Here we Go ! Tweaking the Ride (Cutting Springs OMG!)

[GreyZone]

Haahahahaha, here we go.

In talking with a long time Nissan insider, he suggested something interesting: cut the stock springs by 1/2 to one coil, depending on drop desired. His comment: "I've been doing it for years, with no problems."

For those that like the ride of their Altima, cut your stock springs. Additionally, if you screw up, or don't like it, you can buy new ones from the dealer for just $25.00 each. Thats right, $25.00.

The Coupe has the same exact springs on the front as the sedan (believe it or not). The rear springs are different.

Since I am trying to soften AND lower my ride, I have ordered some stock SEDAN rear springs and will probably start by cutting them by a 1/2 coil, the see how I like it. The front springs could theroetically be cut a bit further to level the gap.

Additionally, since I'm a smooth ride seeker, I am going to be removing the rear sway bar. Its four easy bolts per side and off. Then I will test drive it and see the difference it makes. I'm betting it will be a big difference, and hopefully for the better, for what I am trying to accomplish.

I just can't just not tweak with my car! Isn't that what it's all about anyway? Getting it, then customizing it to fit what you want it to be. I just love this stuff! This will probably sound pretty crazy to most, but I may actually end up with a lower and softer ride yet!

[generic808]

You are crazy! Be prepared for the bumpiest ride of your life! Not to mention, the kidney and liver jarring that'll occur

Spring rates are determined by the diamiter of the wire, how many coils or turns per amount of length. Most Nissan's have a taper coil and when cut, it won't sit right.

Why go through all that trouble when you could just buy a set for around $250 +/- a few? Well, good luck with the cut and trying to get everything even.

[audtatious]

The new Altima Sedan we had out at NOPI used cut springs due to aftermarket sets not being available to them (the dealer) at the time. When asked about the ride their answer was "pretty much like stock".

[GreyZone]

THere ya go, it just might work.Plus, the springs (like my favorites Eibach) are also going to be stiffer, which I am desperately trying to avoid. I doubt that I would ever find aftermarket srpings that are lower and softer.

Also, I have had personal experience with putting on a sway bar, and it made the ride almost exactly like what the AC now rides like. I took the reay sway bar back off, ride returned to what I personally liked. So...I am just hoping here that by removing this rear sway I might experience the same thing. A rear sway bar can have a tendency to make the car "bouncier" in the rear, which is my exact complaint. We'll see. It shouldn't make the ride stiffer, but it may result in greater roll.

[generic808]

I'm sure their Altima wasn't a daily driver, or was it?

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Removing the RSB is going to cause the car to be all over the road. Perhaps using the 2.5 RSB would make a difference. Its supposed to be a thinner diameter, I'm just not sure how much thinner.

As for cutting your springs. I wouldn't recommend it but let us know how it goes. Your sacrificing the integrity of the spring which could results in poor performance overall. Let us know

[GreyZone]

2.5 RSB is another great idea...thats what this forum is all about. Thanks!

Andif cutting them does screw up the ride, its only $100.00, really no big deal, long as I live through it.

[generic808]

Good luck, dude! Post pics of the process if you can. I'm sure some will benefit from the write-up if they decide to follow suit.

[GreyZone]

WOuldnt do it any other way. Of course, they may also learn never to travel down the road of my choosing!

[GreyZone]

The new Altima Sedan we had out at NOPI used cut springs due to aftermarket sets not being available to them (the dealer) at the time. When asked about the ride their answer was "pretty much like stock".

Who was that and is there a way to get in touch with them?

[audtatious]

I'm sure their Altima wasn't a daily driver, or was it?

They did it for NOPI and had about 1000 miles of seat time in it. Most of it was highway.

I've cut springs before in a corolla I had (cut 1 coil). It worked fine and I didn't really suffer a degraded ride. The problem I did have was additional noise because the coil no longer set right and moved about a tad on the mount.

[audtatious]

Who was that and is there a way to get in touch with them?

It was a Nissan dealership in Macon, GA. (Paul Walsh I beleive). It was a Altima 2.5 sedan...

[nismofool]

It was a Nissan dealership in Macon, GA. (Paul Walsh I beleive). It was a Altima 2.5 sedan...

good luck with the springs! tell us how it all works out in the end!and sorry to get a lil off topic! but what are those rims?!!!

[audtatious]

Dunno. There is nothing on the center cap.....

[GreyZone]

Love the tight...uh, I mean white

I;ll contact them in Goerga, see if I can find out more info. I'll be taking off the rear sway bar on saturday, of course it may go right back on. Ill give a report on teh expericene.

[D-Roll]

So any luck with cutting the springs?? I am curious

[LongBeachCoupe]

One of my friends wont put springs on because hes scared of the compression and that it may kill him lol... i can only imagine the risk behind compressing a spring thats been cut in a garage..... id love to see the pics!

[GreyZone]

Contrare, its going to be done with only the best of cutting edge tools in a high perfomance shop!

And I won't be getting to the springs for a while (maybe the next few weeks). I will be removing the RSB on Saturday, so I'll give a report on that, but I'm inclined to think it'll probably go right back on.

Again, my crazy *ss goal is to 1) lower the car, 2) soften the ride, and 3) still have decent cornering and side stability (possibly go to a thinner RSB, as was suggested above by SHIFT - COUPE).

STay tuned!!!

[generic808]

Again, my crazy *ss goal is to 1) lower the car, 2) soften the ride, and 3) still have decent cornering and side stability (possibly go to a thinner RSB, as was suggested above by SHIFT - COUPE).

Why didn't you just buy a Lincoln Continental or Caddilac Brougham or the likes?

[nissantech06]

OK, so I actually have cut springs before. '98 Saturn (gag) SL2, lowered it about an inch all around. Slight difference in ride, tire wear, etc. I don't recommend it but it didn't do anything bad to this guy's car (we both went to tech school together). The one bs thing I will say is:

$25 a spring? You gotta be outta your mind. Anyone here that has actually worked for a dealer knows how expensive OEM springs are. He might be talking about VALVE springs LOL but not coil springs. Trust me, those things are pricey.

As far as removing the sway bar altogether, have fun in any type of weather other than dry. The back end is going to be squirrelly.

Seriously, why'd you buy an Altima Coupe if you don't like the sporty ride?

[generic808]

So true! I wouldn't be suprised if the OEM springs cost much more than Eibach, Tein, H&R, etc.

[nissantech06]

So true! I wouldn't be suprised if the OEM springs cost much more than Eibach, Tein, H&R, etc.

I had to replace a strut and spring on the pass side front on a 2001 Altima, the combination of parts was over $500.

[GreyZone]

Jeez, the flamers are coming out in force!

Bought the car because I love the way it looks, and I love the performance. The interior is tight, and fits me perfectly. The ride can be labeled "sporty" but to me it (on the roads I am driving) its bouncy ond overly stiff. Some like it like that, I'd like it to be a bit more forgiving.

We all tweak our cars because we want to accomplish something different than what we got, for a variety of reasons. So Im going the oppositve direction of most mods, but thats what I want from the car. Like I've said, sacrifice track performance for daily driving comfort. I aint in my 20s anymore (I'm now twice that), like many on this thread. I'd probably keep it the way it is if I was.

So I want it softer and lower. You want it lower and stiffer, fine, do it (and I wont cap on you for it). It's all about preference, and what you like and what you want to accomplish. I love everything about this car, except its just a bit to stiff and bouncy for me. If all I drove was freeway it would be fine, but Im driving over some fairly bumpy, single lane roads over 30 miles one way to work. When Im on the freeway the ride is really perfect.

Plus, Ive been doing high performance and suspension mods on my cars for the last 9 years (turbo, lowered, camber kits, other suspension mods, custom dash fabrication, crazed sound system installations, etc), it's what I do. I knew I woulndt buy it and leave it as is. Gotta change things, get it "just right."

Far as the springs go, the dealer ordered them for me, quoted me $25.00 per ($50.00 for the rear set, from the sedan). As long as their not notched, cutting won't be a big deal. Go ahead and check with a dealer in your area, tell me if you get a different quote. So, I try and, and don't like it, put it back, no big deal. I just love messing with stuff and trying different things.

Lots of reviews on this car are putting down the stiffness (read Edmund reviews, etc) and bouncy feel, even stating how Nissan "calls it sporty" but saying it's a bit overdone. I don't totally disagree with that. You like it the way it is, go with it. Me, I want something different, but I want it from this car. In another ten years (okay, maybe 15), maybe then comes the Lincoln, but I guarantee you I'll be turing it into a hot rod.

[GreyZone]

Spring Back 2007 List Price $27.42 Your Price $20.15Altima Sedan

http://www.trademotion.com/par...gid=2

Check it out

[generic808]

I think you may be looking at the wrong item. Here's the springs listed on the site YOU provided, at $50.85 EACH!

nissantech06 is a mechanic at Nissan and look what he had to say about it.

http://www.trademotion.com/par...gid=2

No one that I know of, flamed you on this thread. We all just gave you our opinions. If you didn't want to hear them, you shouldn't have started this thread.

[GreyZone]

The majority of opinions are worth hearing, some like to find fault, or put people down (that's more about them anyway), don't matter to me, I wasn’t overly serious about flamers anyway, I was stating why I am doing what I am doing. If you read what I wrote 98% of it I'm talking about why I am doing what I'm doing, not about someone else. I was asked why I was doing what I doing, more or less (like why you buy the coupe anyway?), so I explained it.

This is one totally bitchen car, and I love it. The keyless entry and push button start iced the deal. Ragers can rag away, don't matter to me, and there’s been a few on this site (although seriously not in this thread, at least not yet...). Its good to get information and different ideas, and there’s a lot of excellent feedback on this site, so I'll keep coming back for more.

That site lists the rear springs at $20.00, the ones you showed are the front, looks like 50.00. I’m not overly concerned about those prices anyway, at 25 or 50 their still cheap.

Different site: http://mynissanparts.com/parts.htmlFront: $58.11 (these are front springs, why they calling them "3.5se back"?)Rear: $23.03

Is there any rule of thumb for how much a half coil or full coil cut is going to drop the car? That's one unknown I am facing. I don’t want to drop it much more than an inch, probably a bit more in the front. I can always switch over to the pro kit if it doesn’t work out.

[LegendRacer]

i thought theres other ways to lower the factory springs without "cuting" them

ive seen lower the car while the springs and tires are still on the car by using a torch/fire thing and weaken the metal and let it drop, but this way the springs will be closer together and the bumpyness will be harder, but u woulnt scratch the speedbumps...

[LongBeachCoupe]

a TORCH? I hope you dont mean a MIG welder lol... i have NO idea how you could do anything like that with a brain in your head... especially with the tires on... ....

The guy that told you that smokes while hes pumping gas

[GreyZone]

uhm I think I'll stay away from the torch, although it is a hot idea

The dealer told me to try and put some weight in the trunk, and play with that a bit. Said that may reduce some of the bouncyness by reducing donw travel.

What I like about what I'm trying to do, is its the oppostite of what is generally considerd possilbe. The challenge makes it interesting....lower car, bigger wheels, wider tires, good ride intergrity, with a softer overall ride.

I'll probably never get there, but its cool trying.

And this dealer quoted me $33 for rear srpings and $69 for front, still pretty cheap, so expermenting on them won't be too costly at least.

[LegendRacer]

its not that i HEARD of the torch.... its that i saw ONE being done with a flame to heat up the spring while its on the car

as the thing heats up the metal weakens and will slowly sink down because of hte cars weight

and bigger rims and lower car does not = smoother ride