Cutting the springs

ONLYA4 · petrol head Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1114

Ok. Me and a mate are cutting my springs on saturday, gonna drop it about 2-3", just temporary till i get some king springs installed. We will take the rears out and do them, but with the front ones because they are a bitch to get out, can we raise the car up and cut the while the car is jacked up? Like just cut out the bottom off the spring and slide it out?

Stock TE · backyard mechanic Joined: 12 Mar 2002 Posts: 853

This sounds very dangerous (can we raise the car up and cut them while the car is jacked up? Like just cut out the bottom off the spring and slide it out?), just wait till you get the king springs, plus if you cut them and they are lower than the king springs you might be tempted to put the cut springs back in and sell the new ones.

UaniAndGeMini · tinkerer Joined: 15 Oct 2002 Posts: 63

yeah sounds dodgy..take ur control arm off which means the spring will pop out but have done it bfore replacing a ball joint and is'nt very hard hardest part is gettin them back in try wedging the control arm into position using a jack and a long peice of pipe to put the bolts back in might take u a while and u will need 2 ppl or u can wait for ur lowered springs and get em to fit em in
cheers

van8u · rice boy Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 48

firstly you cut the springs while there still in there , expect a trip to hospital or even worse a crucial blow to the head=death... even with the car jacked up & the swaybar disconected there is still alot of tension there ...
you will not need to take the lower control arm out but you will need to release 1 ball jiont & the lower is the better 1 to do... you need to cut exactly 2 an a half coils off the springs !!!!! dont cut anymore !!! it will sit alittle high for a week untill they settle but they will drop !!! do not cut with an oxy set ..to much heat involved.. use a 9inch grinder & dont create excessive heat wile cutting & once cut dont cool off in water.. just let it cool gently..
very important is there is a right & a left coil .. & a top & bottom.. make sure they go back that way.. & do your sway bar back up wile the car is on the ground other wise it will squeak like hell .. have fun Smile

ONLYA4 · petrol head Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1114

Thanks guys, Much appreciated.

Gene FJ20DET · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 12:30 pm Post subject: Re: Cutting the springs

u get a A+ in dodgyness
D- for safty
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Gene FJ20DET · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 12:30 pm Post subject: Re: Cutting the springs

....and may god have mercy on your soul
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van8u · rice boy Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 48

hehe

ONLYA4 · petrol head Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1114

Well Genoss, how would you do it?

Oh, and at least Van8u passed safety, a D- is a pass Very Happy

IDAREU2 · tinkerer Joined: 07 Oct 2001 Posts: 423

IDAREU2 looks back at the mega arguement he had with gene over this matter a couple of years ago good to see you smartend up fella.

DONT CUT THE SPRINGS YOU TOSSA JUST WAIT TIL YOU GET YOUR KING SPRINGS..

ONLYA4 · petrol head Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1114

settle cheif, settle. We just want to cut the springs to drop it down low for a while for fun.

Whats your main reason for why i shouldn't cut the springs? Dangerous?

GROOV3 · petrol head Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 3682

they are weaker and dangourous
against the law
flaws your insurance
blah blah blah '
its not very much to get 2 king springs
last time i looked about $120 ish

IDAREU2 · tinkerer Joined: 07 Oct 2001 Posts: 423

The damage it causes to all of the components around it not to mention the weakening of the spring its self mate i could sit here for ages and tell you do's and dont's.

manufactures spend millions on safty for it to work in a particular way and when we alter it EG cutting and heating of spring it then becomes weaker and less springy thus being for the kindney punching ride, Mate ive been there myself and so has gene and we can both vouch for the cracked half of the chassis that occured whilst having the cut springs in there, and the stress on the front end components from all the rough roads and having no travel in the springs..

It could end up costing you more than the wait for the king springs..

Im not being a cunt about it just stopping you from fucking up. GENE can tell you the full blown arguements we used to have in here about this topic years ago, its not worth the $3.00 you spend in cutting discs.

You may as well wait mate how long before you get them anyway.

Gene FJ20DET · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2003 2:09 pm Post subject: Re: Cutting the springs

i would buy proper springs
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goons hired goons · petrol head Joined: 04 Jul 2002 Posts: 3268

dont be so impatient and wait til you get your new springs, and be a bit considerate to other motorists; cutting springs is cheap, lazy and just plain dangerous