crdude

So this is something I'v been thinking about doing, and have seen friends do this when putting together JY lifts for trackers...

I'v been wanting to pick up some RE 5.5 coils because there cheap, like $90 compaired to the 3-3.5" which are $130-140.

Why not just get the 5.5" and cut a couple coils off to get my desired hight, I cant seem to think how this could cause an issue....

Any ideas as to why I shouldnt do this?

Turbo X_J

Plasma cutters are expensive.

crdude

I have a friend with a plasma cutter.

xjmarc

Too much heat will affect the spring rate so be careful what you cut them with.

DougyFresh

also remember that a spring is nothing more than a twisted wire... the shorter you make it, the stiffer it will become... probably not terribly noticeable, just stating facts

crdude

slightly stiff ride (even though RE are stiff springs to start with) would be fine. I wont be using m xj as a dd once I finish swapping the transmission in my car.

5-90

Because you'll screw up your spring rate?

Ever see the kids in the slammed Acuras, they bounce for an hour after running over a dime? Cut springs.

If you don't have any choice at all, you can probably cut springs and get away with it. If you have the choice, don't.

93XJLI

meh, RE 5.5s are 185lb/in rate, not too stiff. the 3.5s are a nice 241lb/in.

use this site to calculate the rate before you cut. if you dont have good shocks (bilstein 5125 stiff valve or better) i wouldnt want to go much higher than 200 or the shocks wont be able to control the spring.

hankthetank

lol what? i used to have a honda on cut springs... i just used a zip disc.

93XJLI

ya, using heat will do bad things to the spring.

hankthetank

i had a friend with a 1.6 EL on cut springs and sweet niche runners (circa 2001). he used a zip disc too. that and some wet rags and you can keep temperature under control pretty easy i think.

98cherokee531

Not that this is related much but I cut one full ring off my front coils in my 69 gmc pickup to lower it 3". Still no problems after 2 years

crdude

my friends trackers seem to ride fine with cut springs for their lifts..

Slammed acura? I live in Alaska... we dont drive that junk here unless they are wanna be cool kids that live in citys...

And for shocks my plan is bilstein 5165's, if not I'll probably go with 5100's.

holycaveman

If you actually look at a spring you will see ends on each side of the coil actually get tighter to create a flat area to distribute the spring rate.

If you simply hack an end off the spring ****'s to one side and does not really operate that well.

Will it still hold the jeep up, yea.

But I would not do it.

And I do a lot of crazy hill Billy mod stuff.

stang65

cutting progresive coils cause alot of changes to spring rate and how the spring acts while loading and unloading through the rage of the axle movement. I have cut coils before it can be done just know the risks you are taking and decide if saveing $100 is worth the peace of mind.