Cutting GLHT front springs

[Keito]

Anyone have a number of coils cut off vs. drop height?
I was going to start by cutting 1 coil off, but after looking at the spring
where the coil ends at the bottom, judging by the rust and marks on the coil above it, looks like it rides hard on the above coil.
I'm thinking 1 complete coil may be too much.
I'm looking at lowering 1 inch max.
Thanks!

[glhturbo1985]

No experience. If you find any info, please post up. I probably wouldn't do it, myself... but it's not bad to know a breakdown of drop per coil.

[86Shelby]

You beat me to it Keito, I was going to make this same thread this afternoon. Looking at my stock front springs there's only about 4 coils plus a little pigtail in the strut mount, so cutting one full coil off would definitely lower it 2+ inches.

Anyone know if I can measure up the spring and take 1" of height off the bottom of the spring to achieve approximately 1" drop? Rather than counting coils since most of us are dealing with 20+ yr old stuff.

[Keito]

I don't think you could cut off 1 inch and expect 1 inch of drop.
Anyone know if they are progressive rate?
That would change alot.
I still think 1/2 coil would be best.
I don't know where I came up with that, but I'm sticking to it.
Whatever I go with I'll measure before and after.
I'll wait till tomorrow, there's got to be someone on here that has done this,
have to give them time to chime in.

[ikknown]

I have cut other coil spring on other cars and 1/2 is a pretty good starting point because you need to also bend the cut coil down to make it sit flush with the strut seating perch.

[Keito]

I have cut other coil spring on other cars and 1/2 is a pretty good starting point because you need to also bend the cut coil down to make it sit flush with the strut seating perch.

I thought that might be an issue.
Thanks!

[ikknown]

oxy acetylene torch makes really quick work of the job.

[TheCanadian007]

But the heat from an acetylene torch can also warp the springs and remove their spring rate and make them brittle.

[Johnny]

What car?

[Keito]

GLH Omni

[Johnny]

Cutting stock coils?
BETTER bet is just buy the autocross springs to lower it on inch.
That said, I bought the original Mopar autocross springs and also cut 1-1/4 coil from them to lower my GLHS Omni to the height I wanted. Worked great, just needed to bolt the spring down to the strut, like this...

[bgbmxer]

Cutting stock coils?
BETTER bet is just buy the autocross springs to lower it on inch.
That said, I bought the original Mopar autocross springs and also cut 1-1/4 coil from them to lower my GLHS Omni to the height I wanted. Worked great, just needed to bolt the spring down to the strut, like this...

did that same thing with mine but they still sit like crap on the top spring perch. it wants to pow out of it. seems like the top coil is wunt to tight

[Keito]

Bought a set of cut MP L body springs.
Looks like 1 coil was removed.
FYI, the diameter of the stock GLH springs is .575"
MP Autocross springs are .625", so the MP springs are .050
larger in diameter.
Hoping to lower 1 inch give or take, I've heard a few people
saying MP springs didn't lower their car a full inch.
I'll still get before and after shots of the stance when these are installed.

[Johnny]

Here is a pdf file link (measuring form) to help keep track of what you did....

http://www.polybushings.com/pages/height.pdf

[Keito]

Here is a pdf file link (measuring form) to help keep track of what you did....

http://www.polybushings.com/pages/height.pdf

Thanks Johnny!
Printed it.

[t3rse]

i tack welded the spring to both perches...1/2 coil on mp spring lowered car 1.5"

[Keito]

Forgot the pic

[cordes]

That looks pretty good.

[Keito]

Just bringing this thread back to life to update information.
The cut MP springs lowered the front a full 2 inches, which was too much for
me. Attached a pic of the installed cut MP springs.
I then took the stock L body springs I cut a coil off and installed those.
They lowered it 1.5 inches from the stock location, a half inch higher than the cut MP springs.
Took another set of Stock L body springs and cut off a 1/4 coil.
Lowered the car .5 inch. I was looking for a little more, but after installing these 3 times I was running out of time, this was 3 days before SDAC.
The reason I didn't like the MP springs, the car was bottomed out.
There was maybe 1/2 inch of travel.
I don't have any pics of of the 1/2 inch drop, there maybe one at the car show in the SDAC pic thread.

[cordes]

Thanks for the update. That is some good info.