I'm thinking about cutting my front side H&R Sport springs. Is there anyone that has done this and can tell me how much cutting of the spring would drop it about half an inch. Im thinking of cutting it maybe half a coil. Help please!

 

Why would you wanna do that? get the H&R Race springs, they are about 1/2 lower then the H&R Sports. I hear really bad things about cutting springs...this is definitely a NO NO. This goes back to the early 90's...when alot of people used to do this and they would be made fun of...b/c it just really messes up the suspension I guess...can someone who knows the techicals explain why cutting springs are no good? thanks..

 

cutting destroys the entire design structure..
and the functionality...

city

 

The springs are designed to have a specific amount of progressive resistance as it is compressed. It is a precisely designed piece of steel. When you cut part of the springs, even if you try your best to cut all the springs uniformly, you will invariably get differences in your resulting springs. Your new spring rates will be downright unpredictable. One side of your car is likely to have a higher spring rate than the other. Resistance may not be linear anymore. You increase the likelihood of losing control of your car and sliding into a ditch. In short, your suspension will be all jacked up.

Still want to cut your springs?

 

in lamens term....you'll bounce like a low rider and you will bend the frame of your car. :p

 

That's what I wanted to say...just couldn't find the words

 

Not entirely true..... the springs you have stock are alot softer than the h&r's here is then equation for springs....W=K * D where W=weight K is spring constant and D is distance travel in feet...(thanks physics 131) basically in a nut shell...the lower you drop...the higher the spring constant will have to be....having h&r (aftermarket) the constant is already respectable compared to stock...but bottem line...it wont be perfect..but you be able to live with it....if your only dropping it by .5....half a coil sounds too much too me...but keep experimenting i guess....hope that helps...

Jon Lerd

 

Yes, an aftermarket lowering spring should have a higher spring constant than the stock spring. However, do understand that when you cut a spring by one coil or half a coil or whatever, you will get different resulting spring constants each time you do it. It's not as if each coil of the spring has a certain amount of linear resistance. The entire springs is machined to work as a whole unit. By the way, I'm not sure if the generic spring equation for a uniform damped spring is applicable to car springs which are progressive springs. There's probably more than just a single variable to model the behavior of the progressive springs. Asiankidd, You went to Troy High right? Did you have Mr. Wahl for Physics? He's a goofy teach.

All theory aside, I know empirical experience, and I know that people who cut their springs often get a harsh ride and poor handling as a result. Most people get aftermarket springs to improve handling, if you cut them, you will be neglecting this purpose. The unpredictable outcome of the cut springs will likely increase your chances of loosing control of your car and getting into an accident. Is this something that a TL owner (or any car owner) would want?

Still want to cut your springs?

 

d*mn you two!! hahah!!! I dont' understand crap! :p


Man, just don't cut your springs, you'll regret, i rather get new springs.

I saw this brand new Subaru WRX, all fixed up, at my friends shop, and they raise the car to install the Injen intake, and I looked at the springs... CUT!!!!!!! Man...that sh#t only have 1 1/2-2 coils left on that crap. He has money for rims, kit, paint this, paint that, and can't afford a decent set of performance springs for this supercar? IMO..ghetto way..and trying to cut corners...hehe.....

but your reason is different. but I still sell it and get new springs.

 

totally correct...my point basically is to rebuttle the comment about his ride bouncing like a low rider.....because of the given spring constant.....it still would be stiff unlike cutting stock springs...also....i believe your correct about linear progression of spring constant but i dont think its pertains to each coil....its rather the derivative of the given thickness of the coil...just cus you have a longer one dont mean you have a stiffer spring...it just mean you have less area of play but either way your right....ride quality will go to hell and you will simply have cut springs....no matter what....and yeah i had mr. wahl...he was a ****...the hardest ****ing teacher at troy.....that guy will rape you inside out....but you actually learn stuff from him...i fell sorry for his son....have you seen his son?....its like a mini him.....same hair same damn glasses...hahahah ok peace guys....

Jon Lerd

 

DONT DO IT!!!!!!!!
just get some coils

dan

 

Yeah, I had Mr. Wahl too. That guy is scary. I am like majorly traumatized by him. I was hoping that he would have mercy on the human race and choose not to reproduce, but alas he has.

As for the springs. You mention taking the derivative of the coil thickness, but you didn't specify with respect to what variable. You always take derivatives, with respect to another value. A derivative is after all the instantaneous rate of change in one variable with respect to another variable. Certainly, spring length is not the only factor that determines the spring constant. In any spring though, it's an approximation to say that each coil contributes an identical amount of force as any other coil. In reality, some coils are "softer" and some are "harder" than the other coils within the same spring. This doesn't really matter about the individual coils for normal usage, because the spring rate of the entire spring is what counts. That's why everyone is saying that cutting the spring will yield an unpredictable resultant spring rate.

 

well think about it you just said the spring in a whole has a set constant......by making it shorter only lowers the car...but the problem with cutting stock springs with aftermarket springs is that with stock you will bounce as usual....but the only reason you tend to bounce more is cus you took away from the shocks play area...there for the shocks cant really do its job...but with after market springs...you have a stiffer setup...that 1 gets rid of the reason why the car would bounce so much...there for its less strain on your shocks......(i dunno what i just said but...i cant think right now....and i seems to have typed alot so i dont wanna erase it...) but yeah....basically....you need new springs....just the fact that cutting aftermarket springs wont yield the same symptoms as cutting stock springs ( in same degree atleast...) but either way...it would create problems as to the lower your car the more stiffer the springs have to be....by loweing it with out changing the constant would yield trouble......and when i said the derivative..i mean in respect to the variable of thickness of the spring coils...(spring weight)....oh well its x-mas break....im enjoying life not living Mr. Walhs class again.....heheh enjoy guys...peace...

Jon Lerd

 

Cutting your springs is stupid and you will be laughed at. Want to be able to adjust your ride height? Get coilovers.

 

Okay, I know this really doesn't matter all that much, but I wanted to clear up that cutting a spring does without a doubt modify the spring constant.

 

bottom line take the 50 bucks you were gonna pay for someone to cut it and get lower springs. our cars deserve BETTER

 

why waste time and money to cut springs? you just spent 30k on a nice car. If you are going to lower it more and stuff do it right. Don't cheapen your car by cutting the springs. just my thought though.

 

Buy A'pexi coilovers...and you can lower it to the exact height that suits your tastes....simple. Eat the cost of the H&R and sell it to some deserving board member...and buy the A'pexi....I have them..and I can lower and raise as I please....

 

Hey Moomaster..how's the ride on the APEXi coilovers??? want to get a nice set of coilovers...but I don't know which one...because I dont' want to lose all the luxuries of a comfy ride. Did you get the World Sport? or N1?