I just purchased the suspension kit form Mustangs Plus and would like to lower my ride a little more. What tool is best for cutting the coils?
SLEEPERstang21 said:.... What tool is best for cutting the coils?
I for one would like to know how on earth this could possibly be true. Cutting springs does NOT result in a rough ride. How could it? Yes, removing the amount of coils does SLIGHTLY firm up the ride due to one less coil to provide suspension, but given the horribly wobbly, flacid stock '60's Ford suspension, this is always a good thing. I have cut coils on cars to drop them for about 25 years or so with not one problem. Ever. The cars typically ride better since they don't blow through their travel and slam into the bump stops anymore. As far as buying the right springs, maybe in some fantasy world you can buy springs that are perfect for the ride quality and stance you want, but here on earth it doesn't work that way. A buddy of mine bought a set of 620 one inch drop springs for his '67 and actually had the car sit slightly higher than stock. Sweet. Now what do you do? So many vendors simply sell springs and have no idea what rate or drop their springs really are. My advice if you want to cut springs is to use an abrasive wheel and be conserative (I usually cut 1/4 coil at a time then settle the suspension by driving it in and out of the shop a couple times and check the stance. Yes it takes time, but it beats buying more springs if you cut too much the first time out. Good luck!Crs said:I agree with ozstang65.................buy the right springs. Cutting of coils is just a temporary fix and will result in a rough ride.
zookeeper said:I for one would like to know how on earth this could possibly be true. Cutting springs does NOT result in a rough ride. How could it? Yes, removing the amount of coils does SLIGHTLY firm up the ride due to one less coil to provide suspension, but given the horribly wobbly, flacid stock '60's Ford suspension, this is always a good thing. I have cut coils on cars to drop them for about 25 years or so with not one problem. Ever. The cars typically ride better since they don't blow through their travel and slam into the bump stops anymore. As far as buying the right springs, maybe in some fantasy world you can buy springs that are perfect for the ride quality and stance you want, but here on earth it doesn't work that way. A buddy of mine bought a set of 620 one inch drop springs for his '67 and actually had the car sit slightly higher than stock. Sweet. Now what do you do? So many vendors simply sell springs and have no idea what rate or drop their springs really are. My advice if you want to cut springs is to use an abrasive wheel and be conserative (I usually cut 1/4 coil at a time then settle the suspension by driving it in and out of the shop a couple times and check the stance. Yes it takes time, but it beats buying more springs if you cut too much the first time out. Good luck!
DukeGnarley said:It will only change the rates if you have a progressive spring, or you create excessive heat while cutting.
67coupe351w said:cutting coils off increases spring rates.
The function for computing spring rates contains the number of coils of the spring (n).
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2bav8 said:I've found a dremel to work quite well. Did the same thing to my 620 springs from Mustangs Plus. Definitely have not had any ill effects.