Cutting Stock Springs, Has anyone done it? Options

[Qucifer]

Has anyone here ever cut thier stock springs? If so, how did it turn out?

[bhawk94]

I have heard of people doing that, but I know it's very dangerous and makes the ride bouncy. Wouldn't recommend it.

[Daftboy]

It can be done but its dangerous because your car becomes very unstable and will feel like a water bed....Go get some Tein's =]

This post has been edited by Daftboy: May 16, 2007 - 12:18 PM

[brianforster]

no no no no no no no

dont be an idiot.

bojangles did this to his car and a year later he had to pretty much replace the entire suspension, it cost like 2k or something.

This post has been edited by brianforster: May 16, 2007 - 12:28 PM

[Culpable04]

my friend cut the springs on his car and he ended up selling it. so just so it's clear DON"T DO IT. be patient and save money for lowering springs.

[hurley97]

I have no idea why anyone would want to do that.

the stock spring rate is dependent on the springs being their original length, lowering springs increase the spring rate to compensate for the lower center of gravity and to prevent bottoming out as much (since the springs are shorter there is less travel before hitting). if you cut them it'll probably feel something like having blown struts and the ride will be bouny and you will bottom out much more because of it.

[DSToyo]

^ a "free" alternative for a lower ride.

please don't do this.

[Qucifer]

I am actually thinkining of lowering and rewelding the lower spring perches on the strut tube, and hacking off between a 1/4 and 1/2 coil to increase the spring rate slightly. Im not talking about hacking a whole coil off, that would be stupid. I am just trying to lower the car about an inch and a half, and tighten it up a bit. I could buy new springs which would cost me 200 plus, or I can do this for free.

[GTSOwner]

*Mr. Garrisson* Drugs are baad for you mmmkay?

Do it the right way or don't do it at all.

[Qucifer]

Okay, there are plenty of people against it and I understand completely. I am completely aware of what spring cutting does to spring rates and this can be used to an advantage,to a point. I am also aware that there are plenty of cheap springs out there, but I am experimenting. Based on the responses here, i am assuming that no one has done what I plan to attempt, and no I dont plan on chopping 2 inches of coils off my springs to drop my car. It might not even be possible to lower the spring perches, so this experiment might come to a close very quickly. Just thought I would run it by everyone for some feedback, and the Haters have spoken.

[95CelicaST]

Cutting springs is bad. Its not "The Haters", its the truth. People have seriously F*cked up their suspension doing that. If you want cheap springs, buy a set of TEIN S-techs. Most popular on this site, and a brand you can trust. 140-160 bucks now will save you a lot of money later.

[Kerr1]

i cut my springs and ended up buying eibachs...i cut 2 coils out though...well first i cut 1 out and it was fine, no popping no bouncing or nething and it handled a lil better too...but when i took the second coil all kinds of bad things happen...i really dont think 1 coil is that bad...but it is in no way at all a permanent fix and doesnt feel near as good as my eibachs.

[j0e_p3t]

dude, nobody's hating. they're all just trying to save you a bunch of money down the road. and make sure you have the safest and most comfortable lowered suspension.

[Culpable04]

There is nothing we can do about it.

you asked for our input and now you don't take what everyone have said, just go for it and let us know how long you can drive like that.

My friend drove his Accord for 3 days after he cut the springs, then got so disappointed with the outcome and he sold the car.

hopefully you don't sell the celi, but as I tell my sister when the world agree on something, the whole world may be wrong. you can prove us all wrong

This post has been edited by Culpable04: May 17, 2007 - 9:59 PM

[bufferdan]

ya... ive cut springs We cut josh's (gtdrifter?) springs and it feels like it rides like stock...lowered it a tad bit more than tein s-techs. Been rolling like that for the last year or so...haha

[Hanyo]

I am actually thinkining of lowering and rewelding the lower spring perches on the strut tube, and hacking off between a 1/4 and 1/2 coil to increase the spring rate slightly. Im not talking about hacking a whole coil off, that would be stupid. I am just trying to lower the car about an inch and a half, and tighten it up a bit. I could buy new springs which would cost me 200 plus, or I can do this for free.

ummm cutting the springs will NOT increase spring rate.

I see what you are planing to do. You want to cut off the part of the spring to reduce un-sprung compression. Basically you want to cut off the part of the soft portion of the spring that is used to absorb small bumps, this will leave you the stiff sporty part of the spring on constantly. Therefore you will have a more sporty handleing.

But this idea is flawed. To obtain what you want. you need install the springs compressed. But this will raise your car high.

With your idea of rewelding yoru shocks and what not.. isn;t all that gonna cost you more then 200 dollars on after market springs?

[tony]

i cut my springs 2 coils in the front and 3 coils in the back. wouldn't recommend it as something to permanently drive in as the celica has very few coils and cutting springs wouldn't work so well. The ride is quite bad as there is almost no shock absorbance? but anyway, it looks pretty cool. i don't mind it

[Kwanza26]

Umm... it's not bad nor dangerous. It'll just be a crappy ride because you'll still have relatively soft springs and shocks, except lowered. People can exaggerate all they want... but it is a cheap way to lower your car. The problem is... the shocks will crap out because they'll now feel more force because the stroke length is now different... and there isn't enough spring to comphensate. Besides going through shocks a bit faster... it's not that bad. Depends on if you prefer looks... or ride quality.

[celicaST]

hmmm theres something wrong with that wheel

[Qucifer]

I am not ragging on you guys because you think its a bad idea. I know why you think its a bad idea, I agree that most people who cut thier springs ruin thier cars ride. Most guys who cut thier springs do it to lower thier car, thats not what i am doing. I want to hack off at most a half of the softest coil, and thats not to lower the car, but to stiffen the ride slightly. To lower the car, I plan on repositioning the lower spring perch lower down the strut tube. I am a welder, I TIG and MIG, so I have access and skills to equipment that many dont. I also want to see if the strut insert is removable, and if so, I will remove it and hack a piece of the tube off so that the sits lower in the tube bringing it back to its nominal relative position. Now, there is a huge chance that this isnt even possible, I am experimenting. But if it does work, there will be a whole new option available for celica owners. It will cost me absolutely nothing to do, unless of course it ruins my suspension like so many others that start hacking off peices. I make more than enough money to buy springs, but I wouldnt be a fabricator if i just went out and bought every cheap chinese part they make for my car.

[GTS13]

That would be really interesting but there's two things wrong with your idea.
1. The stock springs aren't progressive, they're the same rate throughout the whole spring.
2. Only the front strut inserts are removable but the inserts are the full length of the tube, not really sure if I understood what you said you were going to do with this, but hacking on either end wouldn't really do anything for you that I can think of.
This is just my input, if you're out to do it anyway, prove me wrong and I'll apologize for my criticism.
Oh...and uhh....our cars are Japanese btw.

[Sinyk]

Do it! Cut them and let us know how it goes! Experiment. Do your own thing and let us know how the project goes!

[Qucifer]

I know our cars are japanese, but a whole lot of the cheaper after market parts guys are slapping on thier cars are sourced from china. A whole lot of those ebay specials especially.

[GTS13]

More like Ewbay, $15 coilovers never sound like a good idea. lol.

[b1gr3d]

i've read a book and at school the recommend cutting only ONE coil off. It will lower the ride height and increase the spring rate. if you do it, be conservative and DO NOT USE A TORCH!! use a hack saw or recipricating saw, and dont get em too hot. Im not endorsing to do this but just giving my opinion and i will be trying it on my other car

BTW i go to wyotech and that is in the books from chassis fab, and 3 instructors with over 90 years experience said that was acceptable to do

This post has been edited by b1gr3d: Jun 17, 2007 - 9:23 PM

[raz128]

I wouldnt be a fabricator if i just went out and bought every cheap chinese part they make for my car.

hey, get bent with your racist remark.

As regards suspension...meh, go nuts ya crazy kid.

[bufferdan]

I have cut a total of 4 sets of springs and have never had a problem with anything. I would not recommend cutting too much off as mentioned. When cutting stock springs which usually do not have any "dead coils" be careful because just cutting one whole coil off can equal quite a bit

[playr158]

here is how to do it CORRECTLY
http://dirtbike.off-road.com/dirtbike/arti...l.jsp?id=332656
(granted its in reference to a dirt bike, but same deal)

This post has been edited by playr158: Jul 10, 2007 - 1:05 PM

[Ve1Ls1dEvolutioN]

dont be cheap and go by a set of springs...safety is always first you never know what could happen

This post has been edited by Ve1Ls1dEvolutioN: Jul 10, 2007 - 9:39 PM

[jason]

any news? have you started this? imo i think you should try and fab up as many custom parts as you can! just make sure they outperform the oem pieces for safety reasons

props for trying your own thing like that! we'd never get anywhere in life without people like you

[6gcSTVT]

I owned a Mazda MX-3 for a few months before i owned a 5th gen celi then my current 6th gen and it not only had cut springs but it had metal brackets inbetween a coil on the front and rear (to stiffen the ride i assume). The ride felt fine but one spring poked a hole in my rear driver side tire well....(found it after i bought it.) So thats my only concern that i can give you. Good luck with whatever choice you do

[SlowCelica94]

Can it be done? Yes
Will it handle better? Yes
Should I do it? No

If you were mechanical engineer, I'd say go ahead