coil spring cutting

[captainluigi]

have read a few posts here and elsewhere about cutting a coil off of springs to lower it. is this advisable? i am reluctant to start re-engineering the suspension this way. if i use lowering springs are they going to have the same amount of coils as stock?

[CrimsonQ]

Not really advisable as it raises safety concerns.

But your of course free to do what you want as well :0

I personally wouldnt cut mine

[captainluigi]

ok so im a little dense. what are the safety factors?

[CrimsonQ]

alignment issues, susp geometry.

increased wear. stuff like that.

[qship96]

shorter,aftermarket springs are built stiffer to compensate for the shorter length{less travel per # of force exerted upon them} cutting stock springs will be a disaster as far as maintaining designed spring stiffness per inch of travel.

[captainluigi]

thanx. that was a brain fart question. whutt was i thinkin?

[captainluigi]

[QUOTE=captainluigi]thanx. that was a brain fart question. whutt was i thinkin? everybody knows when you hold your farts they travel up your spinal cord into your brainstem producing shi**y ideas.

[squeefoo]

thanx. that was a brain fart question. whutt was i thinkin? everybody knows when you hold your farts they travel up your spinal cord into your brainstem producing shi**y ideas.

...thereby inducing a release of stinky hot air and obscuring the pure thought behind the idea, when trying to express these thoughts in person.

I know... I've been there...

[bullittandy]

I cut the sotck springs on my 97 and am very pleased with the results. 1" drop, minor decrease in ride quality, improved looks and was "free" (took about 3 hours).

There have been no "safety" issues but I'm sure that the suspension geometry is changed but the car aligned fine.

Buy an extra set of springs and then you can feel free to experiment.

P.S. I've been told twice to not cut the springs on cars (55 Chevy and 97 Q45), both times the standard line of "It won't work" has been wrong.

[superuber]

P.S. I've been told twice to not cut the springs on cars (55 Chevy and 97 Q45), both times the standard line of "It won't work" has been wrong.

I like your "go on your own mentality." you could have just listened to the nay-sayers, but you tried it and it worked out for you. Nice work!I'm just glad I didn't post about building my 4:08 before I did because I am sure many would have told me it would never work. And I might not have tried to change my ring and pinion. In short, to all you "experts" don't say "you can't" if you really don't know what your talkig about.

No question is a dumb question!

[bullittandy]

I like your "go on your own mentality." you could have just listened to the nay-sayers, but you tried it and it worked out for you. Nice work!I'm just glad I didn't post about building my 4:08 before I did because I am sure many would have told me it would never work. And I might not have tried to change my ring and pinion. In short, to all you "experts" don't say "you can't" if you really don't know what your talkig about.

No question is a dumb question!

Amen, brother.

[pito11213]

Woah fellas before we start poppin bottles and roastin marshmellows together.

The fact is that a lot of mods can be done. But longevity is another question. Yeah cut springs will work, in theory. The car will ride harder and will not last long and the shocks will get the same effect. Also the other components will also wear faster and incorrectly.

There is a fine line between form and function. Real lowering springs are made to lower a cars center of gravity and give more stiffness to be able to perform more sporty. Cutting q45 springs do not make the car sporty. It makes things wear faster. But hey its your car and your money.

[bullittandy]

Woah fellas before we start poppin bottles and roastin marshmellows together.

The fact is that a lot of mods can be done. But longevity is another question. Yeah cut springs will work, in theory. The car will ride harder and will not last long and the shocks will get the same effect. Also the other components will also wear faster and incorrectly.

There is a fine line between form and function. Real lowering springs are made to lower a cars center of gravity and give more stiffness to be able to perform more sporty. Cutting q45 springs do not make the car sporty. It makes things wear faster. But hey its your car and your money.

Actually, cut springs do not work "in theory." That's why most people frown on it. Cut springs work "in practice." How do I know? I did it!

Of course the struts will not last as long but...

How much longevity is lost due to cut springs?How long do stock shocks last on a car with cut coil springs?

Its not about "sporty," its about looks and hotrodding.

[pito11213]

Hotrodding? In a Q.

It is about sport driving. You think people spend 1000's on suspension just to look good. Everyone feels like their Q drives like a boat so you do little things to make it feel better. Cutting springs on a two ton car just doesn't make it. Longevity is an issue for those that care. Why not just spend the extra now and get a quality set up that will give the "look" and yield performance as well.

Go on ebay there is always a deal there. get it done right the first time.

[superuber]

I can't speak for andy but I don't "sport drive". I grew up years ago,plus exceding the speed limit is illegal, atleast here in Pa. I didn't spend thousands on my springs and struts. I don't know aboutyou but I race on the track, anything else is high schoolish. Unless of course you mean sport driving within the law. If so, forgive me for jumping to conclusions. Please define "sport driving" are you one of those, what do call them?...oh yeah, street racers?

[bullittandy]

You didn't answer my questions.How much longevity is lost due to cut springs?How long do stock shocks last on a car with cut coil springs?

For your heads up, there are no aftermarket springs on the market that drop a 97 and newer Q45 1"

[pito11213]

No I don't "street race." I drive fast though. Since you "track" your car you would know that running with just cut springs don't give you a track worthy ride. As far you waiting for me to give you exact mileage on shocks and such, sorry I don't do formulas maybe q45 tech could help you out with that. The question was posed about the cutting of springs and I am putting my opinion on it. Cut springs just don't make sense especially on the q. There was a previous post about the oem design specs of the springs and how cutting them would negatively affect the ride.

As far as aftermarket springs for the y33 I know they probably won't lower you exactly an inch but they lower you a bit more in the proper fashion.

[superuber]

Who said I cut my springs?

[cullenj76]

if i use lowering springs are they going to have the same amount of coils as stock?

Since this thread went way off topic...

No offense, but you have business cutting springs after making that statement. I highly suggest consulting with someone that has some knowledge/experience in suspension basics before purchasing components for your car.

[Bwana]

Maybe the flamefest could be taken to AIM or something?

Calm down a little people!!!

[bullittandy]

No I don't "street race." I drive fast though. Since you "track" your car you would know that running with just cut springs don't give you a track worthy ride. As far you waiting for me to give you exact mileage on shocks and such, sorry I don't do formulas maybe q45 tech could help you out with that. The question was posed about the cutting of springs and I am putting my opinion on it. Cut springs just don't make sense especially on the q. There was a previous post about the oem design specs of the springs and how cutting them would negatively affect the ride.

As far as aftermarket springs for the y33 I know they probably won't lower you exactly an inch but they lower you a bit more in the proper fashion.

I was just making sure that I (and other readers) knew what your opinion was based on. To be clear you don't believe in cutting stock coil springs and you have neither practical or technical support for that belief.

I have practical experience cutting stock coil springs on my 97 and am pleased with the results. I have 10,000 miles on the front suspension since cutting them and have noticed no ride or handling issues.

[superuber]

Who's upset? It would be nice if the weekend mechanics would stoptrying to be experts! (weekend mech=guy with desk job) Is this any of you?

I'm not saying some of you don't have some good info., but lets face it wrenching every day is way different!

[Jesda]

Lowering is so 90s.

THIS IS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE!

[elwesso]

Who's upset? It would be nice if the weekend mechanics would stoptrying to be experts! (weekend mech=guy with desk job) Is this any of you?

I'm not saying some of you don't have some good info., but lets face it wrenching every day is way different!

totally agree... lots of "misinformation" floating around here... no reason to point out anything because if you cant spot this said information you should reconsider doing this sort of thing anyway...

I am curious.... How can "lowering springs" lower the center of gravity, but cutting your stock springs NOT? Interesting, i guess physics only applies if you modify your car how you SHOULD.

[Q45tech]

If the CG is as low as 22" with a 150 pound driver in the seat..............1" LOWERING is on 1/22 or 0.04545 with a 60" tread trackwidth that gets multiplied by 0.3666 yielding a 1.666% reduction in transfer weight to a tire..........25 pounds at the ABSOLUTE BEST CASE in an impossible 1.0 G TURN.

You can gain much more in peak handling by using a higher load index tire than 1521 pounds [95 load index] on the front. You get about half the load index higher pounds as a percentage of slip angle decrease at the same load which means a 1620 tire will increase maximum G by 3+% vs 1.66% for lowering.

[pito11213]

My statement was not clear then. All I was saying was that the lowering springs are actually made to better perform under the conditions of a drop. Cutting of springs as stated previously just puts extra weight and wear on springs that were designed for a specific application. It is like lowering your car with aftermarket springs and keeping stock struts with 150k miles on them. While it can be done, it should not be the preferred method. If you can't afford to do a mod the correct way the first time out, what makes you think you can afford the subsequent damage later.

When did a 10k miles run become a diagnostic time frame? I have driven in cars with cut springs and yes they look cool because its lowered with rims. But they drive like crap. Maybe your car rode like crap before so a new crappy ride won't feel that different.

I knew that I couldn't put the money into my q that it deserved at the time but now I realize that getting things done right the first time with quality parts and labor is more important.

I don't need to state technical data. It takes common sense. Its like complaining about the smell of factory gutted out cats out of the exhaust. Just spend the money the first time and get highflow cats. Dennis is far superior to a lot here when it comes to the technical data including me.

Hey Wes how's that NOS system coming along?

[bullittandy]

[QUOTE=pito11213]It is like lowering your car with aftermarket springs and keeping stock struts with 150k miles on them. While it can be done, it should not be the preferred method. I completely agree.

If you can't afford to do a mod the correct way the first time out, what makes you think you can afford the subsequent damage later.

I can afford both, but there are NO 1" lowering springs for a 97 Q45 IF there were I'd have installed them for the reasons you stated.

When did a 10k miles run become a diagnostic time frame? I have driven in cars with cut springs and yes they look cool because its lowered with rims. But they drive like crap. Maybe your car rode like crap before so a new crappy ride won't feel that different.

I was very concerned about the ride and it is only slightly degraded, well worth the looks. In addition, my wife cannot tell the difference and she HATES it when i mess with the cars.

QUOTE]

[superuber]

The car will ride harder and will not last long and the shocks will get the same effect. Also the other components will also wear faster and incorrect

Cutting of springs as stated previously just puts extra weight and wear on springs that were designed for a specific application.

I'm confused? Will just the springs wear or all the components?If you do any more back pedaling your gonna hurt your neck.P.S. read my previous post about desk jobs!

[pito11213]

Ok ruber if you need someone to argue with look elsewhere. Look up the definition of back pedaling first before you use it.

I have expressed my reasoning for my feelings towards cutting springs. I can't delve into career choices with you, that's something that you and a counselor should look into.

Cutting of springs will have a domino effect. Cut springs leads to increased wear on stock components. That is all I have to say.

Btandy I understand what you mean about women and cars. My fiance could care less about my modding of cars. By the way you should look into the jic coilovers. They're expensive but give you a lot of possibilities.

[superuber]

Cut springs leads to increased wear on stock components.

Argue? I don't want to argue. I'm just glad we now have an expert who has done all the leg work and knows the specifics. Good job! Can you post your study? Back on topic, I'm sure captain would be very grateful to see it also.Sorry Andy, looks like you were wrong all along.