My car sits really high, like 1" above stock, probably because I have aluminum heads. My plan was to cut the springs a full coil to lower the car to 1" below stock, which is where I want it. Thing is, my spring isolators could use replacing and from what I've seen of the new ones they're much thicker than what I have now so that'll raise the car even more and I'd have to cut another half coil off the springs for a total of 1.5 coils removed. Is cutting this much safe? (and no I won't get lowering springs cuz i'm a poor college student)

 

I wouldn't cut them I would buy some V6 springs to compensate.

 

v6 springs are way too soft, i'll be bottoming out just from turning hard lol, let alone from hitting bumps

 

Well with aluminum heads you engine probably weighs pretty close to a V6. It was jsut a thought.

 

these are stock springs right...........with miles on them right?

you will get such a bad ride with them and it will be alot lower than 1".

go half a top coil at most and be ready to bounce like a cheap import or save your 200 and buy some springs so it's done right.

it's your choice....1 full coil is alot though and on worn springs is dangerous.

 

i have a set of stock ws6 springs that were cut that i can sell ya!

the car sat like this
www.scottzimmerman.net/gta.asp

let me know if your interested.
zimmstoy@yahoo.com

 

Springs are fine to cut. It is not the spring that makes a car bounce bad, its the improper geometry (mostly cut too low and grounding out) combined with stock height and stock dampening force shocks. When you cut a spring it raises the lbs of the spring and you need better shocks to compensate or counteract the force.

Cut a half coil maximum to start or you may be buying new springs anyway. One coil is too much to start with, you should do it the hard way but right way and cut a little and then put them both in and see what you have, then repeat if not low enough.

 

Why will it be a bad ride? I'm starting with medium stiffness springs so cutting even a full coil won't make them as stiff as WS6 springs. It's just like shortening a torsion bar, all it does is increase the spring rate. I was more concerned with exceeding ultimate tensile strength.

 

yeah you're right, i think i should just start with a half coil. i have a spare set of springs in case i go too low

 

cut more than half a coil and you'll find out real fast....you'll be lucky if you get away with decent feel out of 1/2 on worn springs. now if they were new it would be a different question. good luck...

 

just an update. i got some BZW springs, which are the second stiffest next to BZX, and cut just a quarter of a coil off. for the rear i got some NNLs and left them uncut for now. after i get everything back together and settled i'll see if the rears need cutting

 

I have an LT1 in my car, and that rose the front end of my car about an inch also. I had pretty much new IROC springs that I cut a half coil and ADDED new GM coil isolators (as the guy that installed the springs before me didn't put them in) and now my car is stock height and ride quality is pretty much the same. I also have the stock hood, and no AC, AIR, or front sway bar. Also use stock shocks. That's just my two cents.