OK, I know I am doing this arse backwards but I just finished cutting 1 coil from my right coil spring. was gonna do the left then decided to measure to see how much it lowered the right front. well I hadn't measured before so all I could do was compare right to left I only see about 3/4 inch lower on right then left. I realize the left may be a bit lower from one driver all the time and maybe no passenger. but my question is... for those that have done this is 3/4 to 1 inch all you get from cutting one coil? I am not sure if I am dissapointed or not, I was worried about clearence issues if it lowered it to much but I expected at least 1.5 inches at least that's what I had decided it would do before cutting it.
I'm not exactly sure on the drop in heighth but my question is "what did you cut the springs with?" I am hoping not the gas axe! I've seen guys do this and what it does is alter the composition of the steel, not good. Hopefully you used something other than that.
I was going to use a reciprocating saw but didn't have a long blade here so I used a Dremel tool with cut off wheel.
i used a high speed and a cutting wheel when i did mine....i cut off one coil on my springs...i like the ride height....but it is still too soft in front....and i used 302 springs... what is a good stiff spring to use in there? i want something with a good height...(not too dropped looking) and nice and stiff so that it wont bouncy bounce all day long...
You're not going to get an accurate reading with one spring cut and the other side not cut. The UNcut side will still raise the lowered side slightly. If you cut just one coil from old springs, and let the car settle on them overnight, you'll be surprised at how much of a drop you get...
I am going through the same issues, Leans to the left due to never having a passenger (dog in backseat doesn't count). What springs should I buy to replace the stock (74 w/302 and big bumpers). When I took off the bumpers and put the battery in the trunk, it rode really high and now shows the lopsidedness even worse. Also, I have been told that Caster or Camber, not sure which is which, will get messed up with any height changes, and an allignment needs to be done soon thereafter.
my spring saga well ya see, it started out like this (a.k.a. snowball effect, mavs are prone to them) i had 200L6 no p/s no a/c no p/b no nothing (1971 2dr mav) and i needed the front disc/5lug conversion. SO, when i had the shop do the granada/monach spindle swap i also had em replace the springs with the ones from the 76 4dr (big bumper 302 with p/s a/c p/b) to hold up the soon to be ready 302/c4. well, even with the 302 and all fluids, the front still rode at about a 1/4-1/2" from top of travel. ruined both shocks and looked like @$$. front sat higher than back even with heavyer springs and drop (read as lift) shackles on back. so the other day (STILL waiting on bodyshop to finish new fenders & hood), i put spring compressors on the front (tacky and not quite right, i know), but i have NOWAY to remove and modify these springs. I pressed 3 coils/2 airgaps ALL the way together. this put me about dead center on suspension travel. And finshed that "rake" i was looking for (255/60/15 rear 195/60/14 front). when i get the body shop parts, i'll start a new thread with pics (INCLUDING the long awaited neon). just a rant, i don't know much about chopping down springs other than the theory and "don't use oxy-acetalen or plasma". as to the ride, I haven't put many miles on this "drop" but feels good. scary with dips/bumps though, i don't like bottoming out on my headers. did that once and only once won't EVER take the mav over THAT railroad crossing again. used to be ok, with headers and suspension riding at top of travel it was "crunch".
