Your opinion on stock cut springs?

[Red Turtle]

So you are willing to spend $xxxx for 18's and new tires, but you can't muster up $200 for some aftermarket springs? Do I need to go on?

Please do, because a lot of people after buying springs then remove the iso's to get the look they want....

Actually, yes... please go on. I have "18s and new tires" and am currently installing my twin turbo kit and I have cut stock springs. :shrug: I have had several people in my car and be nothing but impressed with the way it handles and rides. Anybody who feels that this mod is beneath them is more than welcome to do it and send me $200 so they don't have to admit to thier friend's that they did it "the cheap way." :beer:

Seriously... say you're looking at two different brands of springs that make the same claims and several customers can vouch for the validity of those claims. One set is $200 and one is $400. Following your guys' logic I should buy the $400 set so that I don't come across as "kind of cheesy, and lame."

:beer:

My white car had $200 H&Rs & my cut stockers on my new car ride better than those. Do we need to go on?


If you don't have experience with them you shouldn't knock them.

Yeah, but your white car looked better. LOL, just giving you crap.

I guess my car is cheesy and lame then. :bored:

yeah, mine too even though I get compliments everday.

What do you guys think of cutting 1 complete ring off an 04 convertible and leaving the ISO's on? I dont want the raked look. I want the front and back to both look to be the same height and level.

I think that it will be very low and you will scrape on most everything. Start with 3/4" and let it settle. Remember, you can always cut more.

 

[04sleeper]

I think that it will be very low and you will scrape on most everything. Start with 3/4" and let it settle. Remember, you can always cut more.

Maybe even start out with 5/8 first with it being a Vert.

 

[Graves]

I cut one full coil off mine with no isolators. It rides and looks perfect! :rockon:

It scrapes but that comes with the territory thank goodness it's not a daily driver.

I have 04 springs due to the IRS I swapped in, and one coil cut from each, also.

Ride quality is great, looks great, BUT I scrape e v e r y w h e r e.

My chin spoiler is getting road rash, and my exhaust is scraping on speed bumps, uneven roads, and lots of other stuff. I'm raising it back up with H&Rs until I save up for an Air Ride setup or something adjustable.

 

[Cobrakai04]

ok, thanks for the replies. I dont want to scrape so I will do as you guys recommend and go with 3/4 all around. So 3/4 all around wont give me a raked look correct? I think the raked look is nice on coupes but looks weird on verts..

 

[SLEEPERSTATUS]

ok, thanks for the replies. I dont want to scrape so I will do as you guys recommend and go with 3/4 all around. So 3/4 all around wont give me a raked look correct? I think the raked look is nice on coupes but looks weird on verts..

yes 3/4 off all four springs will set you perfect and you'll have a little raked look still

heres my buddys

 

[Fastphil]

Don't forget to account for the fact that 'vert springs are softer than coupe springs, so they'll compress more once they're cut. Also, with a 'vert you have a bit more weight at the rear of the car (especially when the top is down), so the rear will settle more, and might eliminate whatever rake you're looking to get.

Like I said, I cut 5/8 coil off a set of coupe springs all the way around and installed them on my 'vert, and if it really bothered me, I'd raise the rear up just a touch to get MORE rake.
Here's a pic (never mind how dirty it is):

EDIT: And for the record, the underside of my car looks like a cheese grater, but we do have horrible roads around here.

 

[SLEEPERSTATUS]

^sits good

 

[magstang1]

To each their own opinion I suppose. Not too many times in my life have I taken a hacksaw to something and improved upon it. I love my H&R ss's. It rides better than it did with the stock springs, and looks better too.

 

[04sleeper]

I think what hasn't been discussed, but is very important, is that some springs sit lower than others. Maybe its how old they are or something, but not all springs are created equal! 3/4 on one car may sit different on another car.

I have seen some stock springs that were just plain lower to begin with so you don't want to cut as much off.

A good rule of thumb is to go a little less than you might want to. You can always cut a little more off if you want, but you can't add it back!

 

[YGETV8]

Also of note is that no matter what springs you decide to use, a lowered car is a lowered car! You may scrape on things that a non-lowered car would not, no matter what spring rate you have!

For the record, I have not owned a set of aftermarket springs so I don't go into threads on that subject telling them to just cut their stockers... see where I am going with that? No experience on my part = no opinion given.

 

[Smacked_in_ATL]

I think what hasn't been discussed, but is very important, is that some springs sit lower than others. Maybe its how old they are or something, but not all springs are created equal! 3/4 on one car may sit different on another car.

I have seen some stock springs that were just plain lower to begin with so you don't want to cut as much off.

A good rule of thumb is to go a little less than you might want to. You can always cut a little more off if you want, but you can't add it back!

So a good rule of thumb would be to never cut too much the first time and NEVER cut the same or more off the rear springs. I recommend always cut about an inch less on the rears.

 

[jm@ReischePerf]

Honestly I'd start with no more than a half coil and then wait 1-4 months (depending on how much you drive the car) to see how you like the results. The springs will slowly settle to the new cut and take a while before they compress fully over bumps. This is the only way to no how much scraping and rubbing you're ultimately going to see. FWIW - 5/8 cut on coupe springs on my rear of my vert was a bit too much for me.

 

[Cobra10thaniv]

So has anyone only cut 5/8 front & rear On a Vert? I have 2 sets of extra springs also I have spare set of Coupe and Vert springs for option to cut.

I want to keep level and put it down as low as my Saleen but not more. I dont like to low, my Saleen has the perfect margine around the tires to wheel well looking from the side. Nice even visual margine of gap.

It would be nice if everyone did before/after measurement to ground to wheel well lip.
List tire size.
Actual measurement cut off spring also it cut off top/bottom of springs
Isolaters used ?
straight on side photo before and after.

Well if anyone has done the mower cut rather than the rock crawler on a vert let me know thanks guys

I posted a few pics comparing my Cobra and Saleen hight. Notice the Cobra is higher in back. The Saleen has nice even wheel well margin to tire flat stance.

I took a pic from other direction using curb to show slight slope of cobra.

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[BLACKVNM]

I agree with 04sleeper. I think 3/4 coil on one car may be a little lower on one car than another. I originally cut mine 3/4 and it was not enough. There's nothing set in stone that says cutting 1 coil will lower your car x.x inches, or 3/4 will lower it x.x inches, etc. I agree with what was said previously, cut it just a little bit less than what you think it should be and go from there.

 

[Cobra10thaniv]

I agree with 04sleeper. I think 3/4 coil on one car may be a little lower on one car than another. I originally cut mine 3/4 and it was not enough. There's nothing set in stone that says cutting 1 coil will lower your car x.x inches, or 3/4 will lower it x.x inches, etc. I agree with what was said previously, cut it just a little bit less than what you think it should be and go from there.

Thats why I think having a before and after measurements would be nice. Then you get to understand the average factor to know how much a drop when a car sits low to begin with. Especially when people are cutting 1/2 to 1.25 cut off. A person get a idea. Then of course those isolators make a difference

This is a nice thread for the guys that are cutting springs

 

[Mystic03]

so im hoping to cut my springs in a 3-4weeks if hillarysnuts helps me out :beers: but any rubbing issues with the fenders to the tires btw im 315's

 

[03cobra#694]

I just did mine last weekend and it turned out good.

 

[SLEEPERSTATUS]

I just did mine last weekend and it turned out good.

no more 4x4 look huh:lol1: looks good brad!

 

[Ray Lucca]

While installing Bruce's full kit on my Vert. we also switched to Coupe springs with 1/2 coil cut and all iso's installed. IMO it's perfect in the back, I can't imagine going any lower in the front, it looks good and and rides well. Start with a 1/2 coil cut and let them settle for 2-3 weeks and then re-evaluate.

 

[SLEEPERSTATUS]

While installing Bruce's full kit on my Vert. we also switched to Coupe springs with 1/2 coil cut and all iso's installed. IMO it's perfect in the back, I can't imagine going any lower in the front, it looks good and and rides well. Start with a 1/2 coil cut and let them settle for 2-3 weeks and then re-evaluate.

so you didnt lower the rear?