Cut springs

[SMEGMA STENCH]

I've been reading up on cutting the springs on my 94 GT. I would really really like to lower the car, but right now I just can't afford everything it takes to lower the car 100% properly. I'm a full time student with a mere part time job. And much of that money has to go to bills. So there is no way I could afford to buy a decent kit from somewhere like Maximum Motorsports. But from what I have learned, cutting the springs, if done properly, isn't really bad for the car.

But you can't over do it, and I think all you can only go up to 1" lower. You only cut one coil off. That way, the spring rate doesn't change enough to actually matter. But you still get that nice 1" drop. Its like lowering on a budget. As I'm sure you probably all already know. But I'm a little new to this, so I didn't. Anyway, I'll get to the point. Who can I take my springs to, to have them cut the right way? Who can be trusted to do a good job? There must be someone here who is good at that by now. I'd be willing to pay you something of course. Has to be someone that knows exactly what they're doing though and can get the springs really damn close to the exact same amount cut off. That is the key to doing this successfully, so I've been told. I already have that spring compression tool so I can take them off and just bring them to someone.

[Damnittsteve]

sounds like you have already made up your mind.

[SMEGMA STENCH]

Well I was hoping to get an opinion or two. But mostly I was hoping someone here would be willing to maybe make a little money by doing it for me. Someone who has already gotten good at it. I can't risk doing it myself, I wouldn't know where to begin.

[ELVIS]

i ahve cut coils before. it was on a belltech 5-7 drop kit i had on my old 85 silverado. thing handled great and rode great for that much of a drop. i cut approx. one coil off because i wasnt satisfied with the front ride height.

god bless.

[aggie97]

why don't you go to lowes and buy a $50 angle grinder with a 1/8" thick cut off wheel and do it yourself? Then you have a tool to save you money on later projects...

Start with a 1/2 coil. If you don't like it, cut another 1/2...keep going till you like it.

[kingjason]

why don't you go to lowes and buy a $50 angle grinder with a 1/8" thick cut off wheel and do it yourself? Then you have a tool to save you money on later projects...

Start with a 1/2 coil. If you don't like it, cut another 1/2...keep going till you like it.

Or Harbor freight for like 10-14 bucks. LOL Mine has worked great for the last three years.

[Grape]

if it's your only car and a dd, don't fuck with it

[80coupe]

dont do it rides like shit been there done that! ride like boat or a Buick!

[mystic96]

What part of the process are you worried about? Removing and installing the springs? Or cutting the springs?

Taking the springs out and putting them back in is the hardest part. Just ask around. I'm sure someone here has a cutoff wheel and a grinder they'll loan you. Or just buy a cheap one at Harbor Freight.

I haven't done springs on a Mustang in a long time, but do you really need the spring compressor? I don't remember ever using one. Just a jack under the control arm.

[TENGRAM]

For about $120 you can get a set of FRPP springs and save yourself a huge headache.

I never could find an autoparts store spring compressor that worked with my foxbody springs.. instead I used the potentially lethal method of using a jack under the control arm. I would not use that method to install stock springs.. only to remove stock springs and install shorter aftermarket springs.

If you decide to cut your stock springs, be sure not to introduce a lot of heat into the spring when grinding/cutting.

[Steve]

Do it right the first time or don't do it.

[carbd89sleeper]

Save the money up for a kit and do it right. You will regret it if you dont.

[46Tbird]

I think it's funny when people start telling you to buy new springs for a few hundred bucks. What's it matter? The geometry still sucks balls.

Cutting stock springs actually increases the spring rate slightly, but not enough to notice, or matter. What it does do is cause the springs to fatigue a little faster. Big deal. They're already old and worn out anyway.

"Doing it right" would be to stop acting like a Fox body will ever handle worth a shit and replace it with a C5.

If you're a brokeass and just want the car to look better, then get out there and do it.

I've never used a spring compressor on a Fox before. If you're a real wuss, tie the spring to the control arm with chain before lowering the control arm. Real men heave on that control arm until the spring pops out. lol

Cut off as much of the spring as you want using a cut-off wheel. Don't use a torch, it's important that you don't get the spring hot. I'd tell you to start with one coil, but I'm never satisfied until 1.5 or 2 comes off.

[Beaterjuiced]

This reminds me of the time when I was in high school and heated the rear coils on my '68 Chevy truck to drop it a little. lol That was around '88 btw.
Just make sure you have the money for a front alignment whatever you do.

[Josh.0]

I cut 2 coils off the back of my 85 and it rides great. Just cut them yourself it's super easy