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Cut my springs

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Old 05-20-2012, 05:59 AM
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Default Cut my springs

So I put new wheels and tires on and then my ta really looked like a 4x4. Don't have a whole lot of money so I decided I would cut the springs... I only got the rears cut so far and will be attempting the fronts this week.

The before measurement on the rear was 29.5". I pulled the aprings off and I had already bought heater hose a while ago so I figured I'd do both things at once. I cut off exactly one coil on both sides and did the heater hose mod and dropped the rear and inch and a half to 28". I think it looks a lot better now in the rear and the front is a half inch lower at 27.5". The front still has a big gap between the tire and fender so I think I will still attempt cutting them. I like the raked look on cars so that won't bother me.

The only troubles I had was that the passenger spring seemed shorter upon install because it was not snug like the drivers side was. But once it was on the ground it sits at the same hight. Driving down the road has been fine except twice I hit a decent bump and I hear something. Sounds like maybe the spring shifting but I'm not sure.
Old 05-20-2012, 06:00 AM
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I will get some pictures up once I get some during the day
Old 05-20-2012, 06:04 AM
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Looking forward to pictures, and a ride quality report.
Old 05-21-2012, 11:04 AM
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Will try to take some pictures at lunch today... Ride quality is fine except as mentioned above hit a decent bump and seems like something shifts. Other than that it seems stock to me just lower lol
Old 05-25-2012, 06:07 PM
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Need to see some pics, I'm thinking of doing this same thing, one thing though, if you are hearing shifting from the rear it might be worth it to keep the rubber isolators up top, I was planning on cutting the back springs or just pulling the isolators, I thought these cars only had so much room to spare when you cut the rear as they depend on the weight of the car to stay on the mount...did you look up the upper mount mod at all for the front?
Old 05-26-2012, 01:20 AM
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Ok so I put the isolates back in today I was driving down the road on my new nt555r and hit a decent bump. My fenders are not rolled. Needless to say theres a few nice slices on my sidewall. Was going to a spot to take pics n this happened so I turned around right away do still no pics
Old 05-26-2012, 05:11 PM
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There's a few threads on the rolling fenders thing, baseball bats and others along with the actual tool from eastwood....definitely something to look into
Old 05-26-2012, 06:04 PM
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Yea I am trying to figure out a way. Hit it a couple times with a breaker bar wrapped with a towl and it instantly cracked paint
Old 05-26-2012, 06:17 PM
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you need to warm up the paint first
Old 05-26-2012, 07:25 PM
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And or use a razorblade to cut the seam where the lip is getting bent...seriously man check out the threads on these, a lot of it is taking your time to get it right
Old 05-26-2012, 07:49 PM
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What shocks are you running with your setup?
Old 05-26-2012, 09:40 PM
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Everything is stock
Old 05-26-2012, 09:55 PM
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It should be obvious that people who cut their springs aren't going to spend money on shocks, lol
Old 05-26-2012, 10:40 PM
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I'll sell you my used Bilsteins and Hotchkis front and rears for $200 plus shipping.
Pm if interested.
Old 05-26-2012, 11:05 PM
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Interested in what your final thoughts are once it's done. I think it's funny people will bash the idea of cutting springs and it's almost always people who haven't done it lol. I just ordered Konis from BMR since they are on sale and throwing in a set of lowering spring. The price was too good to pass up. But before I put them in I'm goin to cut the stock springs and compare the ride quality to the BMR springs
Old 05-27-2012, 08:13 AM
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T_raven
Don't waste your time cutting stock springs. I've done it and also some friends have to, the stock springs cut equal garbage ride. Time is precious use it wisely and just install your Konis with the BMR springs.
Old 05-27-2012, 09:09 AM
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I think its worthwhile, especially if your short on funds, if you have access to a few different resources and time vs cash, that can work out well if you have the time and patience to do it. I already have bilsteins on my car which will make a difference, but I got them in trade for other parts, hard times and little money doesn't mean you have to give up on modding, just means you could try so. me old school ways, people have been doing the spring cutting thing for awhile, some like it, some don't. I'm gonna give it a shot. Bones how things goin?
Old 05-27-2012, 06:31 PM
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Scrws6, I am interested your opinion (when you do so) on cutting one coil on the stock spring with the bilstiens.
Old 05-27-2012, 09:22 PM
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I'm def gonna throw up some pics and an opinion once I do get it done, been trying to find a thread on it, cut springs yes, bilsteins on cut springs and upper mount mod no...jasonvw has some really good threads on pieces of those subjects, but nothing for that specific setup. Bones_c you get it worked out?
Old 05-27-2012, 10:47 PM
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Originally Posted by z28bryan
It should be obvious that people who cut their springs aren't going to spend money on shocks, lol
Incorrect, I have cut springs and SLP Bilsteins. It rides very well and handles far better than stock.



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