Cutting Coils

[Codez67Chevy]

So I'm sure there is a bunch of you guys out there that have cut your coils to drop your trucks.
My questions are will my ride still be the same?

Will my rear coils be too soft to haul anything?

So I'm planning on a 3/4 drop, I know I'll need shock relocator brackets and drop shocks. So how is it I go through this?
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[sir_talk_alot]

You cant cut the rears. And the fronts will stiffen alot. I did it to the front and its definately alot stiff up front.
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[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by sir_talk_alot

You cant cut the rears. And the fronts will stiffen alot. I did it to the front and its definately alot stiff up front.

I'm surprised to hear this. I wouldn't think that cutting a coil would affect the spring rate at all. Do you have any idea why it made it stiffer? Are the "A" arms hitting the bump stops?

Thanks for any info you can provide on this.

LockDoc

[CC69Rat]

I have never understood why it would make the spring stiffer either. Not saying it wouldn't.. just saying I dont get how cutting say half a coil with a cutoff wheel makes the spring rate stiffer. Can someone explain the scientific reason why?

Subscribed..
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[sir_talk_alot]

I cut 1 and a quarter coil for a 2.5 in drop. a coil spring is a torsion bar wound in a circle. a 300 PPI spring with 10 turns should gain 30# if you cut off 1 full turn. this is not true with progressive wound springs
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[sir_talk_alot]

Look at it like a diving board. Got a 6foot board and 200lbs bouncing at the end there is plenty of spring in the board. Cut off 3ft and then Go bounce on it and see how much springiness you get. Thats the easiest way for me to explain
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[Justin36]

Originally Posted by sir_talk_alot

Look at it like a diving board. Got a 6foot board and 200lbs bouncing at the end there is plenty of spring in the board. Cut off 3ft and then Go bounce on it and see how much springiness you get. Thats the easiest way for me to explain
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Lol that was a great reference!
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[Codez67Chevy]

So why can't you cut the rears?
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[Codez67Chevy]

So why can't you cut the rears? And would I just be better off buying a drop kit?
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[Custom 68]

because the rears bolt in place. They have a pig tail if you will call it that on the top and bottom. Yes you will need new springs for those.

[sir_talk_alot]

Easiest thing is do the research on here about cutting coils and buy drop coils for the rear
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[CC69Rat]

Ok, makes sense.. . Thanks
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[Square_78]

A coil spring is a lever. Shorten the lever and it makes the work harder to do. Shorten a coil and it feels stiffer. It won't be that bad though. You won't need drop shocks or relocators for 4" drop. You will bottom out on your bump stops long before your shocks bottom out. My 78 is lowered 5" up front with cut coils and it rides fine. I almost want to switch to some 3/4 ton coils to stiffen it up more. I wouldn't recommend cutting them that much tho. You can get a 3" drop by cutting 1.5 coils and you will be fine. Just get an alignment afterwards.
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[JOJABOY]

Originally Posted by sir_talk_alot

Look at it like a diving board. Got a 6foot board and 200lbs bouncing at the end there is plenty of spring in the board. Cut off 3ft and then Go bounce on it and see how much springiness you get. Thats the easiest way for me to explain
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Now your sounding like a Theoretical Physicist. (BAZINGA!)

[ecgate]

You can heat your rear coils up and the rear will drop. I used to have a truck with cut coils in front and the guy heated up the coils in back for a drop and I've never had a rougher riding vehicle. If you want good ride quality I would buy a drop kit. If your on a budget you can lower your truck at minimal cost but your ride quality wont be near as good. lolife would be able to point you in the right direction.

[sir_talk_alot]

If your budget go to a local 4x4 shop amd ask for some old jeep tj rear springs. They gave me a pair. They will give you a 4-5 in drop. They are soft so cant haul much unless you get monroe adjustable airshocks for $80.
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[68corvair]

Just finished up cutting one round off my front coils. Also added a frt sway bar from a c20 camper special. Put 4inch drop springs in the rear. I had previously put gas shocks on the front, air shocks on the rear.
Man,what a huge difference in ride and handling !! Drives great ! Tightened up the ride,got rid of that floating feeling, best 125 bucks I have spent on this truck.
Ended up with a nice 2/4 drop too !

Cutting springs ,when done in moderation,works great!

Ed in S.C.
71 cheyenne

[JOJABOY]

Originally Posted by 68corvair

Just finished up cutting one round off my front coils. Also added a frt sway bar from a c20 camper special. Put 4inch drop springs in the rear. I had previously put gas shocks on the front, air shocks on the rear.
Man,what a huge difference in ride and handling !! Drives great ! Tightened up the ride,got rid of that floating feeling, best 125 bucks I have spent on this truck.
Ended up with a nice 2/4 drop too !

Cutting springs ,when done in moderation,works great!

Ed in S.C.
71 cheyenne

$125 for all that? Or just for rear coils?
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[oldblue1968chevy]

Hubscrubs wifes truck has/had rear cut coils you CAN cut the rears..

[68corvair]

100.00 for the springs,25 for sway bar w/bushings/brackets.

( shocks have been on it for a year already )

Ed

[JOJABOY]

I have leafs in back of mine so haven't done much yet. I did put a 1 1/4" swaybar in front. Was thininking of a 1 coil cut in front and 2" shackles in rear and remove bottom (short) leaf for a 2 1/2" drop.
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[sir_talk_alot]

Technically you could do anythng. Yea you could cut your rear coils and only bolt it on ine side but thats about as smart and safe as duct taping basketballs instead if coils from your frame to trailing arms. It would be wise to shop around for rear drop coils. You can find them for 80-90. Summitracing,cpp, ebay. Or if you dont want to haul stuff jeep springs.
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[rattle69]

Originally Posted by sir_talk_alot

If your budget go to a local 4x4 shop amd ask for some old jeep tj rear springs. They gave me a pair. They will give you a 4-5 in drop. They are soft so cant haul much unless you get monroe adjustable airshocks for $80.
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I work at a shop that lifts newer jeeps everyday and we just toss the springs. It's funny reading this because I was looking at a pair in the scrap bin thinking that they might fit on a c10. Any idea what kind of drop if any the 07 up rear jeep springs would give? How about other vehicles stock springs? Maby an 80's regal or cutlass, el camino?

[sir_talk_alot]

Originally Posted by rattle69

I work at a shop that lifts newer jeeps everyday and we just toss the springs. It's funny reading this because I was looking at a pair in the scrap bin thinking that they might fit on a c10. Any idea what kind of drop if any the 07 up rear jeep springs would give? How about other vehicles stock springs? Maby an 80's regal or cutlass, el camino?

Search the forum there are lots of jeep springs threads. I believe there is a guy who used chevelle springs. Im fixing to try out a set of jk springs which i think are a bit stiffer.
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[67chevemall]

I would put bags in the rear and cut the fronts until you can afford to bag the front then finish the job.