EATON Detroit Spring

The leading manufacturer of leaf and coil springs for the street rod and restoration automotive industries

We Help Maintain American Icons by Manufacturing Leaf and Coil Springs Right Here in America

Phone: 1 (313) 963-3839
Fax: 1 (313) 963-7047

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      We have been manufacturing springs for American vehicles for over 80 years. Our process and expertise has been continuously refined and improved over the century and our Spring Tech section reflects some of that specialty knowledge.

      Browse our many articles, watch videos produced in partnership with AutoRestoMod, and learn all about your spring suspension here.

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  • Click to Call Now: 1 (313) 963-3839
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Products
    • Suspension Parts
      • Leaf Springs
      • Coil Springs
      • Shocks
      • Attaching Parts And Hardware
      • Installation Kits
      • Leaf Spring Shackle Replacement Kits & Parts
    • Street Rod Suspension Parts
      • Mustang II Front End Springs
      • 48 Inch Truck Springs
    • Allstate - Chrysler
      • Allstate
      • American Motors
      • Bricklin
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • Chevrolet Truck
      • Chrysler
    • Daimler - Ford
      • Daimler
      • DeSoto
      • Dodge
      • Dodge Truck
      • Edsel
      • Ford
      • Ford Truck
    • GMC - Jeep
      • GMC
      • Honda
      • Hudson
      • Hudson Truck
      • Hummer
      • International
      • Jeep
    • Kaiser Darrin - Nissan
      • Kaiser Darrin
      • Kaiser-Frazer
      • LaSalle
      • Lincoln
      • MAHINDRA
      • Mercury
      • MG
      • Nash
      • Nissan
    • Oldsmobile - Rambler
      • Oldsmobile
      • Plymouth
      • Plymouth Truck
      • Pontiac
      • Rambler
    • Sterling - Willys
      • Sterling
      • Studebaker
      • Studebaker Truck
      • Toyota
      • Willys
    • Request A Custom Quote
    • Search For Parts Here
  • Spring Tech
    • Learn About Leaf & Coil Springs
      • Spring Tech Articles
      • Tech Questions
      • Spring Tech Videos
      • Featured Elsewhere
      • EATON Detroit Spring Podcast
      • Buy Ford Manuals
    • Spring Tech 101

      We have been manufacturing springs for American vehicles for over 80 years. Our process and expertise has been continuously refined and improved over the century and our Spring Tech section reflects some of that specialty knowledge.

      Browse our many articles, watch videos produced in partnership with AutoRestoMod, and learn all about your spring suspension here.

    • Browse By Topic
      • Leaf Springs
      • Coil Springs
      • Attaching Parts
      • Ride Height & Stance
      • Ride Quality
      • Manufacturing Springs
      • Replacing Springs
      • Modifying Springs
      • Ordering Springs
  • About Us
    • About EATON Detroit Spring
    • Customer Showcase
    • Send Us Photos Of Your Ride!
    • Free Stuff For Car Shows!
    • Facebook
    • YouTube Channel
      • Spring Tech Videos
  • Order Here
    • Lookup & Purchase Your Vehicle's Parts
    • Request A Quote
    • Email Our Sales Team
    • Dealer Information
  • Find Parts That Fit Your Vehicle
  • Click to Call Now: 1 (313) 963-3839

Stock Ride Height Is Too High, How Much Should I Cut My Front Springs?

Mike,

I installed replacement coils on my 1968 Camaro 5 months ago, so the springs should be settled.

She is sitting about 1 – 1 1/2 Inches high in the front. I want to trim the front coils.

How much should I trim off and then reinstall for a test fit?

Thanks,

Gary

Gary,

Let’s see if we can find out what is wrong before cutting coils.

1st question, is the car complete? Remember, springs support weight and if the car is not complete the springs are not at their designed load.

While we are talking about weight, has she been modified in ANY WAY?

All those “special” things done result in a change of sprung weight. Taking things off, using alumnium intakes or manifolds or heads lighten the front a whole bunch.

In fact the mentioned items lower the weight of a big block to the weight of a small block. Lighter engine means different springs.

Second thing, have you driven the car? Once new springs have been installed they have to be worked.

Driving is the best way of working them. Jumping on the bumper doesn’t get it.

Take her out and drive her like you stole it. Hit bumps, brake hard, hit the gas, make those springs move up and down.

Once she is back in the garage let’s check the ride height. All the the following heights are if the car has F70 x 14 tires, so adjust if you have different tires.

With the car on level ground measure back 33 Inches from the center of the front tire, then measure from the ground to the bottom of the rocker panel, stock is roughly 9 3/8 Inches.

On the rear measure 20 Inches forward of the centerline of the rear tire, then measure from the ground up to the bottom of the rocker panel, stock is roughly 8 5/8 Inches.

If all else fails, call me

– Mike

Mike, I tested her out and she is close to your stock measurements but still too tall for my liking.

I trimmed 3/4 of a coil off the bottom of the springs.

She’s about perfect.

Thanks for the information,

Gary

Gary,

Glad to hear she is sitting how you want her to.

Funny thing about ride heights and new springs.

Our springs are designed to sit the vehicle at the factory height specs, unless we are told otherwise.

That being said, people in general have come to relate “stock ride height” of any particular vehicle with the way they see them sitting now and not how they sat from the factory.

That’s why new correct springs sometimes seem to make a car sit different than what we are used to seeing.

If all the cars you’ve ever seen were 2” lowered, or 1″ higher, your brain would say that was stock.

Bottom line is we are glad the car is now to your liking.

-Mike

Filed Under: Tech Question Tagged With: Coil Springs, Modifying Springs, Ride Height & Stance

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OEM Replacement & Custom Springs

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WARNING:

This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

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EATON Detroit Spring, Inc.
1555 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48216
Phone: 1 (313) 963-3839
Fax: 1 (313) 963-7047
Email: inquiries@eatonsprings.com

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