GM Drivetrain & Suspension Chassis | Transmission| Driveshaft | Gears/Rear End/Differential | Traction Aids

how to cut coils... pics inside...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-06-2010 | 03:05 PM
  #21  
silverado2000's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 568
Likes: 2
From: austin,texas
Default

thanks for backing me up. people always say cutting coils is bad your truck or car will ride bad, blah blah blah, and half the time they have never cut coils or been in a car with cut coils. when done the right way there is nothing wrong with cutting a coil.
Old 08-06-2010 | 03:28 PM
  #22  
Dezert1500's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
Default

Cutting coils will not make your ride stiffer. It will make your truck bounce more the more you cut off, but good shocks can cure that. I run 2" spindle, 2" drop springs cut 2" for 6" total and my truck feels like it rides on air...
Old 08-07-2010 | 12:38 AM
  #23  
KleenHall's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: san diego
Default

im not from fullsize chevy but thanks
dezert1500
you just contradicted yourself, that stiffer ride is cause of the increased rate

cutting springs increases the spring rate, usually lowering springs have a lower rate or shorter load height, take a spring with a rate of 100lbs, cut it in half, its now a 200lb spring

anyone that knows what they are talking about will tell you the same
i didnt make this **** up, read a suspension book, or google it
Old 08-07-2010 | 04:24 AM
  #24  
silverado2000's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 568
Likes: 2
From: austin,texas
Default

the difference in how stiff the spring is very little after cutting only a coil and a half off. and who honestly thinks there trucks gonna ride as smooth as it did stock after you lower it. but yes kleenhall you are right, once you cut so much off a spring there will be a big change in how stiff it is.
Old 08-07-2010 | 08:57 AM
  #25  
silver-mod-o's Avatar
Hunt&Fisherator
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 14,314
Likes: 17
From: SETx
Default

Of course there's always the disclaimer you have to put in there that this is really only acceptable for a about 3" of drop. You wouldn't go slicing up stock coil springs in hopes of a free 6" front drop LOL. Use your head and if you want it lower then start combining drop parts to get where you want.

This is a good way to get that extra inch or two you need to level your truck out right or get it perfect side to side etc. Just gotta use your head about it and don't get greedy. That's when stuff gets outta whack.

KleenHall, I understand the scientific approach to this but the bottom line in this hobby a lot of times is working with what you've got in front of you to make it what you want. If you're that worried, go buy your drop springs, leave the coil trimming to us Thanks for your info.
Old 08-07-2010 | 04:36 PM
  #26  
14psisupra's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 338
Likes: 1
From: huffman,tx
Default

Originally Posted by 1sik02
sawzall or grinder, dont want to use a torch, im about to do passenger side to level the truck out
my truck has a serious lean, would it be alright to cut 2 inches or so (im guessing) off of a drop coil to cure this? is it no different than cutting a stock coil?
Old 08-07-2010 | 05:05 PM
  #27  
silver-mod-o's Avatar
Hunt&Fisherator
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 14,314
Likes: 17
From: SETx
Default

Originally Posted by silver-mod-o
This is a good way to get that extra inch or two you need to level your truck out right or get it perfect side to side etc. Just gotta use your head about it and don't get greedy. That's when stuff gets outta whack.
Originally Posted by 14psisupra
my truck has a serious lean, would it be alright to cut 2 inches or so (im guessing) off of a drop coil to cure this? is it no different than cutting a stock coil?
Old 08-07-2010 | 05:05 PM
  #28  
gs7793's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 1
From: Fort Worth, Tx.
Default

Originally Posted by KleenHall
im not from fullsize chevy but thanks
dezert1500
you just contradicted yourself, that stiffer ride is cause of the increased rate

cutting springs increases the spring rate, usually lowering springs have a lower rate or shorter load height, take a spring with a rate of 100lbs, cut it in half, its now a 200lb spring

anyone that knows what they are talking about will tell you the same
i didnt make this **** up, read a suspension book, or google it
who here is talking about cutting their springs in half?

we're talking about cutting off a max of maybe one and a half coils, we all know theres a negative side to it. in most cases lowering your truck means making it ride rougher, but you sacrifice that because it looks so freakin good.

why do people have to get on here and act like they know everything?
Old 08-09-2010 | 05:41 AM
  #29  
04ColoradoZQ8's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
From: CP Humphreys, South Korea
Default

Originally Posted by Quik
You don't say wow. Funny is with some aftermarket springs they tell You in the instructions how to cut for different ride quality
Whats company say that with their drop springs?

I have never seen that, granted I only use quality stuff on my trucks and customers trucks. I use Belltech/KWs, never have I seen in the directions to cut them, that alters the springrate.

Or you fork out the cheddah for set of coilovers and have all the adjustability you need to correct the nasty "chevy lean"


Old 11-04-2021 | 08:45 AM
  #30  
Kisermn11's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 22
Likes: 1
Default

@silverado2000 Did you cut the top or the bottom of the coil spring? I am not a super skilled mechanic and have never taken a coil spring out before so I don't know if the flat side is the top or bottom. I know enough not to cut the flat side lol. You also said to "flip the spring and put the cut side up" so does that mean that the flat side was up from the factory? Why do you need to flip it when installing it back in after cutting it? Thanks for the help!



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:42 AM.