just a random question is it safe to lower your car by cutting the springs few of my mates have done it and i was thinking of doing it myself??

very very VERY UNSAFE!!!!

dont do it

safe-ish, but ultimately gay

Its not unsafe, it just makes the suspension shitter as there isn't enough force spread out in the spring to do its job.

I had some for ages with no problems apart from wank banging (when went over a bump) suspension.

Anyone who says its unsafe probably never tried it, or if they did try it made a complete balls up job of it.

Don't care what anyone says, it is unsafe

safe if done correctly

unsafee dont bother the suspension rate changes drastically and u get very poor ride and handling

A mate of mine done it on his golf and a year later he has seen no problems. I cut mine for the weekend of edition38 last year because my suspension kit hadnt turned up yet and i didnt end up in a ditch or spontaneously catch fire. You have to cut them a certain way so that they fit the same way as they would normally. And whatever you do, dont cut through the entire spring with a power tool because as the spring brakes it expands with force and you'll end up with an angle grinder in your neck.

Although i had no ultimate problems, it did cause a knocking noise which turned out to be strut related (I'm guessing because it knackered the shock absorber which is understandable)

Edited 21 April, 200818 yr by XRP

Its unsafe if its not done right, and plain old wank if done properly, either way its a stupid idea, just be patient save up £100 bar and get some decent lowering springs if thats all you can afford !

dont listen to these gays cut them!

its ok just bit bouncy and you are shocks will fuck with in time lol

^^^

so from what youve just said there mate its guna cost you more in the long run lol

so save up and get some springs lol cheaper

I have no idea whether they're safe or not, but it seems a bit pointless when you can get second hand lowering springs for

about £2.50 lol

(ok, not £2.50..but probs £30)

I use chopped springs all the time. Never had a problem yet.

Its like anything else you do to your car. Its only unsafe if you don't know what your doing.

As long as you tie down your springs and make sure they seat properly you'll be fine.

To be honest, I do agree with these two posts:

safe if done correctly

However, knowing you've done it right is another question.

unsafee dont bother the suspension rate changes drastically and u get very poor ride and handling

Agreed, it'll make your car low, but it won't neccessarily make it handle better.

Personally, I'd never do it, the risk of a spring dislocating is too high.

I'd personally not chop the springs.

For one its an MOT failure so your gonna have to fork out for new springs come MOT time.

Also as said before it will rape your shocks so some MOT time again youll have to buy new shocks.

So you would be cheaper in the long run just to save up and buy a lowering kit (springs and shocks) and sail through your next MOT.

There is a preload margin. As long as you only cut a small amount so that you still have some preload,you're fine - providing the shape/taper of the spring still seats correctly in the cups. Its only possible with some cars.

LOL this thread hasnt help make your mind up!!!

seriously though, save some money and get some cheapo coilovers if your desperate, will look better, handle better and also adjustable!

i would never cut springs as I've heard so many times of them dislocating causing the suspension to just drop causing accidents

just get the fucking angle grinder out

Read this:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t486757.html

I'd personally not chop the springs.

For one its an MOT failure so your gonna have to fork out for new springs come MOT time.

Also as said before it will rape your shocks so some MOT time again youll have to buy new shocks.

Are you sure? Or are you just telling people what you've heard before.

I cut my springs on an uprated suspension kit and it passed its MOT fine. Didn't wear out the shockers either.

my car has -60mm springs (and uprated, shorter, shocks) with a loop cut from them. they were done properly and seat right. you cant even tell they've been cut. Its been through 7 MOTs like that too.

yeah, its quite annoying when people can't distinguish facts from there own opinion.

i ran a philJ 80mm suspension kit with cut springs for 2 years and they were fine

I'd personally not chop the springs.

For one its an MOT failure so your gonna have to fork out for new springs come MOT time.

Also as said before it will rape your shocks so some MOT time again youll have to buy new shocks.

Are you sure? Or are you just telling people what you've heard before.

I cut my springs on an uprated suspension kit and it passed its MOT fine. Didn't wear out the shockers either.

Well I've never cut springs on any of my cars but I have always been told that cutting springs is an MOT failure....if the examiner notices, maybe you are very skilled with the old angle grinder and did a good job cutting the springs, I don't know.

As for the shockers going. I once lowered a car just on springs was only 40mil down and all shocks were fine when I put the springs on. 6 months or so later the front ones were shagged and the back ones didn't really seem healthy. Fair enough that was on my Fiat Bravo but still the springs killed the shocks.

Your saying you have an uprated suspension kit, maybe thats why the shockers haven't worn out if they are uprated too?

Get mr grinder out, chop those badboys

I always said i`d never chop springs because of all the "i know everything" comments people made about them, but i chopped my rear springs of my coilover kit (seperate spring and shock for the rears) because it wouldnt lower enough for me, and its been fine, done it a few months ago

The ride is shit but its shit anyway with coilies wound right down so makes no difference to me

As long as they still sit in the seats and dont fall out when you jack the car up, then you`ll be ok

Obviously your standard shocks will die quicker, just like using lowering springs on their own