cutting front coils??? alignment?

[knightowl73]

i know most would take them out. but a friend that i know used to put in alot of hydraulic systems and he said he just jacks up the cars and cuts them with a torch up front while standing back. anyone done this on a squarebody? i just want to cut 1 coil off, i still have the 275-60-15s all around and need to replace a tierod end, so was gonna get a alignment after and might as well drop it too up front.
shouldnt be too bad if it takes me another month (at the most) to drop the rear? i plan to do shackles first in the rear, and later take out a few leafs, but i need to find a better rear before i do the leafs, i cant stand the 4.11s. but the alignment should be ok after i get the back done or will i need to get another after i finally settle the rear low as i like?

[spinem]

the stock springs being cut will be too stiff (cut from top) or too soft (cut from bottom) my buddy cut his from bottom and he basically rode on the bumpers (bump stops) it was crappy. I suggest you save your money, do it right, do it once. If u wanna go hackn **** up, be my guest.

just my 2 cents.

[N2TRUX]

You can cut a coil off, but DO NOT use a torch. There are several methods of cutting the coil that will not soften the tempering in the spring. Cutting them with a torch is not one of them.

[ont_guy_38]

I,m surprised your friend is still alive if he is cutting the spring while still in the vehicle.He must be a fast runner!!!!!!!!

[flamingbig10]

to cut coils proper, you'll need to remove the coils and cut with a tool that doesn't use heat to cut like a grinder, cut off wheel, saw saw

[camshaftgsxr]

don't be lazy and take them off one of those springs can kill you if it comes flying out and i do mean KILL you or mame either way its an extra 30 min so why risk it, i've seen springs come out of strut tamers and go THROUGH doors of vehicles and bust concrete block, not something you wanna mess with.

[knightowl73]

im not spending much money on this thing at the moment, and my job is less than 2 miles from my house so im not really worried about ride too much.

my last squarebody blazer i cut 1-ton coils, but it was way way lower than what im wanting on this one. the blazer had no drop spindles, and i completely cut off the bump stop stands and used some aftermarket traction bar bump stops and long bolts in the upper a-arms and spacers, and dual gabriel shocks. rode very nice for me, but i just want to cut one coil and get a smaller bump stop hopefully. just to close the gap up, since im going to get a alignment monday regardless after changing the tie-rod.

[flamingbig10]

1 coil cut, beltec drop shackles, and a couple leafs removed

[N2TRUX]

Do what you want since it's your truck. However, don't expect us to suggest or condone doing something that is not safe or the better way to do it.

Overheating springs is just not a good way to go.

[knightowl73]

ok ill definately take them out then. shouldnt take the whole day to change a tie rod and cut some springs, and bolt on small bump stops?

[knightowl73]

ill use a cut-off wheel, that should be fine huh?


and flamnbig10 are you riding on your factory bumpstops or what?and what tire size up front?

[flamingbig10]

the rubber bump stops are gone but the one welded to control arms are still there, and they were 275/60s all around

[camshaftgsxr]

Knightowl73, don't worry too much check the post above about which end to cut, cut it for stiffness, and go for it, mine was done that way and it handles better than stock ones i've driven, i have monroe heavy duty shocks up front as well. that may matter..

[knightowl73]

so cut from the top to get me some stiffness, wouldnt hurt. is the cut-off wheel good enough though without heating it up too much?

camshaftgsxr are those shocks you using the factory replacements or did you go something smaller? should do shocks next and hd shocks would def be best.

[63chevyll]

i cut the bump stops out,

and nothing wrong with cutting one coil,

but it will settle a bit lower after time(the spring will colapse)

[3r!c84]

Originally Posted by knightowl73

ok ill definately take them out then. shouldnt take the whole day to change a tie rod and cut some springs, and bolt on small bump stops?

i have 3in drop spindles and 3/4s of a coil cut and i have never hit the stock bumpstops,,,it its the inner fender befor it would ever hit the stops

[knightowl73]

Originally Posted by 63chevyll

i cut the bump stops out,

and nothing wrong with cutting one coil,

but it will settle a bit lower after time(the spring will colapse)

i didnt want to cut them off. im a bit more concernerd with them hitting my inner fenders if i do that. streets not that nice to ride on

[knightowl73]

if i count how many turns on the tie-rod and put the old one in with same amount of turns, and lower it, is this enough to need re-alignment? i mean did you guys need to get realigned after just cutting a coil?

[3r!c84]

yes you do. even after i put drop spindles on i had to aline it.and when i cut the coils i had to do it again...but i get it for free so i dont mind (:

[knightowl73]

ok thanks guys

[camshaftgsxr]

Originally Posted by knightowl73

so cut from the top to get me some stiffness, wouldnt hurt. is the cut-off wheel good enough though without heating it up too much?

camshaftgsxr are those shocks you using the factory replacements or did you go something smaller? should do shocks next and hd shocks would def be best.

got 'em for christmas sorry i don't know what they are just that they're monroe heavy duty. side note mine still bottoms out just not bad and only when i back of my driveway fast (4inch drop)

[87 chevy silverado]

good info here

[bigblock73]

I wouldn't cut more than 1 coil (worth 2" of drop), and you MUST cut from the bottom, the top is tapered and needs to be to seat correctly in the upper frame mount. ALWAYS remove them to cut, and use a cut off wheel...no heat and no torch. ANY time you modify front suspension geopetry, get an alignment...it is cheaper than buying tires prematurely.

[bharrison1]

be careful when cutting i was cuttin mine with a cutting wheel in my grinder with the spring on the floor in my garage holdin it with my feet and i wasnt payin attention to the sparks flyin and i caught my pants on fire it was actually pretty hilarious my neighbors across the street were outisde and i was screamin runnin around tryin to put em out