Negative effect from cutting strut tabs?

[jayro]

I am currently running a Koni/intrax set up. I wanted to lower the car a touch more, but don't want to cut the springs. I have been thinking about cutting the locating tab off the strut and moving it down in the knuckle. It looks like I could get about another inch. My question is this....
Is there any negative/dangerous things that I need to watch out for when doing this? I know it will mess with my alignment, but what else?
Thought this was a better option than cutting springs cause I will still keep my strut travel the same. Ideas, thoughts?

I did a search and this was mentioned a few times, but no one ever said good or bad.

 

[SHOtimer]

Those are just locating tabs on the strut so that your ride height is the same when you install the struts.

Some with saggy rear springs have just pulled the strut up in the knuckle to raise the rear of the car a bit.

Their is nothing the matter with it, the only danger in the front is lowering the strut too far in the knuckle and it will interfere with the axle. That is no bueno.

Doug

 

[jayro]

the only danger in the front is lowering the strut too far in the knuckle and it will interfere with the axle. That is no bueno.

Doug

yeah, that should probably be avoided. I'll have to measure to see how much drop I could get. May not even be worth the effort.

 

[Ishodu]

If you have koins I wouldn't dare lower the front any. The CV is pretty close to the koni bolt all ready.

 

[jayro]

If you have koins I wouldn't dare lower the front any. The CV is pretty close to the koni bolt all ready.

I haven't really looked at the geometry. Does the distance between the strut and the cv change as the suspension travels? Trying to remember I thought it stayed constant.

 

[Ishodu]

It doesn't change but you can expect that the boot on the CV joint will expand at high speeds how much I have no idea but it is thin rubber. And could ruin your day if you split it.

 

[jayro]

It doesn't change but you can expect that the boot on the CV joint will expand at high speeds how much I have no idea but it is thin rubber. And could ruin your day if you split it.

High speeds, me, of course not.

I remember a certain conversation with an officer.....he was asking if I had a good reason for almost doubling the speed limit. Luckily that's not the norm for me and I was the only one on the road. He knocked it down a few levels so I didn't have to worry about a wreckless driving charge as well. And no guys it wasn't in a 70 mph zone.....not going THAT fast.

And yes, tearing the cv boot would make for a bad day.

 

[SinisterSHO]

is your car lightened at all? Just cut the coils.

thats a 3100 pound car on intrax -2 coils.

 

[jayro]

is your car lightened at all? Just cut the coils.

thats a 3100 pound car on intrax -2 coils.

Yes, my car is lightened. Maybe I will find a place to have it weighed. My concerns with cutting a coil is that it reduces strut travel under compression, and knowing me I would jack it up and cut it wrong some how. Which coil do you cut? Any picks?

 

[Ghost93]

You cut the dead coils at the top. i too have a lightened car that had Konis and uncut Eibachs. I swapped in Intrax and cut 1.5 coils out. In my opinion it actually rides smoother now than it did before. I think this might be that the car was so tall that it might have been at the top of the damper range of the struts before, or it could be my imagination. My buddies car in town here has the strut dropped in the knuckle, and there isn't much room to go. It doesn't seem worth the risk to me. But on the other hand his car is full weight with 1 coil off intrax and makes my car look tall.

 

[Eric VerValin]

You could look at mine.... and cut yours just a little longer. Lol. Basically what youwant is just enough spring to keep the assembly together.... you see how low mine is... looks real similar to Steve's ride eight. I wouldn't get rid of any more spring tho.... big *** holes feel like the suffrage fell in the hole... I do a lot of swerving.

 

[SinisterSHO]

Cut one of the dead coils off, if you don't like it, cut another one.

 

[K-Dawg]

I wouldn't cut anything off the front Intrax springs. You're right about losing strut travel. With a coil cut off mine, my struts bottom out a lot more than I'd like. I just replaced the struts this week, and the old bumpstops were tore up pretty bad.

 

[-DVP-]

Cut one of the dead coils off, if you don't like it, cut another one.

Best plan. I think I will make a post on the spring cutting info/pics I have.

I'd rather not take the chance of the strut working it's way down in the knuckle over time or fighting to get both sides even.

 

[jayro]

Thanks for the info guys. Im thinking this fall I'll tear it apart and get rid of a coil.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Hey did I see you turn towards Lake James yesterday at about 8;00pm? Swore that was your ride... I was getting gas.. on my way to D town..

 

[boat]

Nope, it was not him. He was heading to St.Louis with the fam to go to a funeral for his grandmother.

 

[jayro]

Hey did I see you turn towards Lake James yesterday at about 8;00pm? Swore that was your ride... I was getting gas.. on my way to D town..

Nope, out of town. There was a kid with a blue 94 in the area, but last I heard he blew tha diff.

 

[frosho]

It seems your mind is set on cutting coils now, but I wanted to add that there is another negative to cutting the tabs that hasn't been mentioned yet. You have to watch your clearance between the tires and the lower spring seats. Lower too much, and you'll rub.

 

[zak]

Another downside is if your strut bottom contacts the CV boot or ABS exciter ring (it would get exciting indeed). Either of these could happen if your pinch bolt comes loose and you hit a pothole.

You can get a quarter to 3/16 lower by enlarging the hole in the tab, which is pretty much the max otherwise the spring perch will rub as fro points out. Also the remaining tab is still held in perfect lap shear, with support on either side to prevent buckling, so can still perform the function of acting as a back up safety.