Cutting stock spring? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

zombieman · 07-15-2003, 09:08 PM

have anybody cut their stock springs? I'm planning to go cheapskate because i don't want to pay $100 for cheap springs and also the fact i don't have a job for coilovers right now. if anybody done it, have much inches should i cut so that the tires won't wear badly from negative camber. thanks in advance to anybody who can help me.

Dousan_PG · 07-15-2003, 09:23 PM

camber doesnt kill tires, toe does
get an alignment after changing ride height/suspension

cant tell u exact amount (cuz i dont know). get a few sets of stock springs and try w/ each. if you do it right you'll be very pleased. i know people who have done it and it rides great.

*AceInHole* · 07-16-2003, 01:08 PM

for the most part when cutting springs... you want to keep the dampeners from bottoming out. Since the stock springs aren't very stiff to begin with (114lbs??) you won't have a lot to work with. Old school tuners I've talked to in the past generally suggest cutting half coils off at a time.

misnomer · 07-16-2003, 03:38 PM

Cutting springs rarely yields good results, most of the time folks go too far with it. You try to go too low an you bounce down the highway and blow your struts. You can improve looks a bit and lower your center of gravity, but don't expect ground breaking change. Another thing to keep in mind is it will put greater strain on your shocks and struts, expect to replace them sooner.

Red · 07-17-2003, 08:58 AM

Plz dont bring spring cutting to nissan!

I dont see how they could help. But I could be wrong.

Dousan_PG · 07-17-2003, 09:01 AM

escaflowne on freshalloy has cut springs and it is great im told
his car blows away 90% of the members on this board

its the TV2 coupe. decked out.
took lots of attempts and lots of springs to get it right

driftingpanda · 07-17-2003, 04:12 PM

i'd highly recommend against cutting stock springs. stock units are wound and bent to seat the perches in a certain way, if you cut the upper portion of the rear spring, or upper/lower portion of the front spring, they will not seat correctly, and will have a good chance of popping out of the perch. some after market springs (with more coils, generally acting as spacers), can be cut a few coils with no problems, but cutting the stock is not a very good idea. i bought a parts car a while back, it came with cut stock springs, i installed temporarily it on one of my s13's, and i never felt safe in it... not even at rolling speeds. one of the front springs also had a tendency to pop in and out when turning.

don't do it! buy some ebay springs if you have to... hope that helps.

-danny

07-15-2003, 09:08 PM	#1
zombieman Leaky Injector Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: San bernardino, CA Posts: 83 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Cutting stock spring? have anybody cut their stock springs? I'm planning to go cheapskate because i don't want to pay $100 for cheap springs and also the fact i don't have a job for coilovers right now. if anybody done it, have much inches should i cut so that the tires won't wear badly from negative camber. thanks in advance to anybody who can help me.

07-15-2003, 09:23 PM	#2
Dousan_PG Post Whore! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Orange County, California Age: 46 Posts: 16,640 Trader Rating: (23) Rides Gallery: Dousan_PG Feedback Score: 23 reviews	camber doesnt kill tires, toe does get an alignment after changing ride height/suspension cant tell u exact amount (cuz i dont know). get a few sets of stock springs and try w/ each. if you do it right you'll be very pleased. i know people who have done it and it rides great. __________________ Aaron Pink GodziRa www.geocities.com/pink_godzira

07-16-2003, 01:08 PM	#3
AceInHole Autox Technician Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New Haven, CT Age: 44 Posts: 3,961 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: AceInHole Feedback Score: 0 reviews	for the most part when cutting springs... you want to keep the dampeners from bottoming out. Since the stock springs aren't very stiff to begin with (114lbs??) you won't have a lot to work with. Old school tuners I've talked to in the past generally suggest cutting half coils off at a time. __________________

07-16-2003, 03:38 PM	#4
misnomer Nissanaholic! Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nevada Posts: 2,293 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Cutting springs rarely yields good results, most of the time folks go too far with it. You try to go too low an you bounce down the highway and blow your struts. You can improve looks a bit and lower your center of gravity, but don't expect ground breaking change. Another thing to keep in mind is it will put greater strain on your shocks and struts, expect to replace them sooner. __________________ Rowsdower saves us and saves all the world!

07-17-2003, 08:58 AM	#5
Red Zilvia Addict Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vancouver, WA - Portland, OR Age: 44 Posts: 734 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Plz dont bring spring cutting to nissan! I dont see how they could help. But I could be wrong. __________________ http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/509537 http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287415487 http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=21036

07-17-2003, 09:01 AM	#6
Dousan_PG Post Whore! Join Date: May 2002 Location: Orange County, California Age: 46 Posts: 16,640 Trader Rating: (23) Rides Gallery: Dousan_PG Feedback Score: 23 reviews	escaflowne on freshalloy has cut springs and it is great im told his car blows away 90% of the members on this board its the TV2 coupe. decked out. took lots of attempts and lots of springs to get it right __________________ Aaron Pink GodziRa www.geocities.com/pink_godzira

07-17-2003, 04:12 PM	#7
driftingpanda Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: so cal Posts: 593 Trader Rating: (24) Feedback Score: 24 reviews	i'd highly recommend against cutting stock springs. stock units are wound and bent to seat the perches in a certain way, if you cut the upper portion of the rear spring, or upper/lower portion of the front spring, they will not seat correctly, and will have a good chance of popping out of the perch. some after market springs (with more coils, generally acting as spacers), can be cut a few coils with no problems, but cutting the stock is not a very good idea. i bought a parts car a while back, it came with cut stock springs, i installed temporarily it on one of my s13's, and i never felt safe in it... not even at rolling speeds. one of the front springs also had a tendency to pop in and out when turning. don't do it! buy some ebay springs if you have to... hope that helps. -danny __________________ PM me about limited edition Pink GodziRa Sticker packages!