Thread: Chopping coils on 2000 S-10

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I have a 2000 Chevy s-10 and i want to drop it around 2 inches in the front and mabey 1 to 1 and a half in rear but one problem i dont have any money. so i want to chop the springs but i dont know how or the risk im taking when i do? can anyone tell me how and if it will hurt the vehicle in any way? i have no idea what im doing so can some one help? thanks...

Cutting the springs is not the white way to do,it but it works, people have been doing it for years, you can also heat the springs with a torch under load and it will work too, if you cut them make sure you cut them at the same spot that the spring ends so it will fit in the same way

Be aware that when you cut the springs to make them shorter they also become stiffer. My advise would be too only cut 1/2 of a coil winding off at a time...

Dave correct me if im wrong ,but if you only cut half a winding will it still line up with the factory indentations in the upper and lower a arms?

Originally Posted by hotroddaddy

Dave correct me if im wrong ,but if you only cut half a winding will it still line up with the factory indentations in the upper and lower a arms?

Might have to take a grinder to the end and make it flat to conform to the indentaions in the control arm or upper spring pocket.... As long as you get the cut end somewhere close to looking the same as the original end it should work fine.

I'm like the guys, I don't like cutting coils, it really screws up the ride and handling. I know you are on a budget, but there are tons of dropped spindles out there on the used market that can be picked up cheap.

Don't hold me to this, but I think I saw a set at the shop that my one Son used on his S10 before he bagged it. I'll probably see him tomorrow and ask. Not trying to drum up a sale, just would rather have you do it the right way and be safe.

Like I said, can't promise if he even has them yet, but I'll let you know as soon as I see him.

Don

Do the job right. www.jagsthatrun.com has lowered coils at a reasonable price. I never did like cutting coils, and heating coils is a time consuming process where you have to remove the fenders and grille and pull everything away just to get at the springs. Heat or cool them wrong and one side is lower than the other. Save yourself a lot of grief, save your money and be patient. Buy the springs from a reputable dealer.

thanks..i really dont want to cut the springs but ill see what i can do..id like to have it done by this month but i dont want to rush it and mess it up..thanks guys....

my friend did it on his 2001 s-10. he only took about 1" of height out, but it messed his camber and steering up pretty bad. he ended up buying new stock springs and a lowering spindle kit. looks better now, and he doesn't have nasty understeer anymore. but he wasted a ton of money because he didn't just do it right from the beginning.

i try to save money when upgrading or fixing my trucks, but i don't save a penny to end up spending a dollar repairing the mess a cheap mod caused.

No matter if you cut the coils, heat the coils or buy shorter coils, you still end up screwing up the front end geometry. Use dropped spindles.