How Much Of The Coil Should I Cut On Saleen Springs?

steedamustang01 · 05-28-2002, 06:03 PM

WELL PEOPLE, I HAVE A 2001 MUSTANG GT COUPE. I HAVE THE SALEEN RACE CRAFT SPRINGS ON AND IT DROPPED IT ABOUT AN IN OR SO. BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO CUT A LITTLE BIT OFF. THESE SPRINGS HAVE BEEN ON FOR A WHILE SO THEY HAVE SETTLED. I CAN FIT LIKE 4 FINGERS IN THE WHEEL WELL GAP. I ONLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO FIT 1 FINGER. HOW MUCH OF THE SPRING SHOULD I CUT? 1/2 A COIL? A FULL COIL? PLEASE I NEED HELP. I DON'T WANT TO CUT TO MUCH AND BE ON THE GROUND. BUT I DON'T WANT TO NOT CUT ENOUGHT TO WHERE THERES NOT ALOT OF DIFFERENCE. I WANT MY CAR SITTING REALLY REALLY LOW. BUT STILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT. HERE'S A PIC OF MY BUDDYS SALEEN AND I WANT MINE TO SIT LIKE HIS. PLEASE HELP. THANKS.

I DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR COIL OVERS. I'M JUST GOING TO CUT THEM AND PUT CASTER CAMBERS ON.

Unit 5302 · 05-28-2002, 06:12 PM

Couldn't tell you. I will tell you that cutting springs is a bad idea. Not only can you have dangerous fitting problems, but you alter the spring rate, and you destroy the ride characteristics of the car.

blue00gt · 05-28-2002, 07:51 PM

I would agree with Unit here. How the car rides and handles depends on more than just the spring rate. If you cut off a coil you are changing the dynamics of the vehicle. If those Saleen springs are progressive, then you especially shouldn't cut them because you will be removing the softer portion of the spring at the bottom and making it shorter - it will ride like a covered wagon. Some springs also have dead coils at the bottom that compress and touch each other when they are loaded (they approace infinitely stiff when they stack on top of each other, so they don't effect the way the rest of the spring works), but are just springy enough to insure that the spring will not lose contact when the spring extends like if you do a Dukes of Hazzard maneuver. You may even be risking a spring popping out if you cut them.
I would save up for coilovers... That way you can adjust the height just right. Otherwise if you cut your current springs and don't get it right, you are screwed. Even if you do get the height right, you may still be screwed.

Torinalth · 05-28-2002, 08:44 PM

if you want it that low then you are going to have to get either new springs or get cloilovers that will drop you low enough to do just that. cutting springs is just a bad idea for the above reasons.

Torinalth

05-29-2002, 02:20 AM

Hey buddy! DONT CUT YOUR SPRINGS. I cut the eibach pro kit springs and its the worst decision I ever made. The ride quailty became pure SH*T!!!! I felt every single bump in the road and bounced all over the place......It probably felt worse than driving a pinto!! Get coilovers like i did.

MIKESHAW · 05-29-2002, 07:37 PM

cuttting your spring will make you stang ride like garbarge. my friend cut his springs in his eclipse and it rode so bad the next day he bought coil overs.

05-28-2002, 07:51 PM	#3
blue00gt Mustang Addict Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: McKinney, TX Posts: 1,294	I would agree with Unit here. How the car rides and handles depends on more than just the spring rate. If you cut off a coil you are changing the dynamics of the vehicle. If those Saleen springs are progressive, then you especially shouldn't cut them because you will be removing the softer portion of the spring at the bottom and making it shorter - it will ride like a covered wagon. Some springs also have dead coils at the bottom that compress and touch each other when they are loaded (they approace infinitely stiff when they stack on top of each other, so they don't effect the way the rest of the spring works), but are just springy enough to insure that the spring will not lose contact when the spring extends like if you do a Dukes of Hazzard maneuver. You may even be risking a spring popping out if you cut them. I would save up for coilovers... That way you can adjust the height just right. Otherwise if you cut your current springs and don't get it right, you are screwed. Even if you do get the height right, you may still be screwed. __________________ Strike down the unroadworthy! 2000 GT Atl. Blue: '03 Cobra motor - 465rwhp/473rwtq, T-56 6-speed, full MM TA/PH & tubular K-member suspension, Saleen body, 17" Torq-Thrust II's, M/T ET Street radials, and lots more '94 Rio Red Cobra: All the bolt-ons, 3.73s

05-28-2002, 08:44 PM	#4
Torinalth Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Chapel Hill, NC - USA Posts: 188	if you want it that low then you are going to have to get either new springs or get cloilovers that will drop you low enough to do just that. cutting springs is just a bad idea for the above reasons. Torinalth __________________ When you finally shut down the car, just sit back and remember the run.... win or lose, you know it was a surge of adreneline

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05-28-2002, 06:12 PM	#2
Unit 5302 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 5,246	Couldn't tell you. I will tell you that cutting springs is a bad idea. Not only can you have dangerous fitting problems, but you alter the spring rate, and you destroy the ride characteristics of the car.

05-29-2002, 02:20 AM	#5
StangGT2002 Guest Posts: n/a	Hey buddy! DONT CUT YOUR SPRINGS. I cut the eibach pro kit springs and its the worst decision I ever made. The ride quailty became pure *SHT!!!!** I felt every single bump in the road and bounced all over the place......It probably felt worse than driving a pinto!! Get coilovers like i did.

05-29-2002, 07:37 PM	#6
MIKESHAW Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: maryland Posts: 32	cuttting your spring will make you stang ride like garbarge. my friend cut his springs in his eclipse and it rode so bad the next day he bought coil overs.