Lowering by cutting front strut

[LavaSurfer]

I have H&R springs and Bilstein sport shocks under my car now. I'm happy with the ride quality, but I would love to get her maybe 1 inch lower by cutting an inch out of the strut housing and welding it back so I can keep my springs.

The only thing I'm not sure about is how far the shocks extend into the housing. The rear I can lower pretty easy since the shock housing has multiple height setting on it to move the spring perch down on.

[iamsam]

that won't change your ride height any. You have to cut the spring to change ride height. Or do you mean lowering your front lower spring perch with respect to the hub? Because to do that, you don't need to necessarily cut any length out of the strut housing, although you can, but it will have to be below the perch.

[LavaSurfer]

I was basically thinking that I could cut however much I wanted to lower the car by out of the strut housing under the lower spring perch. This of course depends on how far the strut insert extends into the housing. But I was told elsewhere that the strut insert goes all the way to the bottom so i would need shorter strut inserts, from a 325ix for example, to be able to do this.

I'm thinking i'm gonna try the e90 upper spring perches and see if that makes me happy.

I was thinking of trying this if it were possible since it wouldn't cost me a dime other than a little time in front of welder and grinder

[iamsam]

it would be waaaaaay easier just to cut the spring, if you wanted to do it on the cheap. Just one little cut and re-install. No welding, etc. Cutting the strut is far more complicated, you would have to align the tube back up perfectly AND make sure no weld spatter gets inside the tube, or the shock won't go back in.

Also, E90 hats are a good idea, but only give you about 3/8 - 1/2" of drop.

[Slow4Door]

e90 hats provide an additional 12.5mm of drop, so about a 1/2" total. I am running the same setup on my car and I have 1 1/2 coils cut on the front and I still LOVE how the car drives. It handles very well and is not too stiff for DD duty still.

Chop off one coil in the front, add the e90 hats and enjoy! I got my e90 hats at the dealer for like $15 for the pair...

[kronus]

The strut insert goes all the way to the bottom. You need either Corrado G60 or iX shocks, which have shorter bodies.

There is a point where your spring is too short and your regular strut bottoms out all the time. This is when it is necessary to cut down the strut tubes and use shorter shocks.

[StereoInstaller1]

The strut insert goes all the way to the bottom. You need either Corrado G60 or iX shocks, which have shorter bodies.

There is a point where your spring is too short and your regular strut bottoms out all the time. This is when it is necessary to cut down the strut tubes and use shorter shocks.

Exactly what Kronus said.

The goal of shorter strut tubes is to allow for suspension movement with shorter springs and by itself has nothing to do with ride height.

Ya want low? Get shorter springs. Want better ride quality at that height? Get shorter struts and shorten the housings.

Post your results here!

Luke

[oliver.r]

why not get e90 drop hats and race springs?

[StereoInstaller1]

why not get e90 drop hats and race springs?

Spring hats will not help improve suspension travel, it is the exact same thing as shortening the coil, but less likely to cause coil bind.

E90 drop hats will dump it, but if you care about ride quality, shorter struts makes a lot of sense!

[nando]

ride quality? pfffft! I just cut half the coils out of my stock springs, and put in extra soft bump stops. Since my car is on the bump stops all the time, and they're so soft, the ride is pillowy...

;)

[slammin.e28]

If you have blown out stock shocks on your car, just cut out like 3 coils from your stock springs. That'll firm up the ride right nice, ya hear?