Anyone Cut Their Stock Springs?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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.

[mr.vang]

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

[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.

[Silver Wagon]

I was a little more cautious, I cut 1/4 coil at a time to make sure I hit the ride height I was going for, but to each his own.

how much did you end up cutting off total in the end?

[Silver Wagon]

I'm confused. You knew the answer to your own very basic, over asked question. Yet, you felt the need to make a thread anyway.

i didn't ask if i could cut my springs, i asked what the ratio of cut spring to drop is. he didn't answer my question but at least didn't give me his opinion as to what i should do instead. i also stated he "can" answer my question, not that he did answer my question. as of right now the only answer is cut, fit, repeat as necessary.

did that clear it up for you?

[Gesture]

finally someone who can answer my question. thank you.

i guess not many people on here understand that when a spring dead ends like the fronts do, you can cut them with very little ill effects. only springs that flatten out like the rears are no good to cut. its funny that a H&R rep told me i could cut the springs in my old jetta, yet, according to many people on here you can 't do it.

yes i understand lowering springs are the correct way to go, however, in my situation they are not an option anymore.

I was a little more cautious, I cut 1/4 coil at a time to make sure I hit the ride height I was going for, but to each his own.

[ST1G]

finally someone who can answer my question. thank you.

i guess not many people on here understand that when a spring dead ends like the fronts do, you can cut them with very little ill effects. only springs that flatten out like the rears are no good to cut. its funny that a H&R rep told me i could cut the springs in my old jetta, yet, according to many people on here you can 't do it.

yes i understand lowering springs are the correct way to go, however, in my situation they are not an option anymore.

I'm confused. You knew the answer to your own very basic, over asked question. Yet, you felt the need to make a thread anyway.

[Liquidity]

its funny that a H&R rep told me i could cut the springs in my old jetta, yet, according to many people on here you can 't do it.

It's not funny, it's sad that people on here don't understand the concept of any of this and they're always the first ones to take shots at you like you're the one that doesn't know what he's talking about.

[Liquidity]

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?

[Silver Wagon]

Chop a coil off, repeat as necessary.

Don't cut the rears because they absolutely will not sit right if you do.

finally someone who can answer my question. thank you.

i guess not many people on here understand that when a spring dead ends like the fronts do, you can cut them with very little ill effects. only springs that flatten out like the rears are no good to cut. its funny that a H&R rep told me i could cut the springs in my old jetta, yet, according to many people on here you can 't do it.

yes i understand lowering springs are the correct way to go, however, in my situation they are not an option anymore.