Originally Posted by darth fc3s

first off the suspension is loaded when it's sitting on level ground correct? If this is the case and the car is not sitting level while on level ground why would i want to measure the coils like that ? instead off taking the springs off the shocks and measuring them like that.

Originally Posted by darth fc3s

oh yeah and if i determine that one spring is longer than the other is it better to take a coil of the top or bottom ?

Originally Posted by pengarufoo

http://www.insideracingtechnology.com/eibach2.htm

note, the springs are cold formed, then heat treated in their final shape. I strongly recommend not heating the springs unless you are ok with compromising the spring. It may work well enough but you have definitely altered the spring in more ways than you intended, in a rather uncontrolled fashion.

You can usually get away with just cutting off a dead coil to lower the car, if there is a slight angle on the end remaining you can sometimes grind it flat. If you must bend the end coil to get it to seat and use heat to do it - just be aware you are changing the properties of the steel (just like any time you heat something up to that level)