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The Complete How To Cut Your Stock Springs Thread
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<blockquote data-quote="Jefe" data-source="post: 8655257" data-attributes="member: 41358"><p>First and foremost, the reason numerous Cobra owners cut their springs is because the 03/04 Cobras come stock with Linear Springs(<a href="http://www.toolingu.com/definition-560220-25312-linear-spring.html" target="_blank">What is the definition of linear spring?</a>). That allows us to shorten them without hurting ride quality so long as you dont cut more than 2-3 coils off, which I dont think would be possible with wheel/suspension clearance.</p><p></p><p>There are numerous install threads on how to cut the stock 03/04 springs so I thought Id combine them all here and add my tips. Used various steps from each of these installs to get mine done. Feel free to add your own so we can just make this thread all anyone would ever need to get the job done. </p><p></p><p>Check these threads to figure out how much you want to cut:</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/547000-lowered-03-04-cobras.html" target="_blank">http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/547000-lowered-03-04-cobras.html</a></p><p><strong><span style="color: Red">(Merged with other Terminator cut springs/lowered pic threads)</span></strong></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="color: Red">(General lowered Mustangs)</span></strong></p><p><a href="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/pics-videos-buffet-149/343389-pics-lowered-stangs-cut-springs-only.html" target="_blank">http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/pics-videos-buffet-149/343389-pics-lowered-stangs-cut-springs-only.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/pics-videos-buffet-149/559157-pictures-lowerd-99-04s-cut-springs.html" target="_blank">http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/pics-videos-buffet-149/559157-pictures-lowerd-99-04s-cut-springs.html</a></p><p></p><p></p><p>Technical/Info/Install threads on cutting springs: </p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/289160-truth-about-cut-springs.html" target="_blank">http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/289160-truth-about-cut-springs.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/terminator-talk-229/596069-your-opinion-stock-cut-springs.html" target="_blank">http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/terminator-talk-229/596069-your-opinion-stock-cut-springs.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/terminator-talk-229/578704-steps-cut-stock-springs.html" target="_blank">http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/terminator-talk-229/578704-steps-cut-stock-springs.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/619929-cutting-springs.html" target="_blank">http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/619929-cutting-springs.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/how-230/489609-how-lower-your-cobra-cut-coils-method.html" target="_blank">http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/how-230/489609-how-lower-your-cobra-cut-coils-method.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/terminator-talk-229/610550-just-had-alignment-done-after-cutting-coils.html" target="_blank">http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/terminator-talk-229/610550-just-had-alignment-done-after-cutting-coils.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/pics-videos-buffet-149/605351-look-no-more-4x4-lowered-my-car.html" target="_blank">http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/pics-videos-buffet-149/605351-look-no-more-4x4-lowered-my-car.html</a></p><p><a href="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/600889-cutting-coils.html" target="_blank">http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/600889-cutting-coils.html</a></p><p></p><p>Other sites: </p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.americanmuscle.com/h-r-race-spring-99-04-cobra-install.html" target="_blank">How To Install An H & R Race Spring 99-04 Cobra</a></p><p><a href="http://www.lx.net/jlynch/kbspring.htm" target="_blank">Kenny Brown Spring Install on 99 Cobra</a></p><p></p><p>Those are all you should need but if not, heres more:</p><p></p><p>From my own experience and what Ive seen online, cutting 1/2 a coil will drop your ride height approx .75"-1"; cutting 1 full coil will drop approx 1.75" - 2". Every car is different though, cut less if you aren't sure or maybe remove an iso to get the desired look. You can always cut more off if you want it lower. Something I recommend is measuring your ride height as it sits now from ground to fender on all 4 corners and see if it matches. Mine did not, the passenger side rear sat a little higher, about 1/4". I wound up cutting about 1.5" more coil off that spring to compensate. Now it sits level with the left rear</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>My notes: </p><p></p><p>Some take their catback off, some are able to take the tip hangers out of the rubber holders and lower the IRS just enough to get the springs off. I took mine off to clean it up anyways. Your call. You will see how much clearance you've got once you start lowering the rear</p><p></p><p>Majority will need an alignment after cutting springs. Depends on how much you cut or what bolts/alignment specs you tweaked while doing the removal/install. Get a 4 wheel alignment!</p><p></p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1093813[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><strong>Fronts:</strong></p><p></p><p>With a jack under the A-Arm, I was able to get the nut holding on the sway bar off which is underneath the A-Arm, remove the 2 shock bolts and lower the entire assembly which also popped off the rubber spacer under the A-Arm. Take the ABS line out of the double hook, you might also need to remove it from the hook by the shock for more slack when dropping the A-Arm</p><p></p><p>If you need to remove the tie rods here's the tool, Checker should have it. Its the smaller of the two that look like this: </p><p></p><p><img src="http://shop.oreillyauto.com/product_images/img/pbi/648692.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></p><p></p><p>The Springs were very tight so using your feet and a crow bar you can get it out by pushing down on the Arm with the crow bar underneath the spring pushing up and out</p><p></p><p>Pay attention to how the springs sit in the perch prior to removing them. Putting them back in in a different position can affect your ride height.</p><p></p><p>I was able to do the fronts by myself in less than 20 mins for both sides</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1093814[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Rears:</strong></p><p></p><p>Very straight forward directions above; I had the springs in less than 15 mins. When doing this you might want to replace the 12mm front IRS bolts with 9/16" Grade 8 Bolts(<a href="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/331799-12mm-vs-14mm-vs-9-16-a.html" target="_blank">http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/331799-12mm-vs-14mm-vs-9-16-a.html</a>) Might as well get AC427Cobras Kit for an even better IRS experience(<a href="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-258/260665-cobra-mustang-irs-delrin-uhmw-alum-bushing-kit-w-adj-sway-bar-links-bumpsteer-kit.html" target="_blank">http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-258/260665-cobra-mustang-irs-delrin-uhmw-alum-bushing-kit-w-adj-sway-bar-links-bumpsteer-kit.html</a>)</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1093815[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p></p><p>Air tool with cutting wheel: </p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1093816[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>Back together:</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1093817[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Stock:</strong></p><p></p><p>32 psi front 30 psi rear</p><p></p><p>From ground to fender RF/LF - 27.5"</p><p>From ground to fender RR/LR - 28"</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1093818[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1093819[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>After:</strong></p><p></p><p>35psi front 25psi rear</p><p></p><p>From ground to fender RF/LF - 26.5"</p><p>From ground to fender RR/LR - 26.75"</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1093820[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1093821[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1093822[/ATTACH]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jefe, post: 8655257, member: 41358"] First and foremost, the reason numerous Cobra owners cut their springs is because the 03/04 Cobras come stock with Linear Springs([url=http://www.toolingu.com/definition-560220-25312-linear-spring.html]What is the definition of linear spring?[/url]). That allows us to shorten them without hurting ride quality so long as you dont cut more than 2-3 coils off, which I dont think would be possible with wheel/suspension clearance. There are numerous install threads on how to cut the stock 03/04 springs so I thought Id combine them all here and add my tips. Used various steps from each of these installs to get mine done. Feel free to add your own so we can just make this thread all anyone would ever need to get the job done. Check these threads to figure out how much you want to cut: [url]http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/547000-lowered-03-04-cobras.html[/url] [B][COLOR="Red"](Merged with other Terminator cut springs/lowered pic threads)[/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR="Red"](General lowered Mustangs)[/COLOR][/B] [url]http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/pics-videos-buffet-149/343389-pics-lowered-stangs-cut-springs-only.html[/url] [url]http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/pics-videos-buffet-149/559157-pictures-lowerd-99-04s-cut-springs.html[/url] Technical/Info/Install threads on cutting springs: [url]http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/289160-truth-about-cut-springs.html[/url] [url]http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/terminator-talk-229/596069-your-opinion-stock-cut-springs.html[/url] [url]http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/terminator-talk-229/578704-steps-cut-stock-springs.html[/url] [url]http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/619929-cutting-springs.html[/url] [url]http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/how-230/489609-how-lower-your-cobra-cut-coils-method.html[/url] [url]http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/terminator-talk-229/610550-just-had-alignment-done-after-cutting-coils.html[/url] [url]http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/pics-videos-buffet-149/605351-look-no-more-4x4-lowered-my-car.html[/url] [url]http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/600889-cutting-coils.html[/url] Other sites: [url=http://www.americanmuscle.com/h-r-race-spring-99-04-cobra-install.html]How To Install An H & R Race Spring 99-04 Cobra[/url] [url=http://www.lx.net/jlynch/kbspring.htm]Kenny Brown Spring Install on 99 Cobra[/url] Those are all you should need but if not, heres more: From my own experience and what Ive seen online, cutting 1/2 a coil will drop your ride height approx .75"-1"; cutting 1 full coil will drop approx 1.75" - 2". Every car is different though, cut less if you aren't sure or maybe remove an iso to get the desired look. You can always cut more off if you want it lower. Something I recommend is measuring your ride height as it sits now from ground to fender on all 4 corners and see if it matches. Mine did not, the passenger side rear sat a little higher, about 1/4". I wound up cutting about 1.5" more coil off that spring to compensate. Now it sits level with the left rear My notes: Some take their catback off, some are able to take the tip hangers out of the rubber holders and lower the IRS just enough to get the springs off. I took mine off to clean it up anyways. Your call. You will see how much clearance you've got once you start lowering the rear Majority will need an alignment after cutting springs. Depends on how much you cut or what bolts/alignment specs you tweaked while doing the removal/install. Get a 4 wheel alignment! [ATTACH=full]1093813[/ATTACH] [B]Fronts:[/B] With a jack under the A-Arm, I was able to get the nut holding on the sway bar off which is underneath the A-Arm, remove the 2 shock bolts and lower the entire assembly which also popped off the rubber spacer under the A-Arm. Take the ABS line out of the double hook, you might also need to remove it from the hook by the shock for more slack when dropping the A-Arm If you need to remove the tie rods here's the tool, Checker should have it. Its the smaller of the two that look like this: [IMG]http://shop.oreillyauto.com/product_images/img/pbi/648692.jpg[/IMG] The Springs were very tight so using your feet and a crow bar you can get it out by pushing down on the Arm with the crow bar underneath the spring pushing up and out Pay attention to how the springs sit in the perch prior to removing them. Putting them back in in a different position can affect your ride height. I was able to do the fronts by myself in less than 20 mins for both sides [ATTACH=full]1093814[/ATTACH] [B]Rears:[/B] Very straight forward directions above; I had the springs in less than 15 mins. When doing this you might want to replace the 12mm front IRS bolts with 9/16" Grade 8 Bolts([url]http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-modifications-211/331799-12mm-vs-14mm-vs-9-16-a.html[/url]) Might as well get AC427Cobras Kit for an even better IRS experience([url]http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/suspension-258/260665-cobra-mustang-irs-delrin-uhmw-alum-bushing-kit-w-adj-sway-bar-links-bumpsteer-kit.html[/url]) [ATTACH=full]1093815[/ATTACH] Air tool with cutting wheel: [ATTACH=full]1093816[/ATTACH] Back together: [ATTACH=full]1093817[/ATTACH] [B]Stock:[/B] 32 psi front 30 psi rear From ground to fender RF/LF - 27.5" From ground to fender RR/LR - 28" [ATTACH=full]1093818[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1093819[/ATTACH] [B]After:[/B] 35psi front 25psi rear From ground to fender RF/LF - 26.5" From ground to fender RR/LR - 26.75" [ATTACH=full]1093820[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1093821[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1093822[/ATTACH] [/QUOTE]
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