Hi there!

I have high rate 86 iroc springs that i would like to cut and get only 1" drop. I dont want the front lower then the rear, i would like a "level" 1" drop. I know this has been asked 1000 times, but everyones info is with differant rate springs.. Has anyone ever cut the shorter high rate iroc springs? and will my front 255's rubb? i was thinking cut 1/2 coil in front and 1/4 rear.

Thanks

 

It has been about 15 years since I cut mine, man I need new springs, and I took off about 1/2 a coil in the front and around 1 coil in the rear and I love the way mine sits. I am running 275s all the way around with very little rub at full lock.

 

Did you keep the isolator in the rear? and the front got that low with 1/2 coil ?

 

I took 1/2 of 1 coil off of mine and the damn thing dropped 1.5 inches. be careful.

 

Here's a pic. the "high rate" coils are on the left (left is rear and middle is front) and on the right there is a base model coil.

Drkhrse89 do you remember if yours looked like the ones on the left?

 

It just depends on what springrate your springs are and how heavy your car is.

I read taht the rear springs are progressive rate, and I used to believe that, but I just see no evidence of that. Anyone have any clairification? Progressive rate springs should have thicker steel or tighter coils as they go down, but our rear springs do not.


Anyway, I cut 1/3 of a coil off my fronts and my rears have been cut different amounts to level out the back of the car. around a half coil on one side and 1/3 coil on the other. The isolaters were removed and replaced with heater hose. Seems to work well. The fronts are a pain and I figured out a way to install them without spring compressors (much safer than spring compressors too) and I still dont like pulling them out. So if you want to risk a 1.5 inch drop, cut em a half coil. If you want to be more conservative, 1/3 coil.

Factory RS springs:


IROC springs:


Cut IROC springs, 1/3 coil front, 1/4 rear:


Rear springs cut a little more:

 

I have always found this write up at our brother site very helpful: http://www.austinthirdgen.org/index.php?pid=43

You most likely will not receive an accurate answer for how much lower you will sit when cutting "X" amount of coil(s) because there are so many different rate coil springs and so many differing vehicle weights--assuming the springs are new. If the springs are used/old/stock springs than the answers you will receive will be no more scientific than if you asked what part of the Loch to begin looking for Nessie.


For example, I went with the 5664 front springs and (I think) 5665 rear springs. Cut one whole coil front and rear and it looks like stock ride height. Meanwhile other members will report cutting 3/4 coil and be at 25" fender lip height.

 

Would you say you cut 2/3 rear in the rear? Now Im thinking of cutting 1/3 front and 2/3 rear. If i keep the rear isolator will it sit higher compared to the rubber hose ?

 

Since there's no easy answer because spring rates are different, car weight is different, age of springs are different. The only way to get the amount of drop you want is trial and error. You could do a minimum cut of 1/4 coil at a time but that would be very time consuming. Take out the springs and cut 1/2 coil at a time. Reinstall, drive around a bit to get everything to settle and take a measurement. If you need more drop, take the springs out and cut again.

Coil springs should never be cut with a torch. Always use a cutoff wheel.

 

I cut 1/2 off of one side in the rear and 1/3 off of the other side.

I'd say you should half as much off the rears as you do off the fronts and see where you end up. The isolator is over a half inch thick. It's pretty huge.

It's hard to predict how much a car will drop. The spring rates are all over the map for our cars from the factory, and that combined with weight will make it nearly impossible. So the only responsible approach is to be conservative.

Also, in addition to only using a cutoff wheel, the main goal is to not overheat the metal during cutting. I keep a small bucket of water next to me and dunk it in ever 10-15 seconds of cutting and give it time to cool, then go at it again.

 

I wish we had a spring rate like that around here...blossoms and color!

 

I kept the isolators on the rears and my springs looked exactly like the ones on the left. Like said, I am not going to guess what the rate is now since my cut was not exact and from spring to spring was probably not exact. That will completely change everything. All I can say is it handles really well and is not horribly harsh.

 

I've never actually seen a picture of it, so I just wanted to show you what the "heater hose" mod is... And this is where you can see how thick the factory isolator is in comparison and you can see how I've had to cut uneven amounts to level out the car.

It's 1/2" heater hose, by the way. Fits perfectly. And it's been in the car for a few years now so you can see how it wears.

 

Here's a pic after i cut the springs. I went with 1/3 front and 2/3 rear and i chose to leave the stock isolator's. My front 255's do not rub eather.