Makenzie71

...from a different car?

I have a set of coils from a MKIII supra...much heavier car...and am considering cutting them down to my desired height and matching them to my FC. Anyone ever try something like this before? I also have six sets of FC springs...if I can think of a way to up the spring rate a bit I may try to bring those down.

MtnRacer

I'm confused... What are you trying to achieve here? Stiffer, lower, extremely cheap-o springs?

Steve

SnowmanSteiner

okay cut springs equals incredibly awfull ride quality. I'm pretty sure there are no performance gains other than being lower, and it doesn't make your car handle any better either. Plus everyone will know you cut them when your car bounces off of the smallest dip in the pavement. I would highly recomend not cutting your springs.

- Steiner

Makenzie71

not cheap...basically free...but without sacraficing performance. The Supra springs have a decently higher spring rate than the RX7 springs so shortening them shouldn't be that big of an issue. They'll be a bit (not incredibly) stiffer and a height that I choose.

Makenzie71

cutting the stock springs...no. Cutting springs with a higher spring-rate to replace your stock springs...why not? Plus, the springs don't have as much to do with the bouncing as the struts...

650bhp

Hi,

Cutting springs is noobish get a set of Kings Springs.

Cheers
Chris

Makenzie71

aww ****...never mind beings none of you know...

Makenzie71

wait wait wait...let me reword it so MAYBE you guys will get the idea...

I have STIFFER SPRINGS and want to CUT THE STIFFER SPRINGS and NOT THE STOCK SPRINGS.

AE_Racer

iTrader: (1)

Cutting springs will stiffen them...I cut my stock springs, rides worse, partly because my shocks are already shot, but it looks 1000000000000x better...

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

Not knowing the Supra springs, most are wound so that as the spring compresses the higher the rate, therefore cutting the spring end (hopefully not with a torch) would guarantee you a pretty choppy ride. Years ago the guys would heat one of the coils with pressure applied, which would cause the spring to collapse slightly. A quick way to lower the cars and retain the original spring seats.
Got some time, give it a try.

wpgrexx

I don't know if that would work. First , byt cutting them you are changing the spring rate, because there is a missing part of spring to compress

second, will the supra springs fit on the perches of the fc struts.


The 87 I recently bought had cut springs on them, wow was it ever a harsh ride. The worst part is that when you jack the car up, the spring that is just too short falls of the perch. It really isn't worth the hassles, but that is my opinion.

Makenzie71

the Supra springs are linear...the tension is consistant throughout the spring. I don't like the idea of torching or cutting stock springs but I seem to have them falling out of my *** at the moment (6 pairs...not including whats attached to my rx7's)...

Makenzie71

They are rounghly the same diameter of the FC springs...I'll have to rig up some kind of bracket or clamp to keep them on the perches...or make new perches...but they'll work.

Out of curiosity, what keeps fabbed lowering springs from falling off the perches?

NZConvertible

No offence, but everything you've said here is wrong.

Most people seem to think that cutting springs is the worst thing you can do, but that's only because the only cars they see that they know have cut springs are the ones scraping the deck and bouncing around. They probably see cars with cut springs all the time and don't realise it, because that car sits no lower than it would with aftermarket springs.

I cut 1.5 coils from each spring on my 84 Cosmo. The result was a 25mm drop (perfect), less body roll, better control and a quite acceptable ride quality. The only reason I replaced them is because of a law change brought about by the actions of people who cut far too much from their springs, didn't secure them properly and ended up with a dangerous car.

Like any car modification (particularly budget ones), there's a right way and a wrong way.

SnowmanSteiner

I didn't know that. And you raise a good point the only people I know who have cut springs are the ones that are bouncing all over the place. Still it doesn't seem to me like it would be a good mod, considering you the springs would now run the risk of, if you jack it up, popping out. I personally like to do things once and right, and I'm not a big fan of ghetto mods, so that's why I'm more biased against this. Thanks for the info though.

- Steiner

SureShot

A moderate cut (3/4-1") works great.
Slightly stiffer ride, more grip in the corners, more control at speed.

It's like booze - A little is OK - too much and it all goes to ****.

NZConvertible

Their are methods for safely retaining the springs in place. Unfortunately this is another area neglected by the less intelligent modifiers out there, and has resulted in accidents.

Dyre

You can cut some off, although understand cutting springs increases spring rate.

So not only will your stiff springs now be REALLY stiff, your also going to need to get some very high damping shocks to compensate for the increased spring rate- otherwise you will get horriable ride and bounce all over the road

hypntyz7

I agree with everything nzconvertible said. I have cut several sets of FC springs in the past to obtain a 1" drop. Cutting the dead coil (the top one that wraps around itself and does nothing in teh way of compression) yields most of this drop, as the coil thickness itself is usually 1/2-5/8".

I have had success cutting anywhere from 1-1/8 coils to 1-3/8 coils (front) and 2-1/8 coils to 2-1/4 coils (rear). This usually gives a 1-1.25" drop and **VERY** little sacrifice in ride quality or handling. The only worry is the health of your stock struts, and your ability to cut out bumpstops appropriately to allow for more strut travel. IF you dont cut out bumpstops (some, anyway) you will quickly hit travel limit and spring rate will hit infinity when you do, and this will hurt your ride and handling a LOT.

hypntyz7

I agree with everything nzconvertible said. I have cut several sets of FC springs in the past to obtain a 1" drop. Cutting the dead coil (the top one that wraps around itself and does nothing in teh way of compression) yields most of this drop, as the coil thickness itself is usually 1/2-5/8".

I have had success cutting anywhere from 1-1/8 coils to 1-3/8 coils (front) and 2-1/8 coils to 2-1/4 coils (rear). This usually gives a 1-1.25" drop and **VERY** little sacrifice in ride quality or handling. The only worry is the health of your stock struts, and your ability to cut out bumpstops appropriately to allow for more strut travel. IF you dont cut out bumpstops (some, anyway) you will quickly hit travel limit and spring rate will hit infinity when you do, and this will hurt your ride and handling a LOT.

NZConvertible

Um, that's half the reason you do it. Same reason you get aftermarket spings.
You're generalising based on limited experience. Like I said, you're only commenting on the ones you've noticed...

Makenzie71

How exactly would I need to modify the bumpstops to suit a 1-1.5" drop? I'm sure I can use U-bolt clamps to secure them (I've done this before).

hypntyz7

Measure the drop you have installed, and cut that much off your stops. IT's not an easy thing to do, but you have to do it.

My88Se

iTrader: (10)

You measure and cut off the same amout from the bumpstops as you cut of the springs?

So if I cut an inch off the spring, I cut an inch off the bumpstops?

honegod

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So not only will your stiff springs now be REALLY stiff, your also going to need to get some very high damping shocks to compensate for the increased spring rate- otherwise you will get horriable ride and bounce all over the road


I believe he was talking about the supra springs that
Makenzie71 mentioned -

" The Supra springs have a decently higher spring rate than the RX7 springs "


So, Dyre was totally correct in his assesment, the already stiffer springs WILL become even more stiffer, and increasing the spring rate dramatically like that NEEDS more damping to keep the stiffer spring under the shocks control.