cut springs

[gazwiththevtr]

A Mate of mine has decided to cut a coil off his vts springs (standard ones) ,hasnt fitted them yet but how much would this lower the car? ive already told him of the hazards of doing this but ,the cars not a road car anyway so he doesnt seem to care (he rallys it around a farm lol)

cheers

[Lew_C]

1) You dont want to cut springs full stop, even if the car is not road going
2) Why lower something that he 'rallys' around a farm, surely a raise would make more sense?!
3) Depends where he cuts them to how much it lowers of course!

[Olly]

Awaits:argue::boxing:

[Tontsy]

saxo coil springs, pig tail . . . not a large ammount, very minimal... so they now wont fit in the cup... i found this out, and ended up having to weld them back into the cups.

[gazwiththevtr]

Yeah i dont know where he has cut them ,all i wanted was a simple answer . Thanks anyways. Cheers

[Lew_C]

Yeah i dont know where he has cut them ,all i wanted was a simple answer . Thanks anyways. Cheers

really not worth it mate if it all goes wrong its pretty catastrophic :y:

[Tontsy]

Yeah i dont know where he has cut them ,all i wanted was a simple answer . Thanks anyways. Cheers

simple answer yet logical. 100+mm as it would fall out the cup and sit on the shock being compressed.

then the broken edge puncturing the tyre, that on flat would be another 20+ mm lol.

[Lew_C]

simple answer yet logical. 100+mm as it would fall out the cup and sit on the shock being compressed.

then the broken edge puncturing the tyre, that on flat would be another 20+ mm lol.

Be low as fck y0! ahah ;)

[Tontsy]

Be low as fck y0! ahah ;)

i found all this out the hard way!

[Lew_C]

i found all this out the hard way!

cutting springs is like aids of the suspension

[Gareth_R]

simple answer yet logical. 100+mm as it would fall out the cup and sit on the shock being compressed.

then the broken edge puncturing the tyre, that on flat would be another 20+ mm lol.

excellent response

[gazwiththevtr]

I'm baffled now lol ,ive seen a few people with 106 gti's 'slam' there cars by cutting the coils ,how is it done ? because as said above the springs are pigtailed ...

[Lew_C]

I'm baffled now lol ,ive seen a few people with 106 gti's 'slam' there cars by cutting the coils ,how is it done ? because as said above the springs are pigtailed ...

Probz chopped at the cup then rewelded or something

[gazwiththevtr]

that does sound dodgy as fook lol

[Tontsy]

I'm baffled now lol ,ive seen a few people with 106 gti's 'slam' there cars by cutting the coils ,how is it done ? because as said above the springs are pigtailed ...

in the end i just took mine out! as i kept on cutting to get lowe and lower...
anyway, if i had new tyres on, i couldnt full lock.

if i straddled two lanes on teh motorway the catseyes would catch my bumper

[Lew_C]

that does sound dodgy as fook lol

About the only way i can think of, Sorta mini cut and shut haha

[gazwiththevtr]

you took the pig tail out? :O or the springs?

[Tontsy]

you took the pig tail out? :O or the springs?

the whole spring.
i then drilled into the shock and compressed it, and put a few blobs on weld on it to keep it shut...

was a very harsh and stiff ride.
looked fucking epic though!

[Lew_C]

the whole spring.
i then drilled into the shock and compressed it, and put a few blobs on weld on it to keep it shut...

was a very harsh and stiff ride.
looked fucking epic though!

Any pics? sounds crazy/horrific lol

[gazwiththevtr]

lol thats nuts haha ,I seen a gti ,and the guy literally cut the springs in half ! loooked the nuts but bet it handled like shite

[Tontsy]

bumpstops all around.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs212.snc3/21952_326014168986_720258986_3438845_3593508_n.jpg

[gazwiththevtr]

looks good mate!

[Lew_C]

crazy shit! :D

[Tontsy]

yeah, went through sideskirts like there was no tomorrow...so i gave up with them lol.
thinkthe paint job needs some spicing up though sometime soon!

[Pearson]

I'd stand at one side with a phone in your hand ready to call 999, you heard of the many dangers cutting standard springs can do, it weakens them alot and if cut not identical to the opposite end of the spring your in the shit.

[1st_saxo]

my mate done this to his rover the rear spring came out and poped the tired crashed ended up on a crash barrier and smashes his misses head off the windscreen

[Lew_C]

my mate done this to his rover the rear spring came out and poped the tired crashed ended up on a crash barrier and smashes his misses head off the windscreen

Fail. :y:

[Tontsy]

my mate done this to his rover the rear spring came out and poped the tired crashed ended up on a crash barrier and smashes his misses head off the windscreen

pics of the Mrs ?

[lowcal]

cut springs = Fail!

[Jscott91]

You get your car siezed over here now in northern ireland,if your caught with cut springs,lowered cars get checked all the time.is a big thing in the country areas.

[timmythechef]

cut springs in our country atm are not illegal, and if done right will still past the M.O.T, but personally, i wouldn't, but it looks good that low

[Jscott91]

cut springs in our country atm are not illegal, and if done right will still past the M.O.T, but personally, i wouldn't, but it looks good that low

Well there is a reason why it is illegal,because it is so dangerous,but prob wouldnt feel much worse than my car atm the way its lowered right down on the coilovers...,and how can it still pass mot if there is basically no suspension?

[vtr__alex]

It's only illegal if yur springs fall out and or wobble about when the wheels leave the floor which is certain if yu have standard springs. How many coils yu got left like 1?

[Jscott91]

its still illegal,well is here should be in england cause the wheel could fall off at any point,and i dunno bought the car a month ago the guy just said he got it as low as it would go is prob 80mm he said 100mm but i dont think it is have to get it raised is a nightmare.

[vtr__alex]

Eh? How is the wheel gna fall off yu could drive a car with no springs gna be a back breaker like

[Tom5190]

its still illegal,well is here should be in england cause the wheel could fall off at any point,and i dunno bought the car a month ago the guy just said he got it as low as it would go is prob 80mm he said 100mm but i dont think it is have to get it raised is a nightmare.

The wheel wont fall off at all

It's only illegal if yur springs fall out and or wobble about when the wheels leave the floor which is certain if yu have standard springs. How many coils yu got left like 1?

This isnt true either, if your caught with a cut/snapped spring (as cut and snapped are classed the same in an MOT) you will be given a form to go and get the car seen by an MOT station and it will FAIL on a cut spring.

[davidharvey]

the whole spring.
i then drilled into the shock and compressed it, and put a few blobs on weld on it to keep it shut...

was a very harsh and stiff ride.
looked fucking epic though!

You are joking right?

[-Dan-]

Why cut springs when you can pick them up for £40 new? I really don't understand some people.

[Tom5190]

Why cut springs when you can pick them up for £40 new? I really don't understand some people.

because you cant get springs that drop the car 80mm + and some people dont want to pay for coilovers or custom springs

[Tontsy]

its illegal / fail an mot yes.
the spring has to sit in both, top and bottom cups. when the car is jacked up, there should be no play / wobble in the spring.

nor should the spring be damaged.

You are joking right?
and no, im being serious.

no worries though, as its got a new rear axle on there now, and new shocks and springs up front with everything ok!

[-Dan-]

Unless you're going to spend serious money blending the rest of the styling of the car to suit 80mm, then imo it looks awful. (EG PROPERLY going down the Euro route).

Also the amount of problems you incur by going lower than 60mm, let alone 80mm should deter you from doing so, especially if you're too stingy to splash out on some coilovers.

[timmythechef]

Well there is a reason why it is illegal,because it is so dangerous,but prob wouldnt feel much worse than my car atm the way its lowered right down on the coilovers...,and how can it still pass mot if there is basically no suspension?

right then

for max power issue May 2010 and i quote

'Taking an angle grinder to your springs is the cheapest way to go low, and despite what gets branded around on forums, it's not illegal and won't fail your M.O.T if their done properly,. But its definitely not advised. Get it wrong and the spring wont locate properly, which is an M.O.T fail. You also run the risk of snapping springs, bottoming out your suspension or knackering shocks if you cut too much off. Considering lowering springs start at less than £100, is it really worth the risk?'

So ..... :y:

[Tontsy]

right then

for max power issue May 2010 and i quote

'Taking an angle grinder to your springs is the cheapest way to go low, and despite what gets branded around on forums, it's not illegal and won't fail your M.O.T if their done properly,. But its definitely not advised. Get it wrong and the spring wont locate properly, which is an M.O.T fail. You also run the risk of snapping springs, bottoming out your suspension or knackering shocks if you cut too much off. Considering lowering springs start at less than £100, is it really worth the risk?'

So ..... :y:

edges have to be smooth and flush, as if the tester runs his finger on it, and feels its been snapped / cut he can fail it! regardless if its sitting in the cup or not.

[141chris141]

take the springs and bars rite outta her...slam her da fuk and keep it real

[Tontsy]

take the springs and bars rite outta her...slam her da fuk and keep it real

by, bars i assume you mean the torsion bars...
well thats a stupid idea, atleast lift the trailing arm all the way up and put them back in! they are there for a reason!

its also
out of her
the
and
fuck.

which if i was using those kind of words, it would be more like "beating the shit out of her" and referring the the daily occurrence of my relationship with the Mrs.

[141chris141]

by, bars i assume you mean the torsion bars...
well thats a stupid idea, atleast lift the trailing arm all the way up and put them back in! they are there for a reason!

its also
out of her
the
and
fuck.

which if i was using those kind of words, it would be more like "beating the shit out of her" and referring the the daily occurrence of my relationship with the Mrs.

............... Ignore me

[Tom5190]

right then

for max power issue May 2010 and i quote

'Taking an angle grinder to your springs is the cheapest way to go low, and despite what gets branded around on forums, it's not illegal and won't fail your M.O.T if their done properly,. But its definitely not advised. Get it wrong and the spring wont locate properly, which is an M.O.T fail. You also run the risk of snapping springs, bottoming out your suspension or knackering shocks if you cut too much off. Considering lowering springs start at less than £100, is it really worth the risk?'

So ..... :y:

This is debateable, the thing is that springs are different on all cars, that is that some dont pigtail, some come progressive as standard etc. I have some 70mm springs on my car with shortened shocks, they have 3 coils at the bottom that are progressive, when the cars on the floor these actually sit on top of each other. it will be possible to cut 1 (maybe 2)of the coils off my car and the springs will still sit perfectly when the cars jacked up, also if cut correctly and re-painted an MOT tester would never even notice it, this would give me around 10-15mm extra drop. BUT this dosent mean its not technically illegal. By cutting just one coil off the spring that will effect the full structre and behaviour of the spring. Hence the reason why i havent done it. And like you said, springs can be picked up for £50

[Davo106]

My coilovers didnt drop enough so i cut a coil and a half off the springs.

[LeeM]

if a spring is cut properly and sits properly in its cups its perfectly legal, do you not think the manufacturers have to cut them at some point?
some are shaped or progressive, this can cause them to sit wrong or go coilbound.

[jakeyboi]

this seems to be the new trend around my area atm , few of the lads i know have cut 1 or 2 coils of there 40mm and 60mm springs, and there running 13" rims, and the splitter is like an 1" off the floor. So is this highly dangerous and not adviserable then, ive been thinking bout it, but im in 2 minds...

[Davo106]

this seems to be the new trend around my area atm , few of the lads i know have cut 1 or 2 coils of there 40mm and 60mm springs, and there running 13" rims, and the splitter is like an 1" off the floor. So is this highly dangerous and not adviserable then, ive been thinking bout it, but im in 2 minds...

Standard Splitter?

[Jay_]

I have heard alot about this at the moment as i am gettin into drift and all the guys say is buy a cheapo motor, then cut the springs weld the diff.....no one has had any massive problems like the ones in this thread though i dont think....

[jakeyboi]

Standard Splitter?

yh standard saxo splitter mate, ill get some pics, i mite have a few on my pc.. bare with me

[Davo106]

wont be an 1" off the floor then im on coilovers with cut springs and im not an inch off the floor on sideskirts nevermind splitter...

[jakeyboi]

ok may have been slightly exaggerating lol, these are the only 2 i have to hand atm

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af307/jakeyboi_1/26247_1258699669045_1276246482_3056.jpg

http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af307/jakeyboi_1/untitled.jpg


( just realised one the 306 has a diff spliter, my bad)

[Lew_C]

I have heard alot about this at the moment as i am gettin into drift and all the guys say is buy a cheapo motor, then cut the springs weld the diff.....no one has had any massive problems like the ones in this thread though i dont think....

Welded diffs are sound if done properly, not a safety hazard at all if the spider gears are all welded up well, just a bit juddery at low speed :y:

[Jay_]

Yeah mate i know the diffs are fine its just they all give the advice of cutting the springs to...

[Rikochet]

A real lowering spring kit is designed to exact measurements to ensure that the car rides as smoothly and as safely as possible. There are certain areas which hold a greater tension than others and it is for this reason that you should not just 'cut a couple of coils off'. Companies like Spax and Avo spend millions developing their products to comply to stringent EU specifications which are there for a very good reason. TO KEEP YOU FROM CRASHING!

If you're driving along at say 70mph and you hit a pothole your springs and dampers work together to absorb the impact and keep you in a straight line. If your springs aren't big enough they'll pop out and you'll crash. Simple.

If you can't afford to have it done professionally and you aren't an engineer or a mechanic then don't do it. Save your money for lollipops and hats with propellers on them.

It's ok to do certain mods yourself with little or no mechanical knowledge but as soon as you start messing with suspension you're entering dangerous territory.