Cutting coils

[Wannabe]

I have been reading threads about lowering and I see that everybody says to only cut one coil. I's like to know why only one? Will there be problems with cutting 2? I know it will make the ride stiffer but is there any other reasons?

 

[Snoots]

Cut the one in the middle.

 

[Wannabe]

One in every crowd.

 

[idahovette]

^^^^yeah, that would be Roger.......lol

 

[Snoots]

Seriously, cutting 2 coils will lower it more but at that point you start messing with the entire suspension. If it's a 4x4, you've also shortened or altered the driveshaft angle. Since you show you have a C10 this shouldn't be a problem. You have to cut the spring directly below where the coil ends so that it remains symmetrical.
With 49 year old springs I'd just buy shorter NEW ones.

Good luck with your project!

 

[GXPWeasel]

Keep in mind, if you do cut even 1 coil out of your springs, you will more than likely need lowered shocks as well. Ask me how I know. I have a great front set of brand new KYB's that I couldn't install.

 

[Keith Seymore]

Basically the ratio is 1:2, due to the placement of the coil spring in the control arm.

That is, one INCH off the coil will result in a drop of two inches at the fender opening.

K

 

[Ricko1966]

The more you cut it the more you change the spring rate also the more you cut it the more you affect front end geometry. If you need to go lower,buy spindles.

 

[Wannabe]

Thanks to all who replied, I know one coil will not get it down where I would like to have it and I am very aware of what cutting the spring will do to the control arm angles. So I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and get spindles. I would ask Santa for them but he isn't talking to me.

 

[Ricko1966]

Santa exactly what do you mean by naughty?

 

[TotalyHucked]

The other thing to remember when cutting the coils is where the pig tail sits in it's pocket. If you don't get that in the right spot, the coil can move around and make noise. I kept cutting mine 1/4 coil at a time till I was happy with where the truck sat and the pigtail was in the right spot. I probably cut 1.5-2 coils off (can't remember exactly and each side is different to account for the Chevy lean).

 

[Catbox]

For an example...
This is my 1954 Bel Air after I had the hydraulics removed.
It was put on stock height suspension that I picked up.
Sits way to high over the 205/60/15's it wears.

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So to remedy the situation in the front, we ended up removing 1-1/4 coils in the front.
That has been the only change made here, other than the location of the vehicle.

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No more fender gap above and it settled down right over the top of the tire.
Small changes make bigger than you might think differences.

I then added a set of 3 inch lowering blocks to the rear and got the whole car to settle back down close to where it used to be.

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[DoubleDingo]

@Catbox I like it, but like it more before the rear got lowered. It's not my car, and I like some rake to my vehicles, not stinkbug rake, stock stance rake looks cool.

 

[Catbox]

It still retains a modest amount of rake.
When it becomes an actual project again, I will be putting a whole new suspension under it.
Then it will be set up proper hot rod like.
Here it looks level, but it is sitting on a slanted part of the yard.

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This was before when it was on hydro's.
The PO installed them as ghetto cheap as he could and I did not know the system well enough to see how poorly he did it.
Lucky for me he was interested in trading back for them.
So I sourced the parts and he did the remove / reinstall for the junk hydro set up.
Don't get me wrong, they were fun to have.
But they needed to be done the right way for any long term driving.

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It laid out nice at the bottom of the hydros...

 

[bluex]

I have been reading threads about lowering and I see that everybody says to only cut one coil. I's like to know why only one? Will there be problems with cutting 2? I know it will make the ride stiffer but is there any other reasons?

2 makes the spring too short an it will fall out of the pocket when you jack up the truck. It can still be aligned but the guy won't like you very much lol.

Keep in mind, if you do cut even 1 coil out of your springs, you will more than likely need lowered shocks as well. Ask me how I know. I have a great front set of brand new KYB's that I couldn't install.

Your shocks should be fine. I run/recommend stock length KYBs even with a 3" drop spring.