QUICK305

The car is an 89 IROC, and I am looking to go around 2 inches lower than stock; especially in the front. Is 2" too much? How many coils should I cut off? Thanks again

SeanSullivan

2 inches is too much, unless you're using drop spindles too. You didnt say, so am assuming you're not. If you drop it 2 inches you'll be changing the geometry of the suspension too radically. As for cutting the coil springs, I don't recommend it. Springs arent that expensive to buy, but if you just have to cut them you can safely cut 1 full round. Dont forget to heat up the spring after you've cut it to bend the left over flat. Don't quench the spring either. There are a couple of camaro/firebird suspension books out that are pretty good how on cutting the coils. Just remember once you've cut it off you cant put it back.

QUICK305

Eibach makes a kit that lowers our cars about 2 inches. I think that lowering it only 1" is not really worth $200 in springs. If I am going to buy springs, I might as well lower it enough so people can actually notice the drop. I just put some ROH 16s on my car with 245/50s on them and there a ton of gap between the tire and fender in the front.

I normally wouldnt have even suggested a 2 inch drop, but I found a 91 Z at a car lot with 215/60/16s on factory rims that HAS to be lowered 2 inches. There is absolutely no gap between the tire and fender. Maybe it is the taller tire with a 1" drop....

Guest

"Dont forget to heat up the spring after you've cut it to bend the left over flat"

This is the absolute LAST thing you want to do to a spring. Tempering works once, you heat it up to bend it, the tempering is gone and your car will bounce like there is no tomorrow. Just leave the end alone.

I also dont agree about radically changing the suspension geometry. Lowering spindles introduce problems of their own. If you think it changes the suspension geometry too much, come race me sometime.

QUICK305

Madmax, how low is your car

Guest

Well I had it raised back up for a while because I was driving it every day. Just this weekend I dropped it back down. I cant get one of my fingers between the tire+fender in the front. I can barely do that in the back. It handles so much better this way
Just dont cut too much off, you cant put it back. 2 coils is way too much. Start with one up front. The back is pretty easy to cut+test fit, so go a little at a time. Put the cut end in the front facing down into the pocket in the control arm.

Z28Freak

Cutting coils is a perfectly acceptable way to lower your car. Removing 1/2 to 1 coil from your springs will not noticeably affect suspension geometry. But, you will increase the spring rate (stiffness) by 10% for every 1/2 coil you cut off. NEVER cut your springs with a torch! Use a die grinder or similar cut-off wheel. Heat will take the temper out of the spring! I like a 2" drop on thirdgens, but thats my opinion.

SeanSullivan

MadMax, I'd love to race you.. Bring your car to Hallett Motor Racing Circuit. We'll have a go at it. I'll be there the end of August with my car. Bring your pink slip. You obvisiously don't pull many g's in your car, either that or you do have one of the stiffest suspensions on the planet. By heating the spring I didnt mean the entire spring just the end that would be sticking up. And I first recommended gettng the proper spring instead cutting it. Cutting it was a last resort,if you just don't have the cash to buy springs of the proper size. There a number spring mfg's that will make custom springs and they're just not that expensive. It falls back to, proper tool for the job. Yes you can make it work, but its really best to do right the first time.

QUICK305

Max, do you run 15s, 16s, or 17s? With what tire sizes? Your car is lowered appox 2"?

Guest

Oh really?

My car is way past 1.0g on street tires.
Maybe first you should know about someone's car before you assume things...

And I have plenty of friends working for race teams... they cut springs too, even though they have plenty of cash. I'm sick of all this cutting springs is bad crap.

Quick, I run 245/50/16 front and rear. I dont think its 2" lower than it was stock, I think its a little more.

[This message has been edited by madmax (edited July 25, 2000).]

QUICK305

Great, thanks for your input Madmax