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

Should I Cut Coil Springs or Use Dropped Spindles?

Mike:

Hope you can help. I am in the process of rebuilding the front end of my ’57 Chevy car.

If I use 2″ lowering springs, can I use the same front shocks or do I need to get something else? Would it be better to install the 2″ lowering spindles instead of the springs?

Thanks, Jack

Jack,

Wonderful question. Your question qualifies for my “Tech Question” because it asks for more info than meets the eye. I send an EATON Flamed T-shirt to those whose questions I use. Let me have your size and address.

Now onto the answer…

You hit on the two ways to lower the front of your ’57, cutting the coil or using dropped spindles. Let’s look at the pro’s and con’s of each way.

Yes, coils can be cut, see Cutting Coil Springs for more information. Both will provide detail information as to how to cut and how to calculate the result of cutting.

Cutting is the down and dirty way of getting your ride down. A couple of draw backs is the ride quality becomes stiffer and the old shocks may not be useable.

Increasing the ride stiffness may not be a bad thing because there is less suspension travel, so a stiffer spring may stop you from bottoming out the suspension.

The easiest way to check to see if you would have enough shock travel is to measure the length of the shock while it is still on the car. Measure from the bottom attaching point to the top attaching point.

Then remove the shock and fully collapse it. If the collapsed length is less than 3.5 Inches shorter then the installed length the shock will not work and will have to be replaced.

Shock length, both collapsed and extended will vary from one manufacturer to another so be sure to check the length before buying a new set of shocks.

The advantage of going with dropped spindles is stock springs and shocks can be used. Dropped spindles will lower the ride height yet maintain normal suspension clearances.

The draw back is cost and additional labor.

Choice is yours.

Mike

Filed Under: Tech Question Tagged With: Coil Springs, cutting coil 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.
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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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