Mike Eaton explains how to cut your coil springs for a desired ride height.
Warning! Only Cut Springs With Tangential Ends
Remember: only springs with a tangential end can be safely cut.
Why’s that? Because square ends and pigtail ends are designed to make full contact with their mounting points and they would have to be reshaped after they were cut.
But, in order, to reshape them, the steel would have to be heated, and heat is a spring’s worst enemy. It only takes 400 degrees Fahrenheit to start annealing spring steel. When springs anneal, the steel softens and the soft springs cannot hold up your vehicle.
A heated spring is a ruined spring.
How To Measure Where To Cut A Coil Spring
Start by determining how much you want to lower the vehicle, then remove the spring.
Measure the free length of the spring and then deduct one-half of the measurement you want to lower the vehicle.
Cut the spring with either a hacksaw or a cut-off wheel, then reinstall the springs.
Take her for a drive, and I mean drive it like you stole it, check the ride height. If she’s still too high, take the springs out and cut a little bit more off.
Remember, you can always take off material but you can never add it back on
