got rid of my sportline kit, i wanted stiffer spring rates, want this thing to handle like a rock, installed thru floor subframes long time ago, and every suspension mod possible, poly everything tubular RLCA, UMI panhard rod, etc. still had stock tq arm but wtih poly. even had poly in front LCA, and KYBs all the way round, GR2 front and gas-ajust rear.

car handled great, but car is getting motor swap and new trans etc, so i installed a 6pt cage, reinforced the front LCA, installed a jegster shorty tq arm, poly engine mounts, tig welded the strut towers all way around, gona beef up the subframes more, and now im going with moog5664 fronts, at 750lbs/in and rear moog 5665s at 107lbin.

i loved the look of the sportlines, so i want the same drop, i was thinking of hacking 3/4 coil off the moogs front that would put me at about the same free coil height of the sportlines fronts, prob is the moogs spring coils are spaced alil wider apart than the sportlines(wound alil tighter).

so how much should i hack off the front moogs? and i kno spring rate will increase to about 850lbin wiht 1" drop and alil over 900lbin wiht almost 2" drop. and i have no idea how much to cut off the moog rear 5665s

 

I know a LOT of people road racing and auto Xing with traditional aftermarket springs. Tokico, Eibach, Hotchkis, etc. etc. ...I can't imagine you need something that isn't offered in the aftermarket... ...plus remember stiff doesn't necessarily equal control/handling. Compared to stock, yes, you want stiff, but too hard is just as bad as too soft.

....but not to preach. ..and since you asked a question... What I've heard for those who cut springs is to start by cutting LESS than you think you'll need. Cut, see the difference...and again cut off a little LESS than you think you need. My buddy did his and made three cuts to get it right.

Would drop spindles be a safer, and more accurate option?

 

yea there are aftermarket kits, i had one of them, sportlines from eibach, they offer the prokit which is just less drop and alil more rate in the rear, but they are 230$ plus! which is ridiculous for a crappy spring with the same rates as the stock, all the do is basically lower ride height, which is fine for looks but i am a spirited driver and i have hit the track but not autoX yet....

aftermarket is fine if you kno exactly what u want and are willing to pay. instead of 230$ for the prokit i got a full set moogs front and rear for just over 100$. they are stiffer than the prokits at normal ride height so when i hack them to lower height they will be even more stiff and way beyong the eibachs. hotchkins are worse than eibach as far as spring rates, global west has 800lb front springs but they are a good chunk over 100$ i believe. tokio and ST, INRAX and summit lowering springs arent even worth it, they lower the spring height but not the rates even sum are less than the stock rates... means horrible handling.

the stiffer springs will help my handling, with the added weight of the cage etc the stiffer springs will help control that. not to mention increased spring rate and lower ride height. most autoXers run 800-1000lbin front springs and anywhere from 150-225lb rears.

yea i kno about cutting 1/4 or 1/3 coil at a time let it settle and redo again until its good, but ripping the front apart to get the spring out is a pain in the @ss. on the 5662 moog fronts at 700lbin a 3/4 coil cut off is good for about 1.5" i read on here. so i was wondering is the 5664s would be close i guess. id rather take off a predetermined amoung that i kno is safe and only have to take it apart maybe once to cut more off if needed vs doing it 4 times. and having it aligned everytime. at 50$ a pop.

drop spindals cause suspension geometry problems as well. no getting around it. also cause problems with spindals hitting the rim etc. springs are easier and cheaper.

 

I feel your pain. I can't imagine going through the removal/install procedure three or four times.

JamesC

 

there is a formula you can use to determine the spring rate of a cut spring
i cant remember it off the top of my head, but its been posted before...
besides, didnt you get your answer here:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...ing-rates.html


oh, and drop spindles, if used with stock springs, keep your alignment just fine.
thats the point of dropped spindles.

you could call
http://www.coilsprings.com/

they make custom springs.
tell them the rate and free length and you have a spring

 

You realize slamming the car negitively affects the handling characteristics of the car? Reduces the amount of suspension travel available and makes it harder for the shocks/struts to work. Just food for though.
That being said, I'd either call a spring supplier knowledgible in 3rd gens and talk to them about what you want (Sam Strano comes to mind) or get a set of weight jacks with the rates you want and adjust the ride height from there. Or, you can do the trial and error method with the Moogs. Although, there is a formula that lets you determine what rates you'll get on here somewhere. There's also a thread where someone did the dirty work and calculated the rates/drop for each 1/2 coil you remove.

 

yea ive read up on cutting springs. i already have moogs so i wont be looking into the aftermarkets. my answer still hasnt been answered. first off the moog 5662/5664s are all backwards on that thread... which is a common misconception. and they are tested for the 5662s as far as cutting off 1/2 coil or watev for 1" drop... the 5664s are a good bit higher as far as spring rate 750lb/in compared to the 5662s 700lb/in rate. so cutting off a 1/2 coil from the 5664 wouldnt drop as much as the 5662 correct? so i was wondering if anyone had done this.

drop spindals are usually fine but ppl have had issues with the wheel hitting the spindle etc. just saying.

i realize slamming the car will change the cars geometry but thats wat alignments are for. i wont go lower than the sportlines are far as drop. prob keep it in the range of the prokits as far as height. and the stiffer springs do wear out shocks more/less travel but will prob go with aftermarket strut tower bearing caps that allow for loss travel. as stated i already have the moogs and will try these. the ground control weight jacks although a great peice is too expensive for me, esp when i dont autoX the car and its a daily driver that i will never adjust.

i was just wondering if the moog 5664s will react the same way as the 5662s when cut, the sportlines are too soft and alil too low for me.figured id get in the 1.5-1" drop range and keep it higher than the 1.7" drop of the sportlines. and keep taking out the springs to hack a 1/4 coil off down to a minimum.

 

The suspension geometry concern is not about the alignment, it's about the angle of the a arms in relation to the ground and their mounting points. Ideally they should be parallel to the ground or a little bit angled down. This let's them do their job best. When you use springs to lower the car, the a arms become angled upwards and this is where the harsh ride comes from. Also, in this condition, the springs are compressing in more of an arc than linearly. Drop spindles are the best way to go. I wouldn't recommend more than 1/2 to 3/4 inch drop with springs in the front. Especially if you are looking for performance.

 

That's why I mentioned the formula for calculating the spring rate after cutting. With the weight of the car and the correct formula for the ammount of compression the a-arm gives (it's not a 1:1 ratio due to the lever action of the arm), you could probably get a close approximation of the ride height you'll acheive.

 

ok so i did the math and figured a 1/2 coil or 3/4 coil will be cut. 3/4 coil cut gives me the same spring free height as the sportlines. figure 1/2 coil will result in 1-1.25" drop

now the rear springs are 5665s. 83crossfire said he doesnt cut more than 1/2 coil off the rears and it will be sumwhere around 200lbin and he just takes out the isolators and replaces them with heater hose to get the drop. so to get the same drop with the rears as the sportlines how much should be hacked?