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Basic Suspension Spring Cutting

Well, I'm heading to my shop to do this! No lie lol. My Bilsteins arrived yesterday, and I've already had my ipd springs for a week. Gonna leave the rear alone, but going to cut off about a coil, coil and a half in the front. I like a lil rake lol.
 
Trailer Trash Racer said:
Well, I'm heading to my shop to do this! No lie lol. My Bilsteins arrived yesterday, and I've already had my ipd springs for a week. Gonna leave the rear alone, but going to cut off about a coil, coil and a half in the front. I like a lil rake lol.
Click to expand...

Rake looks good <to people that don't know any better>but doesn't point right.
 
Egh, my brother convinced me not to do it. He said if I didn't like the stance, that I could cut the front ipds later. Instead of cuttin them right outta the box. How did you guys put the bumpstop in the front though?? That blue thing from the Bilsteins is there, & I was trying to separate the rubber bumpstop from its own metal base to cut it in half, but it wouldn't budge. Don't know how much of a retarded thing this is, but I didn't put them on in the front... I still saved them though, but if I could get an answer pronto that would be great.
 
Trailer Trash Racer said:
Egh, my brother convinced me not to do it. He said if I didn't like the stance, that I could cut the front ipds later. Instead of cuttin them right outta the box. How did you guys put the bumpstop in the front though?? That blue thing from the Bilsteins is there, & I was trying to separate the rubber bumpstop from its own metal base to cut it in half, but it wouldn't budge. Don't know how much of a retarded thing this is, but I didn't put them on in the front... I still saved them though, but if I could get an answer pronto that would be great.
Click to expand...

Firstly, I wouldn't waste money on aftermarket springs just to cut them. You get near identical rates and lowering from cutting stock springs which is what this thread is about. I'm not downing iPD's springs, I have a set on another 240 of mine, I'm simply stating that it seems irrelevant to buy something new and then cut it when you could have saved that money and cut your stock springs.

Secondly, Bilsteins have an internal bumpstops for the strut inserts, so you cannot shorten them. All that is needed is that sweet blue dust cover, leave all the stock bumpstop, cover, and other jazz off.
 
I'm gonna do what cosmic did, and just cut my springs with them still on the car. This should be possible with a 240 right? 3 in the front, 2 in the rear.
 
Crazychopstick said:
Firstly, I wouldn't waste money on aftermarket springs just to cut them. You get near identical rates and lowering from cutting stock springs which is what this thread is about. I'm not downing iPD's springs, I have a set on another 240 of mine, I'm simply stating that it seems irrelevant to buy something new and then cut it when you could have saved that money and cut your stock springs.

Secondly, Bilsteins have an internal bumpstops for the strut inserts, so you cannot shorten them. All that is needed is that sweet blue dust cover, leave all the stock bumpstop, cover, and other jazz off.
Click to expand...

My brother made the same argument. He said that if I cut them, and it was too dropped for my taste, that I wasn't gonna be able to get that coil back. But I can always go and cut later in case it wasn't enough drop off the box. But even Cameron has said 1 coil won't hurt much. Anything more than that is REALLY pushing it.
So for the front struts I'm good huh? Sweet. I didn't cut the ones in the rear. It handles like a freakin wet dream LOL
 
nickpro said:
I'm gonna do what cosmic did, and just cut my springs with them still on the car. This should be possible with a 240 right? 3 in the front, 2 in the rear.
Click to expand...

You can do them anyway you wish, but I always choose safety first. Saving an extra 30min. of time is not worth a broken hand in my opinion.

The problem with Cosmic's method which is that without unbolting anything you're going to have a very difficult time if not impossible to shorten your bumpstops. That is very important, especially if you want to lose 3 coils. Otherwise you're just sitting on the bumpstops which defeats the purpose of springs, so you might as well cut all the coils off. The rear is even easier, it's probably a total of six fasteners. There's no reason to put your life in danger for the sake of being lazy, that's my two cents. Cars aren't as fun when you're dead.

Do it however you wish, but I'll never recommend a more dangerous route to anyone who has never attempted suspension work before, that's irresponsible and unfortunate events could tarnish this site's reputation. This article is to help you in the safest fashion possible, but nobody is forcing advice on you.
 
Yeah I honestly wouldn't recommend the way I did it, it was mostly for ****s n giggles because I'm upgrading my suspension soon and I wanted to see what it was all about. It can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, even if you do. You're just not supposed to cut any kind of spring under a load. People suggest just cutting them and it sounds easy enough, sure. The right way is ALWAYS the best way. I am damn near sitting on my bumpstops :lol: 3 coils is extreme! Looking back now, I would suggest slightly less than three coils, even if the drop is dead sexy :e-shrug:

In all reality, a decent set of sport springs is the way to go above any method of spring cutting.
 
cosmicmonster said:
Yeah I honestly wouldn't recommend the way I did it, it was mostly for ****s n giggles because I'm upgrading my suspension soon and I wanted to see what it was all about. It can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, even if you do. You're just not supposed to cut any kind of spring under a load. People suggest just cutting them and it sounds easy enough, sure. The right way is ALWAYS the best way. I am damn near sitting on my bumpstops :lol: 3 coils is extreme! Looking back now, I would suggest slightly less than three coils, even if the drop is dead sexy :e-shrug:

In all reality, a decent set of sport springs is the way to go above any method of spring cutting.
Click to expand...

You're such a douche. Get offa here. BAHAHAH!
 
sure did

Crazychopstick said:
Thanks, it's not finished yet.



That's what I do.

If you know what you're doing, you may not need to read this. If you've never done it before, I think it can clear up a few questions that may prove to be dangerous to the noobie.
Click to expand...

My car corners like a charm now after cutting 2 coils off the front...I couldn't get get my top strut nut off so left my tierods , brake lines,and coil inside the strut , but i dipped the strut down and out of the wheel well so that i could get my die cutter on the spring to cut it once it was commpressed.

I'm going to cut another coil off the front and two off the back if my 17 x 8 with a 60mm offset rims fit with room to spare ,but i'm figuring they wont even with a spacer in there.

If they dont fit im going to slam it and put some of those 15 inch 740 i found at the junk yard...if they do fit i'll have they best looking 240 in Boise ID.

with my car being low as it is...it should get an extra 95 mph highway...going green is what its all about...who cares about looks...psshh
 
danemcbee said:
My car corners like a charm now after cutting 2 coils off the front...I couldn't get get my top strut nut off so left my tierods , brake lines,and coil inside the strut , but i dipped the strut down and out of the wheel well so that i could get my die cutter on the spring to cut it once it was commpressed.

I'm going to cut another coil off the front and two off the back if my 17 x 8 with a 60mm offset rims fit with room to spare ,but i'm figuring they wont even with a spacer in there.

If they dont fit im going to slam it and put some of those 15 inch 740 i found at the junk yard...if they do fit i'll have they best looking 240 in Boise ID.

with my car being low as it is...it should get an extra 95 mph highway...going green is what its all about...who cares about looks...psshh
Click to expand...

3's pretty low.

You be scrap'n

Your exhaust be H8'n
 
The rims didnt fit because the offset was too high even with a big ass spacer... im about to cut one coil off the back ....do i need to take off the back tire to remove the spring?
 
took ken and i like 5 hours...not rushing. confirm my dimensions ken, 2.5 COILS cut in the front and 1.5 COILS cut in the rear?

before...
DSCF2114.JPG


after...
DSCF2714.JPG


sorry, it dawned upon us after the fact to take quality before/after shots.
 
Mylesofsmyles said:
took ken and i like 5 hours...not rushing. confirm my dimensions ken, 2.5 COILS cut in the front and 1.5 COILS cut in the rear?
Click to expand...

:nod:

<a href="http://s255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/redwoodchair/Honey%20dijon/?action=view&current=242Drop3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh136/redwoodchair/Honey%20dijon/242Drop3.jpg" border="0" alt="242 Drop 3"></a>
 
Aareen said:
when you buy tein basics they come with the spring and struts, along with height adjustment wrenches. I would recommend function form coilovers, they are well priced and are extremely good.

So if you buy full coilovers, you won't be using your stock struts at all.
If you go buy ebay "sleeve coilovers" those go on your stock or aftermarket struts, and are height adjustable, but they usually have terrible spring rates, and are very cheaply made.

other good combonations are
skunk2 full coilovers
all tein coilovers
function form coilovers
ground control sleeve coilovers mixed with koni yellow struts

If you are going to be using stock struts for the time being
I would say get the tein S.tech lowering springs, they're progressive rate springs so they'll ride relatively smooth but stiffen up during hard cornering and make the car handle better, they typically lower the car about 1.5 to 2 inches.
Click to expand...
rice.jpg
 
I am about to rebuild the suspension of my '90 245, and am undecided on springs; how much to cut, replace or leave em alone.
In short: I don't like the front-to-rear hight differanceof the IPD, and the front hight might impede my occaisional off road romp. Plus - it is a work rig and will often carry 200lb's of tools, and the occaisional 500lbs of material on the racks.
My setup inclination dujoir is to learn how much/where to cut the fronts that will shave about an inch (versus the 1.75ish of the IPD), and how much/where to cut 1: original rears with rubber spacer (for loads - been working really well on my '87 245), or option 2: IPD heavy duty rears - to leave the car OEM level.
I am leaning toward the bildsteins tourinng, over boge turbos with OEM turbo sways, new rubber and poly bushings, balls, ties, mount plates.
Any tunning advice for this enthusiastic driver (therapy is tagging a summit of the many passes around here) / blue coller tool hauler is appreciated.
 
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