cutting springs

[Simaroon]

before this turns into a massive, it will kill you if you cut them and a million nuns could die debate, im not really bothered about that. i have searched lots about cutting the springs but not found a single guide on doing so. is there one on the forum which i seem to not be able to find, or any links to one on the net anyone?

ive read that they can be cut whilst still on the car, how true is this??
are the springs a coned shape?
do you cut the top coils or bottom coils?
ive been told 1 coil equals about 3mm, what about 2,3 coils?? i dont really want to be taking more than 2 coils off.


any help greatly appreciated (Y)

 

[frank]

there are some recent threads on cisco,s au simaroon

 

[Simaroon]

thanks for pointer frank, dont quite understand what you mean tho, what is cisco's au?

 

[K11SS]

www.micra.com.au

Pepper

 

[Robb]

Cutting the springs while on the car is like trying to eat a banana without peeling it, whoever does that must be a nutcase :glare:

 

[Simaroon]

haha, thanks for the tip/advice rob (Y)

 

[Simaroon]

just looked on the csco site, thanks for the heads up about tha site (Y)

lots of talk about using matiz suspension setup on there.

out of interest, frank, are you frank2 on cisco site?

 

[Robb]

I have matiz rears on the front of my k11 and chopped rears and its all mot legal.

 

[NeX]

cut the springs with a hacksaw, don't use an angle grinder or it will head up and might cause problems. you have to take the springs off the car, cutting the top or the bottom doesn't matter. the amount of drop per coil you cut off varies depending on the stiffness of the spring and the number of coils etc, the springs are cylinder shaped, and you will just have to cut a bit and see how much drop you get.

but i still think its a bad idea Matt Humphris does some very nice 50mm drop springs for not too much money, it is worth just paying the money and having it done properly and safely rather than trying something that you are not sure about...

for example you wouldn't just grind a huge bit off your drum brakes would you?!!

 

[frank]

for example you wouldn't just grind a huge bit off your drum brakes would you?!!

you would have to be crazy to do that !

 

[NeX]

you would have to be crazy to do that !

yea totally! or a genius?? fine line there

 

[micramike]

haha, cut springs FTW. i did it on one of my old micras, cut 3 coils off which equalled about a 50-60mm drop:grinning:

 

[r-reg-sr]

I have matiz rears on the front of my k11 and chopped rears and its all mot legal.

sounds like the best bet,or the corsa coilie set up

 

[Simaroon]

thanks for all the replies and helpful info fellas

robb, have you got a pic of how low yours sits, ive just got a set of 14" wheels, dont want it looking like a 4x4

 

[legendryan]

Is cutting a coil or two off FK 35/40mm springs a good idea? I know a few people on here have done it..

 

[NeX]

Is cutting a coil or two off FK 35/40mm springs a good idea? I know a few people on here have done it..

no you ruin a perfectly good drop spring cut the stock springs

 

[frank]

ive been told 1 coil equals about 3mm, what about 2,3 coils?? i dont really want to be taking more than 2 coils off.
any help greatly appreciated (Y)

my rears had 3.5 coils cut off then the tail reworked to make the end flat again simaroon (DC arc welders are indispensable eh :grinning, and the matiz fronts have been shortened by a similar amount
and i dont buy "hacksaw only" tip nex :grinning: how can a spring break on the very end ? (the 1st half a coil sits in the perch and does,nt even move fwn)

 

[Daniel]

I had 60mm lowering springs, with 1 coil cut off on each corner. Would have past MOT all fine, had it not been for the rest of the car being an absolute dire state. I don't see a problem with chopping springs, loads of people do - but that's not me saying "It's ok to do it because everyone else is doing it too." It's just that I've never seen a problem with having chopped springs