
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
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From: Worcs
Regular Contributor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Warlingham
fuck me!!! what a load of big fat hairy BOLLOCKS!!!!!! What a great example of internet car forum tuition coming from the 'barry bodgit crew' £50..........FIF-TY-FUCKIN-QUID for some lowering springs. thats all!!! But somehow i get the feeling that no matter how much people with half a brain cell will tell you to buy some lowering springs, you will still go out........... with an angle grinder............and cut the springs in half. Then respray the car with halfords 'matt blue'.......... in a dusty car park............ on a windy day!!! beautiful. Your masterpeice will soon be complete
Regular Contributor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 207
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From: Warlingham
yyyeeeeeeeeeaaaahh!!! you're the man. and your mate is now my hero!!!!
Thats genuinely one the the stupidest, but funniest things i've read in a while. Thankyou for making me laugh lots on a quiet friday night in!!!
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,617
Likes: 1
From: Not near you
Ryan- ive done it before and i wouldnt do it again, hows the MOT's over there ? in uk if the spring drops when the wheels are off the ground fully ie: suspended then it can lead to an MOT fail, also, it can and will alter how the car suspension works in different situations, depending on cornering speeds etc etc.
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Joined: May 2003
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From: Not near you
PassionFord Post Troll
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,867
Likes: 3
From: telly tubby land
just cut one coil off and make sure you bend the top one flat again 
if you have the tools to do it properly then get it done (blow torch, angle grinder hammer, and what ever you need to get the spring off)
its when people take the piss just having one coil that isnt level that it doesnt work.
EDIT: skip past all the peoples post that dont know how its done properly and have a read
https://passionford.com/forum/genera...pparently.html
if you have the tools to do it properly then get it done (blow torch, angle grinder hammer, and what ever you need to get the spring off)
its when people take the piss just having one coil that isnt level that it doesnt work.
EDIT: skip past all the peoples post that dont know how its done properly and have a read
https://passionford.com/forum/genera...pparently.html
Last edited by jammerrs; Mar 5, 2010 at 07:33 PM.
Part of the Furniture
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: preston,lancashire
done it but wouldnt do it again as they DO come out . my bruv cut his and lost it on a corner wiped out 3 cars and a garden wall and we both say it was doing this that caused it . caused that much damage he got a tt99 code on his licence .
escort rst cosworth rep
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
From: Stansted / Essex
Normal
Lowered 1"
Lowered 1"
After installing new KYB GR-2 front struts and KYB upper mounts, the front of my Shelby Charger was raised about 1". This is most likely from the fact that the KYB struts are gas charged and the old shocks were, well, old. I believe that the upper mounts were a little different than the stock ones but I'm not sure if that added to the rise in the front end as I already got rid of the old mounts and can't compare them to the new ones. If anyone has some stock Mopar L-body front mounts to measure, please send me the distance from the bearing mount to the large flanged surface.
Now the easiest way to get ride of the height increase is to get the Mopar 1" lowering springs, oh yeah they decided to stop making them. And no aftermarket company makes any either. Well I can't afford coil overs so the only option is to cut the stock springs. Cutting the springs will not only lower the car, but will make the springs stiffer as it takes out some of the compressability of the spring.
Now as always - the general disclaimer applies. If you decide to do this you must follow strict garage safety procedures because you can be seriously hurt if the car falls on you or the spring slips out of the compressor. If you hurt yourself, its your fault. This is only my experience with cutting springs.
Procedure:
1. First jack up the car (on jackstands please) and remove the front struts. There are two 18mm bolts that bolt the strut to the spindle, two 13mm bolts that holdthe upper strut mount to the strut tower, and one 10mm bolt that holds the brake line to the strut.
2. Safely compress the springs with a set of spring compressors. Remove the large nut on top of the strut. Now pull the hole mess apart.
3.Place the spring firmly in a table vice. The side you will cut is the bottom rings. I originally cut one ring off but this didn't give much drop since most of this ring is already bent up for the spring seat. I then cut another half ring (for a total of 1.5 rings) which netted a 1" drop off the front on a car without A/C. I used a electric angle grinder to cut the springs and it went through the ring with very little effort. 1.5 rings is about the maximum you can cut off these L-body springs. At this point the spring is so short that it is no longer under tension when you reassemble the strut (hey no spring compressor needed) and it is just barely tall enough to touch the upper seat.
4. Now after you've cut the spring you will notice that the spring will not seat very well on the lower seat. So we have to come with a way to hold the spring to the seat enough til the car's weight is reapplied over the spring and compresses it. Now you could do this many ways. I chose to use a set of spring lox since they already had the spring wire shape and were just the right size. You need to drill a 3/8" hole in the hump of the spring seat just inboard of the spring seat on the strut and just back from the raised notch where the end of the spring goes. Now clamp down the spring lox with one bolt hanging outside of the strut. Use locks washes and double nuts to keep them from working loose.
5. Reasseble the car and check ride height, you may have to drive the car to let the struts settle. Also check the alignment as camber will change will ride height. I could tell the difference in spring stiffness after cutting (placebo effect?). I wish that Mopar still made the 1" lower springs as they have a stiffer spring rate than all L-body springs, but the XHD springs cut are still pretty stiff.
Now the easiest way to get ride of the height increase is to get the Mopar 1" lowering springs, oh yeah they decided to stop making them. And no aftermarket company makes any either. Well I can't afford coil overs so the only option is to cut the stock springs. Cutting the springs will not only lower the car, but will make the springs stiffer as it takes out some of the compressability of the spring.
Now as always - the general disclaimer applies. If you decide to do this you must follow strict garage safety procedures because you can be seriously hurt if the car falls on you or the spring slips out of the compressor. If you hurt yourself, its your fault. This is only my experience with cutting springs.
Procedure:
1. First jack up the car (on jackstands please) and remove the front struts. There are two 18mm bolts that bolt the strut to the spindle, two 13mm bolts that holdthe upper strut mount to the strut tower, and one 10mm bolt that holds the brake line to the strut.
2. Safely compress the springs with a set of spring compressors. Remove the large nut on top of the strut. Now pull the hole mess apart.
3.Place the spring firmly in a table vice. The side you will cut is the bottom rings. I originally cut one ring off but this didn't give much drop since most of this ring is already bent up for the spring seat. I then cut another half ring (for a total of 1.5 rings) which netted a 1" drop off the front on a car without A/C. I used a electric angle grinder to cut the springs and it went through the ring with very little effort. 1.5 rings is about the maximum you can cut off these L-body springs. At this point the spring is so short that it is no longer under tension when you reassemble the strut (hey no spring compressor needed) and it is just barely tall enough to touch the upper seat.
4. Now after you've cut the spring you will notice that the spring will not seat very well on the lower seat. So we have to come with a way to hold the spring to the seat enough til the car's weight is reapplied over the spring and compresses it. Now you could do this many ways. I chose to use a set of spring lox since they already had the spring wire shape and were just the right size. You need to drill a 3/8" hole in the hump of the spring seat just inboard of the spring seat on the strut and just back from the raised notch where the end of the spring goes. Now clamp down the spring lox with one bolt hanging outside of the strut. Use locks washes and double nuts to keep them from working loose.
5. Reasseble the car and check ride height, you may have to drive the car to let the struts settle. Also check the alignment as camber will change will ride height. I could tell the difference in spring stiffness after cutting (placebo effect?). I wish that Mopar still made the 1" lower springs as they have a stiffer spring rate than all L-body springs, but the XHD springs cut are still pretty stiff.
Thread Starter
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,750
Likes: 0
From: Tarxien, Malta
fuck me!!! what a load of big fat hairy BOLLOCKS!!!!!! What a great example of internet car forum tuition coming from the 'barry bodgit crew' £50..........FIF-TY-FUCKIN-QUID for some lowering springs. thats all!!! But somehow i get the feeling that no matter how much people with half a brain cell will tell you to buy some lowering springs, you will still go out........... with an angle grinder............and cut the springs in half. Then respray the car with halfords 'matt blue'.......... in a dusty car park............ on a windy day!!! beautiful. Your masterpeice will soon be complete
Ryan- ive done it before and i wouldnt do it again, hows the MOT's over there ? in uk if the spring drops when the wheels are off the ground fully ie: suspended then it can lead to an MOT fail, also, it can and will alter how the car suspension works in different situations, depending on cornering speeds etc etc.
will keep an eye on some bargains
Last edited by Ryan_3; Mar 6, 2010 at 02:42 PM.
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