Results of lowering my car by cutting springs and removing rear spring cushions...
#1
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After asking you guys how satified you were with cutting springs I decided to try it myself.
What I wanted...
-First and foremost I wanted to change the stock ride as little as possible.
-Drop the car about an inch.
-To have the rearend centered perfectly. I thought this might require an adjustable panhard rod even though I was only lowering an inch.
What I had done...
-Cut about 2/3 of a coil on the fronts only using a die grinder.
-Removed the rear spring cushions and used innertube to act in it's place.
The results...
-The amount of drop was exactly what I wanted. (I MAY drop it another 1/2" IF after my headers and 3 1/2" cuttout are installed I see that I have enough room to do it without much worry of scraping over everything.)
-Ride seems just like stock to me. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />
-The rearend is centered perfectly. No adjustable panhard rod needed. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
Glad I didn't buy a lowering kit! <img border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" title="" src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" />
Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and information. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
<small>[ November 19, 2002, 08:41 PM: Message edited by: Colonel ]</small>
What I wanted...
-First and foremost I wanted to change the stock ride as little as possible.
-Drop the car about an inch.
-To have the rearend centered perfectly. I thought this might require an adjustable panhard rod even though I was only lowering an inch.
What I had done...
-Cut about 2/3 of a coil on the fronts only using a die grinder.
-Removed the rear spring cushions and used innertube to act in it's place.
The results...
-The amount of drop was exactly what I wanted. (I MAY drop it another 1/2" IF after my headers and 3 1/2" cuttout are installed I see that I have enough room to do it without much worry of scraping over everything.)
-Ride seems just like stock to me. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />
-The rearend is centered perfectly. No adjustable panhard rod needed. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
Glad I didn't buy a lowering kit! <img border="0" alt="[Fluffy]" title="" src="graemlins/fluffy.gif" />
Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and information. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />
<small>[ November 19, 2002, 08:41 PM: Message edited by: Colonel ]</small>
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I'm thinking of cutting mine too. I have 17 inch ZR1s and I don't want any fender gap or as little as possible. About how much of the coil should I cut? 1 1/3 coils up front? How many out back?
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I want some more in depth info on this if anybody can help me. Did you replace your shocks?
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by srh00z:
<strong>I want some more in depth info on this if anybody can help me. Did you replace your shocks?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">All I did was exactly what I explained. I didn't replace the shocks.
No pics but I'll try to get some.
<strong>I want some more in depth info on this if anybody can help me. Did you replace your shocks?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">All I did was exactly what I explained. I didn't replace the shocks.
No pics but I'll try to get some.
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I used the Hals with the stock springs to lower the front and then did the same as you in the rear.
I did have lowering springs on the car at first and couldn`t stand the ride.. the stock springs are just right.
I did have lowering springs on the car at first and couldn`t stand the ride.. the stock springs are just right.
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I'm glad you're happy with it COL, but I'm glad I spent the money on the Eibachs. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
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Hey colonel, I sent you a PM the other day. Drop me a line when you get a chance.
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</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by CKZ:
<strong>I'm thinking of cutting mine too. I have 17 inch ZR1s and I don't want any fender gap or as little as possible. About how much of the coil should I cut? 1 1/3 coils up front? How many out back?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">A few years ago I cut 2 coil front and used hose on the rear. 17's ZR1's also. It dropped the front to 25.5". A little to low for most standard curbs. However, a front end alignment is a MUST anytime you change the geometery.
<strong>I'm thinking of cutting mine too. I have 17 inch ZR1s and I don't want any fender gap or as little as possible. About how much of the coil should I cut? 1 1/3 coils up front? How many out back?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">A few years ago I cut 2 coil front and used hose on the rear. 17's ZR1's also. It dropped the front to 25.5". A little to low for most standard curbs. However, a front end alignment is a MUST anytime you change the geometery.
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black'02ss: I do not think the tube type or brand is anything special...Just use the old spring spacer as a template and cut out a piece of the damn tube the same size (diameter) as the spring spacer, place it in the spring pocket, re-install the spring, and you're good to go. (After you let the jack down.) <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" /> WJ.
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Colonel: Does your '02 car launch any better, or worse, since you lowered it? Thanks. WJ. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="gr_images/icons/wink.gif" />
#19
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Hard to say. Launched with zero spin with the stock converter and stock tires. Now it launches perfectly with the 2400 stall with the 315/35/17 drag radials. Friday night I made 6 passes. All six had 60 fts of 1.83-1.84. It was dead hooking. Absolutely no spin. Best ET was 12.68 at 107.66, btw. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" />
The real test will be when I upgrade the converter.
I'll be installing LCA relocators (set on the bottom hole for a 3" drop) tomorrow as a little added traction insurance for the QTP headers, electric cuttout, and underdrive pulley that will also be installed tomorrow. <img border="0" alt="[Burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />
The real test will be when I upgrade the converter.
I'll be installing LCA relocators (set on the bottom hole for a 3" drop) tomorrow as a little added traction insurance for the QTP headers, electric cuttout, and underdrive pulley that will also be installed tomorrow. <img border="0" alt="[Burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />
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Thanks a lot JAS!
Do you think with 1.5 coils cut up front and just the spacer taken out back i'll get a stance with VERY little fender gap?
Do you think with 1.5 coils cut up front and just the spacer taken out back i'll get a stance with VERY little fender gap?