Cheap front lowering mod?
10-13-2009, 10:28 PM
#1
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Cheap front lowering mod? I have heard that there is a cheap front lowering mod that you can do in correspondence with the rear heater hose mod to lower both ends of your car? Is there such a mod? And if so does someone have a link? This would be perfect for my V6 so I dont have to throw down money to get it lowered, since I'll be getting an SS in a year or 2.
10-14-2009, 01:09 AM
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10-14-2009, 05:05 AM
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Do not cut the coil springs, the results are hardly worth the effort. Springs are not that expensive, you'll be much happier if you save up your pennies and buy the right aftermarket spring. Bellow is the mathematical reason why cutting springs is not a good idea. I first posted this in this thread
Jimmy you are right. By removing coils the spring rate does increase, but not by that much. The equation for calculating spring rate is:
(Gd^4)/(8D^3)=k1n1=k2n2therefore we can solve for k2
So the OP experienced a 2 inch drop when he cut his springs. Now he's asking the springs to absorb the same amount of load in a shorter distance with only a minimal increase in spring rate. The ride feels "pretty rough" because he's probably getting into the jounce bumpers in the front pretty often which, BTW, have an extremely high spring rate vs. the coil springs.
Note most aftermarket spring kits are in the 500-600 lb/in (front)and 150-175 lb/in (rear) range. They have to be or else the car gets into the jounce bumpers way too often.
Argument settled. Thank you, now please move on and go buy a decent set of springs.
K=(Gd^4)/(8nD^3)
G = material rigidity or torsional modulus
d = wire diameter
n = number of coils
D = mean coil diameter
Now when we solve for K of our cut springs, G, d, and D are constant. So we can rearrange the equation to state:d = wire diameter
n = number of coils
D = mean coil diameter
(Gd^4)/(8D^3)=k1n1=k2n2
k2=k1*(n1/n2)
So if we were to cut one coil from my 1LE springs, we can calculate the new k2N1=9 and K1=342lb/in
so k2=342(9/8) = 384.75.
The rear Z28 springs are 113 in lbs.so k2=342(9/8) = 384.75.
N1=9 and K1=113 lb/in
If we cut one coil from them:
k2= 127 inch lbs.
If we cut one coil from them:
k2= 127 inch lbs.
So the OP experienced a 2 inch drop when he cut his springs. Now he's asking the springs to absorb the same amount of load in a shorter distance with only a minimal increase in spring rate. The ride feels "pretty rough" because he's probably getting into the jounce bumpers in the front pretty often which, BTW, have an extremely high spring rate vs. the coil springs.
Note most aftermarket spring kits are in the 500-600 lb/in (front)and 150-175 lb/in (rear) range. They have to be or else the car gets into the jounce bumpers way too often.
Argument settled. Thank you, now please move on and go buy a decent set of springs.
10-14-2009, 10:42 AM
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is cutting springs the BEST way to lower your car? No.
is it cheap and efficient and what the original poster was looking for....Yes
I have had mine cut for well over a year and have no issues at all.
is it cheap and efficient and what the original poster was looking for....Yes
I have had mine cut for well over a year and have no issues at all.
10-15-2009, 01:14 AM
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ta da. the OPs objective is to enhance visuals. hes got plans for an ss...i think cutting the front and heater hose - ing the rear "fits the bill" as they say.
