Cutting Stock Springs

[BallsoutSHO]

Could i cut one loop out of the stock springs and have a drivable car. If so do i need to drill out the spot welds to adjust camber it looks like it would be about an 1.25" drop. If you drill out the spot welds then you have to find some bolts then too im guessing to hold it all together. Im kinda new to the idea!

 

[yamahaSHO]

Yes and yes... You don't need bolts... some don't even attach the plate, but I would weld it back.

I would just save your money and buy some springs

 

[BallsoutSHO]

i just want the front lower i already bottom out the rear suspension with people in the back seat. i just got 225/55 r16s and the back looks fine but the front has so much wheelgap its not even funny. can you cut off of the bottom or do you need to cut the top? and if i cut one loop will i have to change the camber or will it boe close?
Thanks Ian

 

[DHMag]

why waste time and effort on stock, worn out springs ? i bought NAPA Control Coils for 110 shipped and cut them. combined with Tokicos, i have a very firm, fun ride.

 

[PROPHET]

Buy some new springs, don't short change your suspension it's the one part of modifying your SHO you feel every moment your driving.

 

[TrueBlue]

i just want the front lower i already bottom out the rear suspension with people in the back seat.

I'd check and make sure that the rear springs are in one piece still, they have a bad habit of breaking.

 

[BallsoutSHO]

i was just wondering if it could be done because i am going off to college and dont really have the money for new springs just want to get rid of some of the wheelgap. i dont really care if it still has the stock springs its not that big of a deal.

 

[cyanmauve]

Alright, time to go against the current…

Assuming that (1) you plan on keeping your stock struts for awhlie and they aren't worn out and (2) your springs are still in good, non fatigued shape, cutting coils isn't a bad idea.

As long as you don't lower it too much, you will lower the center of gravity and improve the looks of your car while maintaining acceptable ride characteristics. If you were to go to stiffer aftermarkeft springs without upgrading your struts, the suspension would not be dampened sufficiently, creating a floaty feel and unwanted body movement.

What I am getting at here is don't upgrade springs or shocks without doing the other at the same time.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Or Improve the ride, handling, and looks of your SHO while keeping the stock struts...

MOOG cargo coils. progressive rate, and with one coil removed sits a bit lower than stock. One and a half, even a bit more.

Best of all, a set (2) of MOOGs can be had for real cheap.

Check the link in my sig for info

 

[cyanmauve]

How do the rates of the MOOGs compare to the rates of the stock springs?

Because they are progressive, it is safe to assume that they are stiffer when compressed than stock. If this is the case, the stock struts are insufficient to handle the new springs. Even if the strut is able to properly dampen the MOOGs upon initial compression, they are not for anything past that.

 

[yamahaSHO]

What I am getting at here is don't upgrade springs or shocks without doing the other at the same time.

I disagree, I know of someone who is running stock struts w/ Intrax, but has every other suspension mod you can think of. It rides fine, could be better, but it's not bad.

Of course he want's to get different struts as he drives the car quite hard, but stock(non-worn) struts will suffice.

 

[cyanmauve]

I am not saying that you can't do one without the other, but I wouldn't. If I am going to spend time upgrading my car, I want the modification to have as few drawbck as possible. What you'll most likely end up getting from keeping the stock struts and installing higher rate springs is what I describe as "float" as the suspension unloads. I personally hate that feeling, and so to me it is isn't acceptable to do something that increases that.

Having never uprgaded the srpings without upgrading the struts at the same time on a SHO, it may be the case that the stock struts on SHOs are better able to deal with an increased spring rate while maintaining sufficient dampening. I do know that when my brother installed Eibach progressive rate lowering springs on his 98 Mustang GT without upgrading the shocks, the car became comparatively upset when the suspension unloaded.

 

[BallsoutSHO]

THanks for all of your help i think if i can get the pinch bolt out of the knuckle i might do it but so far no luck and i dont want to break it or strip it.

 

[cyanmauve]

PB Penetrating oil and an air gun will zip that bolt right out.