Anyone Cut Their Stock Springs?

[glnr13]

i cut 1 1/2 coils off the fronts with fairly new kyb's at the time. blown shocks in less than 2 months. if i had better shocks MAYBE it would've lasted longer? i'm not sure. it works if you're truly on a budget but could force you into needing new parts sooner than you can afford.

i cut a coil off the rear too at the time, it sat fine. rear shocks lasted until i replaced the all shocks and springs.

[mr.vang]

If you haven't ride in a car with cut springs before, I suggest you don't do it.

[Silver Wagon]

i cut 1 1/2 coils off the fronts with fairly new kyb's at the time. blown shocks in less than 2 months. if i had better shocks MAYBE it would've lasted longer? i'm not sure. it works if you're truly on a budget but could force you into needing new parts sooner than you can afford.

i cut a coil off the rear too at the time, it sat fine. rear shocks lasted until i replaced the all shocks and springs.

ok, thanks. i have some brand spanken new KYB's also. this is why i was asking cause i don't want to go too low just enough to fit the strut assembly back in without dropping the control arms again. i am only cutting the fronts.

i am in the middle of buying a house so i am trying to save every penny i can where i can.

[Silver Wagon]

If you haven't ride in a car with cut springs before, I suggest you don't do it.

in an earlier post i stated that i have owned a car with cut springs which was suggested by a H&R rep about their springs. it was a very similar setup to the E30.

why do you suggest to not do it? did you have a bad experience or are you just re-posting what everyone else posts?

[glnr13]

to be honest, although i've given you my paraphrased experience with cutting stock springs, i wouldn't recommend it. especially if you're only going to cut the front. it won't sit right, it won't stay balanced, it will not ride well, it will bounce, it will blow out your front struts.

in an earlier post i stated that i have owned a car with cut springs which was suggested by a H&R rep about their springs. it was a very similar setup to the E30.

why do you suggest to not do it? did you have a bad experience or are you just re-posting what everyone else posts?

cutting stock springs and cutting lowering springs are different beasts. the spring rates are double.

[TheTacoMan]

Spring rates get higher when you cut coils off, not lower. It takes more weight to compress the spring the same distance as it did before. And how is your spring in this diagram the same length if it was supposedly cut?

It does make it stiffer however it can make the spring rates all kind of funky as the usually don't equate to being the same front and rear. I could get nerdy and explain it but overall its a stupid idea that OP and many other should not do.

[Andy.B]

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=241500

I ran those springs for about a year, as a stopgap before I went to coilovers.

[AndrewBird]

Cut springs are not a big deal. Yeah, they aren't ideal, but they do lower the CG of the car and stiffen the ride, both of which increase handling and looks. Be prepared to blow your stock length struts as they will bottom out more often, but if they are also stock, they are likely blown already.

I ran for years on cut stock springs on my MK2 Jetta with no ill side effects. They were 100% better than stock, even with blown struts. When I went to sport springs and struts, those were 100% better even yet.

[mr.vang]

in an earlier post i stated that i have owned a car with cut springs which was suggested by a H&R rep about their springs. it was a very similar setup to the E30.

why do you suggest to not do it? did you have a bad experience or are you just re-posting what everyone else posts?

I was once your age and have done many stupid things, cutting stock spring was one of them. If you feel like you need to look cool then do so, cut your stock spring. Once you aged, you'll look back and laugh about it. Do it right or don't do it at all.

[Silver Wagon]

I was once your age and have done many stupid things, cutting stock spring was one of them. If you feel like you need to look cool then do so, cut your stock spring. Once you aged, you'll look back and laugh about it. Do it right or don't do it at all.

oh no, grandpa just put me in check.....

seriously are you that butt hurt to resort the Kid insult?
its simple, if you don't know what you are talking about then don't post.
how many "kids" do you know that are buying their second house?

this thread wasn't if i should it is how much should i cut. anyway thanks for playing and bumping the thread.

[Silver Wagon]

thanks to all those that contributed. after looking at my situation closer last night and an unforeseen set back, i will be pursuing a different option over the next few days. if that doesn't pan out then the springs go under the knife.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

So what was the other path? Real springs?

[ST1G]

So what was the other path? Real springs?

Toonah Kanz

[Silver Wagon]

So what was the other path? Real springs?

two things now, one is some spacers i made at work to aid me in installing the stock strut assemblies into the car without having to drop the control arms again. just put new ones on. the other is a pair of Eibach front springs just showed up in the classifieds, waiting on a response there. the other factor is getting a replacement strut assembly. depending on the time it takes for that to get here will also determine what route i take.

back story, i brought my strut assemblies to my local BMW shop to have the strut collars removed as i don't have the proper tools to do it. one ended up rusting itself together and needed a replacement housing. went to the junk yard where there is only one E30 and i was able to get it without any issues. it was in such good shape. same thing, brought to the shop to remove collar and while the owner was at lunch my strut Assembly was given to the scrap metal guy. so i am waiting on them to get me a new assembly. thus is my luck.

i love how quick most of you are to judge others. i get a good chuckle from it.

[Andy.B]

I have a set of unmolested strut housings with good wheel bearings I could sell you if you are interested...