Cutting front springs

DannyOO · 03-13-2010, 10:01 PM

I just got some new wheels and tires and I need to lower the car a bit to make it sit right. I did the Shelby UCA mod today and the car went down 3/4" and now I think I need another 3/4" to 1" more to look good.

I've already got the 1" drop springs in there and although I don't want to cut them, I think it's my only choice. I assume that I want to cut from the bottom of the spring, but what is a good rule of thumb for how much to cut at a time before checking the results?

Thanks!

Here's a pic before the UCA relocation...

LastDeadLast · 03-13-2010, 10:04 PM

I've always heard to cut a 1/4 of a coil at a time.

Nice looking car!

-Shannon

v159hill · 03-14-2010, 08:49 AM

I have a 69 Mustang, I put reverse eye spring in the back and 620 coils in the front, it has been almost 5 years since I did it but I think I cut about 3/4 coil out of the to get the front end down 1 1/4 inch. I'm a cave man on the computer and don't know how to post a picture. Email me at v159hill@rconnect.com and I will send you a picture so you can see I got it to set level.

Jim V
69Chop1

kwkenf · 03-14-2010, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LastDeadLast

I've always heard to cut a 1/4 of a coil at a time.

Nice looking car!

-Shannon

I agree, I wouldn't do any more than that as you would be amazed at how much a 1/4 will drop it.

Maxum96 · 03-14-2010, 12:23 PM

Cut no more than 1/4 turn at a time. After you make a cut on both sides, drive the car around the block to allow the suspension to settle. Inspect and decide if it's low enough or if you need to cut more. Also, cold cut the springs. Do not use a cutting torch or heat to cut the springs. It will ruin the temper in the springs. I used a die grinder with a cutoff wheel.

droptop73 · 03-14-2010, 01:15 PM

As a good rule of thumb. The drop at the wheel will be approximately double what you cut off the vertical height of the spring when loaded. For example if the distance from the top of one coil to the top of the next is 1", cutting 1/2 coil will drop about 1/2" at the loaded spring or 1" at the wheel.

PMay · 03-16-2010, 10:42 PM

My signature pic is a 620 spring with 3/4 coil cut.

69 Rustang · 03-17-2010, 12:33 AM

I don't think anybody answered this part--you should cut from the bottom.

DannyOO · 03-17-2010, 01:21 AM

After thinking about it, the bottom is the obvious end to cut based on the way the spring is made.

I'll go with the 1/4 coil cut first and see how it sits before cutting any more.

johnmcooper · 03-17-2010, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannyOO

After thinking about it, the bottom is the obvious end to cut based on the way the spring is made.

I'll go with the 1/4 coil cut first and see how it sits before cutting any more.

If the coil springs are new, I would cut the spring until it was close to were I wanted it to sit but not all the way down. Let the new spring settle in over some driving time then do the final cut.

DannyOO · 03-17-2010, 06:20 PM

Yeah, I learned that after modifying the UCA location. At first it only sat 1/4" lower than before but then I remembered that I needed to let the springs settle and it ended up being 3/4" lower after just driving around the neighborhood once.

I'm going to give it a bit longer to see if they settle any more before cutting anything.

69 Rustang · 03-18-2010, 09:53 PM

Don't forget an alignment when you are done.

MarkMach1 · 03-18-2010, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannyOO

Here's a pic before the UCA relocation...

Wheels look great!! Nicely done.

What are the final specs on the wheels? I love the deep dish rear/somewhat shallow in the front look.

DannyOO · 03-19-2010, 12:24 AM

Dave,

I'll be getting an alignment done for sure, but I need to find a shop that will align to the correct specs for the shelby drop. I know that the local Les Schwab won't do anything but stock alignment specs.

Mark,

Thanks for the compliment.

I got the 18x9.5 with 5.5 b/s in the rear with 275/35 tires. I know that if I lower the rear too much the rear will rub on the moldings in the wheel well, but if I take off the moldings they'll easily tuck inside if I roll the fender. I've been thinking about seeing if the wheels can be milled about a 1/4 inch to increase back spacing as I think that 5.75" would be perfect (sound familiar?)

The fronts are 18x7 with 4.25" b/s. The tires are 235/40 which I know is actually too big for an 18x7 but I like the way the tire fits on the wheel much better than something smaller. I think that anything narrower would have looked stretched onto the wheel. If I did it over again I'd consider 18x8's in the front but I really like the way it looks right now.

The car's still at the muffler shop getting the Magnaflow kit installed. It was supposed to be done yesterday, but I guess things happen (or at least that's what the guy says.) He says that he did Schall's exhaust and he came highly recommended so I'm willing to wait as long as it takes for him to do it nicely. I just can't hardly wait to drive it around town and show off my new wheels!

quikturbo · 03-19-2010, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMay

My signature pic is a 620 spring with 3/4 coil cut.

what springs do you have in the rear, looks great!

DannyOO, do you have any pics of it after the UCA drop?

Chris