Why you should NOT cut your springs to lower your car

smack said:
H&R sport with Koni yellows here.

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That was a bad move to cut the springs. Also the Koni yellows should be used with a lowering spring. Not a factory height spring.
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Very nice!
 
Couple things come to mind with cut springs... Springs generally have a temper in them, heat removes this if cut with a torch. There is a HUGE difference between a linear rate coil and a progressive rate coil. Progessive the "pigtails" change dynamically as they are compressed. Cut this coil off and basically the spring ends up squishy.
When adding any lowering spring either after market replacement or cut you are changing the stroke of the shock or strut. Basically the piston is further inside the body so it will not work as intended. The stock shock shaft becomes to long essentially when you lower a vehicle. So if you are going to lower a vehicle you basically need a shock or strut designed to work with the spring combination. As previously mentioned, coil overs are designed to work together if designed properly, as is most of the full lowering kits you can by. I have lowered almost every vehicle I have owned, sometimes the wrong way. I had to learn the hard way. There is so much science in vehicle dynamics, and most of the time we go and jack that up for sake of form over function. I think about this everytime I see a show car tuner thats dumped to the ground statically with massive amounts of camber. It looks cool, but the GTI, Mini, 370z that used to handle great will not be practically useless. Sucks having a sports vehicle that can't go over 10mph because it will bottom out and destroy the vehicle.
 
Did your friend address the massive tire rub on that inner fender? lol

Like said, you change the spring rates when you cut progressive springs.

I'm looking to get some TCK Dual Adjustable Coilovers (Koni DA Shocks). I want to adjust compression and rebound for my car. That piled with linear spring rates will make the car become a rail car.
 
Twister said:
Very nice!
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Thank you

flamed03vert said:
Couple things come to mind with cut springs... Springs generally have a temper in them, heat removes this if cut with a torch. There is a HUGE difference between a linear rate coil and a progressive rate coil. Progessive the "pigtails" change dynamically as they are compressed. Cut this coil off and basically the spring ends up squishy.
When adding any lowering spring either after market replacement or cut you are changing the stroke of the shock or strut. Basically the piston is further inside the body so it will not work as intended. The stock shock shaft becomes to long essentially when you lower a vehicle. So if you are going to lower a vehicle you basically need a shock or strut designed to work with the spring combination. As previously mentioned, coil overs are designed to work together if designed properly, as is most of the full lowering kits you can by. I have lowered almost every vehicle I have owned, sometimes the wrong way. I had to learn the hard way. There is so much science in vehicle dynamics, and most of the time we go and jack that up for sake of form over function. I think about this everytime I see a show car tuner thats dumped to the ground statically with massive amounts of camber. It looks cool, but the GTI, Mini, 370z that used to handle great will not be practically useless. Sucks having a sports vehicle that can't go over 10mph because it will bottom out and destroy the vehicle.
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Well said.

Do it right or dont do it at all OP.

M0nk3y said:
Did your friend address the massive tire rub on that inner fender? lol

Like said, you change the spring rates when you cut progressive springs.

I'm looking to get some TCK Dual Adjustable Coilovers (Koni DA Shocks). I want to adjust compression and rebound for my car. That piled with linear spring rates will make the car become a rail car.
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Mmmm, TCK DA's

You will have a car on rails.
 
Koni Yellows/ Ground Controls. This is right before I re-boosted it

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This not my car, but someones on a forum that looks absolutely fantastic! Properly lowered!

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The previous owner installed the Bilstein HD's as well as the lower sport springs. Wish he did the Koni's instead. That way I could have some options. The Biltseins are just too stiff; coupled with the sport springs AND the low profile tires for the 18" rims he installed makes for a harsh ride. I swear I'm gonna chip a tooth next time I hit a small pothole. My car sits low enough, but not slammed like your cut springs ride.
 
with so many aftermarket shocks and lowering springs available, it should always be the first choice to replace versus cut. Unfortunately most will see the $$ savings initially. Glad it worked out in the end !
 
killrwheels@autogeek said:
with so many aftermarket shocks and lowering springs available, it should always be the first choice to replace versus cut. Unfortunately most will see the $$ savings initially. Glad it worked out in the end !
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me too...I wish I had gone with my better judgement in the first place...would have save the 600$....no I wouldnt have, who am I kidding? I would have a very nice new flex, exo and the whole line up of menzerna polishes lol:buffing:
 
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