Trimming Coil Springs for Ride Height, GM only

Used this formula for a 1997 v6 silverado single cab. I ls swapped it and wanted it lower 15 .25 tall spring trimmed it to 14.25 and it gave me a 2 in lower. Compensate for the chevy lean the driver side is just a bit taller

Should one cut the top or bottom of the spring?

My S10 springs are the same on top and bottom, but the lower control arm has a step for the end of the coil.

How much to lower 1 3/4

I’m about to do this on my 71 chevelle need to lower the front 2” to match the rear, so I need to cut 1” out of each coil.

This almost seems too simple. Doesn't wire diameter also come into play here? Does this formula also work on springs when both ends are open?

Master of none jack of all or most stay 🙏🏼🇵🇷🇺🇲💪🏼

It's cool how many things I've learned to do when information went digital the 1st thing I taught myself was electrical and it was very simple yet I still got shocked 😳 few times no more I'm shock free also maintenance workers play games they pretend to come and do some repairs and actually don't they do this so they have something to do in the meantime your house is falling apart not cool🤬🤬🤬

Does this same method work on rear also??

Would be nice if there was springs to drop a 94 vandura 2 or 3 inches. Or maybe some dropped spindles that werent made for something else.

Bro is Absolutely disgusted to make this video lmao

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Very informative video, to the point.
My old Crown Vic isn’t a muscle car but being body on frame, the front suspension really ressembles to the old Chevelle’s and likes from that era.
Would this 2:1 ratio formula work?
Also would this procedure make the suspension stiffer or softer, thanks for your input ;)

Will be doing this on the front of a 64 Corvair van in the near future. Rear springs are sold for this purpose and drops rear almost 3 inches, which also changes the rear camber. (the whole idea) Those are a smaller wire diameter, which softens the ride a bit. (better because the back is now empty) The question is about issues with suspension travel. Obviously there is less room downward, but this will increase the upward travel and using stock shocks won't limit that. Do I need to change anything else?

This is a very old school way to lower your car. The best method to not compromise the loads and rate of the spring is to heat it at a certain temperature 5-600 degrees for five minutes let it cool as long as they have been shotpeened this is fine as the material has already been processed for longevity (microscopic cracks) after you can dip them in coolant solution to prevent rusting if you want to cool them quick and compensate your current ride height by the raw height of the spring. By doing that you can just have the spring pressed to height say that spring is around 15 inches the wire size is probably .6-.64 you could probably press that spring to about 4.5 inches to 5 inches 2 times and it would (experience 5 years to be exact) set from a Length over all of 15 to a free length of 13.5 -14.2 it really depends on the rate and load(s) (yes there are probably three different loads on that spring) of the spring, press all the springs down to the same height they will be within the tolerance you want for height or similar in free length. the top of the spring with a single end grind is actually the profile, the body or outer diameter where the wire loops is the pitch and the open end where the diameter starts to close is the transition. The transition is going to support only a small amount of weight just an (estimate) for that kind of spring 3-500 lbs cutting the spring you would not only buckle or destroy the spring because you offset the tolerances of it you would probably end up destroying your car or truck. Sorry for the two pennies just thought I would warn you all. Just get them pressed its way easier than cutting the spring and alot safer. I also warn similar to cutting if they are pressed you will lose load but not alot.

great video. I always thought you had to cut a whole coil off so the end still finishes in the same place , is that not true then?

Great information right here👍🏽👍🏽

Wish i would watch this sooner I would have save about 300 bucks

This is a good quick explanation of how ride height is affected but doesn't address how this will increase spring stiffness. If your suspension is already uncomfortably stiff then cutting your springs will only make that ride quality worse. The major manufacturers have many engineers to figure out a good compromise, it's when you go for a custom build that this can get tricky.

good add vice but when i cut my springs on my 77 c10 the top is located and the bottom does not fall in the grove at the bottom like it did before will this be dangerous are is that ok

Gr888

So if I wanna cut it 3 inches it would a coil and a half ??

Quick, to the point and no bs. Great video.

Thanks Ima do that to my Silverado 😊

Great Video! I had a question, My 2010 Mercedes CLS 219 had both its rear coil springs replaced recently as they were fractured. Following replacement, the rear ride height seems to be a few centimetres more than it was previously. Is this normal? In time, will the rear ride height go back to how it was on the old springs that were replaced? Many thanks in advance.

Is the also truck for drop springs?

Thank you for this!!

How much i have to cut the springs

Well if i have to lower the car for 3 and 4 inches

Like the technique or no i just completed it on a 65 impala dropping my front end 3 inches side to side measurements came out exactly the same thank you for the video.

Do i need to grind the cut flat ?

Just used this method to cut the springs on my Dodge Dakota. Got a perfect 1" drop, one and done, no repeat cuts to get it where I wanted or worrying about cutting too much. They don't make 1" lowering springs for this application so this worked perfectly for me. Thank you!!

Very informative.

Doug, thank you for all of your videos they are so incredibly helpful. I just replaced a really poor version of tubular lower control arms in my 64 Malibu SS. Unfortunately after I was done the car is now sitting 1-1/2” higher and this video of cutting coil springs was invaluable for me. A question on my stock sway bar, after reinstalling this I noticed the mounting stud for this at the control arm is leaning towards the rear on both sides at least 45deg. Is this okay or are they supposed to be perfectly vertical ?

Awesome video love it

Well ima bout to put this theory to the test on a 98 5.9 grand Cherokee. MOPAR2YA

Don't forget to consider locater groove in the cups.

is this safe for a 2014 camaro?

How will it ride after?? Will be saFe still if i hit 65 MPH in my SUV and how will it respond if i hit a pot hole??

Should you got the top or the bottom

Thanks for your informative video. I have a 1953 Chevy pickup with Ford Mustang II suspension. So my truck is a GM/Ford application. Does the formula, 1 at the spring 2 at the body, work for this application? Thanks for your reply!

awesome! Thanks for that. I have been considering dropping my Camaro and wasn't sure what to cut. Thanks again!

Do you have to heat the end and make it seat a little flatter? If so wont you lose another quarter to half in height?

Does this formula work for all spring rates?

As another commenter pointed out, the 1:2 ratio depends on the length of the control arms. The springs sit further in than the tire, so dropping the spring height by 1" means that the tip of the control arm is moved by 2" because of its length. I just cut my springs and it was pretty close to 1:2. Thanks for the vid.

Does this work on a 2002 grand prix?

Will this method work on the rear of a 1985 Fiero GT 2.8L car? I need to ower it 3" And what about the stock struts?

Anything for Ford mustang's?

Can we cut on dot bike also for 1inch

Great video. Question for you. I have a 72 Nova I need to drop in the front after installing Moog springs. I believe there is a "notch" or "pocket" on both the upper and lower control arm. After the cut, which notch or pocket do I use when reinstalling the spring (top or bottom arm)? Thanks for the help.