Thread: Any tips on cutting coil springs?

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Thanks for all the feedback! This is a relatively unknown science for sure. I'm cutting them today and taking less than half what I think I need and see what happens. I'll post the results.

Have a great weekend fellow motorheads!

If you really must cut your springs, use a plasma cutter. Quick, and you can put your hand on it after its cut, no loss of temper.

I used an air cutoff tool and it went through them like butter. I cut 1 1/2 coils off and it dropped the front end 2". I would like to have it another 1-2" lower. I plan to wait and see if it settles before I cut anymore.

Originally posted by timothale
WE used to always cut them with a torch, I have even cut and rewelded them back together, the 49 olds rear end in the 31 chrysler had a small coil at the ends with a large washer and bolt to hold them in place. stock was about 6 inches too high. I don't remember which arc rod I used but it was expensive, Today they say use a die grinder with a cut off wheel. probably compress the rest of the spring then cut only half of what you think you need, release the spring clamp and and probably try again.

timothale, I've used a cutting torch to, and i dint know why but some people on here don't believe you can cut one coil off of a 10" spring without ruining the spring, yrs. ago out in the country if you didn't cut the spring with a torch then you didn't cut it, that's the only way we had to do it and it didn't hurt the spring either. I've cut torsion bars and weld them back together and used them in a race car. most racers 40 yrs ago cut their race car springs with a torch, they would go to the junk yrd. get a spring bring it back to the shop cut it the height they needed it, put it in the car and go racing. if it will work on a race car it will work on a st. car. a guy heated a set last mo no here, to lower his truck and said they did ok , i don't see the problem. if you got a cutoff wheel by all means use it, but i m not gonna buy one just to cut a spring. it helps if you know a little about using a torch though.

Don't cut too much more off until you have the car completely assembled. They will settle after they are put to use some.