Cutting front Springs.....
09-17-2006, 02:18 AM
#1
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Cutting front Springs.....
Buddy of mine who works on Corvettes told me that we don't have to remove the front springs to cut them (to lower the car). Has anyone else done this?
09-17-2006, 03:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
this I gotta see 
He says that you jack the front end up, remove the tires. Have two metal plates. One plate is placed near the top of the spring with bolts through it. The next one is placed mid-way. You place the bolts through the holes and put the nuts on. You tighten the nuts which will compress the spring upwards. Using a recipricating (sp) saw you cut one coil out. Loosen the bolts, the spring lowers into place. Remove the plates and voila, it's done. Other's have challenged this and he said that he has done it before, many times. He also said if it doesn't work "Ill give you my vette". But if he's right and it works, the fellow disputing it gives up his vette. No one has taken the challenge. He told me that he'll do it for me over the winter.
Last edited by vttedrm; 09-17-2006 at 03:07 AM.
09-17-2006, 06:47 AM
#5
Burning Brakes
Surely you could do the same with a spring compressor once you've taken the shock out? Doesn't sound unreasonable to me, but I'd worry about getting swarf all over the lower arm, or damaging components' paint with all these tools.
It's not that hard to remove the spring from the car - I did mine a couple of months ago. That's the route I'd take.
It's not that hard to remove the spring from the car - I did mine a couple of months ago. That's the route I'd take.
09-17-2006, 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by I'm Batman
This sounds like a train wreck just waiting to happen. Take pictures... 
09-17-2006, 05:10 PM
#10
Safety Car
It's not a big deal to drop the lower control arm (3 bolts) remove the shock and disconnect sway bar. Spring will fall out. I cut 1-1/2 coils off my 70's new springs to drop 2".
Fred
Fred
09-17-2006, 05:59 PM
#11
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I've never done this. He is more experienced than me with this. I'm not even sure that I have the right tools for this. Anyway, he is very sure of himself and has done a few tims before. I'll have a camera with me when it happens. 
09-17-2006, 06:03 PM
#12
the way he does it he leaves the cut end active. Also, the end will be sharp and dig into the steel of the pocket. The right way to do it is to remove the spring, cut what needs cutting, heat the remainder of the coil red hot, turn the spring upside down and sit on it (don't grab the hot part obviously) this will collapse the remaining coil, rendering it inactive..not a part of the active spring so changes in spring characteristics have no influece..it's just a dead coil..and it's a nice flat surface that won't dig into the pocket w/ a sharp cut edge.
09-17-2006, 07:38 PM
#13
Team Owner
Originally Posted by vttedrm
Buddy of mine who works on Corvettes told me that we don't have to remove the front springs to cut them (to lower the car). Has anyone else done this?
09-17-2006, 10:12 PM
#15
Drifting
Use a torch instead of a saws all!! It will be more exciting that way...
I agree with TT you need to take a torch and flatten the last coil so plan accordingly.
I agree with TT you need to take a torch and flatten the last coil so plan accordingly.
