Cutting Front Coils - Rule of Thumb?

[Ol_Girl_58]

Hi all,

I've decided to chop a few inches out of the front coils of my FC. It has a HR disc front - is there a rule of thumb to cutting the springs? i.e. cutting half a coil off equals half an inch?

Kind regards,

Ol_Girl_58

[FC427]

The only rule of thumb I know is don't cut springs [Iknow it was common practice years ago ] but we have all move on [ I think ] I may have a set of Heavy Duty 2'' lowered springs for HR .......FC427......

[EffCee]

I cannot echo the sentiments of FC 427 enough. Do not cut springs. The original springs were made at that length and compressed at a rate of so many pounds to the inch. If you cut the springs this will have the effect that the spring will still compress at the same rate and hit the bump stop so much faster. This can cause you to lose control.....etc etc etc

Even for the price of new springs it it just not worth even contemplating cutting springs. Also with the new springs you will be reassured that the springs have been made to ride lower and still perform far better than the original springs ever could.

[Ol_Girl_58]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Wouldn't want to crash the FC or endanger anyone else, for that matter.

FC427 ... you know the next question ...

Cheers,

Josh

[FC427]

Will dig them out and get back to you ......FC427......

[pedro]

Having done it both ways i have to agree with the other guys, use the proper lowered springs or dropped stub axles

[ratbox]

cut 'em, i'm gunna cop it for this i've done it for years and could say prolly hundreds of cars never had an accident never even came close, and i drive hard and fast, and yes i once spent money on proper springs and found no difference actually was unhappy as they were suposed to be 2" lower and car end up about 1" higher, if the springs are standard height cut 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 coils and you'll be happy
also cut with an angle grinder not oxy
and before everbody starts preaching to me about why it's so wrong save yor time i've heard it a million times before

[jack_fc]

I cut half a coil off a pair of near new Kings springs ( 2" lower than standard) and it dropped the car another 3/4 - 1". Fitted lowered bump stops at same time. Also different shocks. Result - 

[NO NAME]

i have cut springs, first time i cut standard hr and uou could feel the bottoming out real bad, , i then got some heavy duty lowered torana springs just before i got it engineered, they sat the front up real high and you could barely drive in a straight line, as soon as i got back from the engineer it took them out before i killed myself, still ave a photo of the car that day with the springs out.
 i put in a set of lowered HR springs but then when i reversed the spring eyes at the back and got the rear springs de arched again i figured i could go more so i cut a coil of the lowered springs, eventualy it ate away the bump stops but it didnt hit no where near as hard as the first standard soft springs, i still have them springs but i used shorter bump stops, i am now thinking of going up a inch and maybe slightly softer at the front and putting on some lakes pipes to keep it looking low but get it riding smoother on rough roads.
when i had a FC front end i cut the standard springs and left the back up and it used to understeer on rough wet roads if you jumped on the brakes on a bend, that was scary.