Has anyone cut their coils?

[Doug Feigen]

Has anybody tried cutting their coils for lowering/stiffening?
I've done this with good results on other cars, but only after consulting with others who have done it.
I've got a '97 se that I'd like to stiffen up a little bit. Thanks for any advice!
Doug-

[sc02grandam]

one word.. DONT

[Matt95GT]

Get lowering springs if you want to drop the car and have a higher spring rate. I've seen 2 92-98's dropped via cut springs... they bounced around like a ball, and the one bent the spring mount into the tire until it cut a nice deep groove in it. (I ended up selling him a stock spring to fix it)

[jordanGT]

It's possible to cut springs properly, but you're honestly better off in this age of easy-to-find lowering springs to just buy a set, toss 'em on, and save yourself the headache and hassle. More cut jobs end up crappy than quality.

[nineteen88ga]

I'd like to get a little more drop on my 88, because the drop with the eibachs is minimal, but does get rid of wheel gap. Gave very little thought to cutting them, butI'm just going to live with them until I decide if I want to do air.

[DontPassTheFence]

yea, if you've done cut springs before CORRECTLY, and can reproduce the results easily enough, it may yet be worth it, but its not the safest thing. If you do cut your springs, dont go off roading, dont look for performance out of a higher spring rate, and watch for pot holes!

[jayhawk]

Just because a car is lower doesnt mean it will be quicker around a corner.

Example. A 1992-1998 Civic using coilovers handles best if dropped 1-1 1/8". Its the spring rate that makes the difference, and since by cutting the spring you are increasing the spring rate, the effect will be massive understeer, since the suspension will have no room to travel.

[DontPassTheFence]

hence why I said a higher rate is bad... of course, unless you really love the understeer. My car handles only slightly better with the eibachs (1 inch lower, approx)

[VanishingImage]

This is why Im putting my Sprint lowering springs back on the rear. I can tell the rear is a little bouncy and a tad bit loose. I have cut stock springs in the back(1 full coil off each) but will be putting my Sprint lowering springs back in on the rear. Plus my new 18's closed the gap that I had before so it should look the same.

[nineteen88ga]

big drop, and performance handeling don't go together. Like Jay said, most cars will perform best with a 1-1.5" drop compared to a lug tucking drop

[VanishingImage]

not to mention if you hit a decent bump and come down and bounce back up far enough the coil spring can actually come out of its mounting spot,atleast in the rear. Get some Eibachs and some front and rear STB's(strut tower brace) that should give you the stiffness and better handling