Can someone that has cut their front coil springs tell me the finished uncompressed height? I removed mine in preparation to cut. My stock uncompressed heighth is 16". I'm just now addressing my misalignment issues. Before I cut them down I'd like to know if one ring is the most common removed. Thanks in advance
The uncompressed height is simply measured to the point where you cut it. What are you trying to address?
I cannot get my front end aligned. I installed a 302 with aluminum intake and ceramic coated headers so my front end sits a bit high (which I like), but I have had to install too many shims and longer bolts attempting to align. The positive camber is greater than I have adjustment for. I have replaced all of the front end bushings, ball joints, and tie rod ends so I know that is all good. I removed my shocks to make sure they were not bottoming out. The only thing I can think of is that the 302 with the upgrades is do much lighter than the 312 that my springs are too long and not enough weight to compress as originally. My next step is to cut a ring out and see if that cures my problem.
Several members listed what they did on their springs, Rich posted a lot of information on his trial and error. I figure I'll try cutting a ring off of the original and see what that gets me. If that doesn't change anything I'll pull the front end apart and see if I reinstalled something wrong. The other option would be installing 6 cylinder or Aerostar springs but I want to make sure shorter springs will correct my adjustment before I spend money on new springs. I did a complete frame and front end disassembly while restoring the car, I don't see how I could have reassembled anything backwards or have a left/ right assembly wrong. It must be a coil/ weight issue. I have installed too many alignment shims and want to remove them, correct the issue and align with shims within original thickness. I have driven the car down some bumpy roads as suggested by others but no luck yet..
Maybe I'm not quite awake and need another cup of coffee, but if you have too much positive camber it seem like you would need to remove shims not add them :dontknow:
That would be too easy, I've tried removing and adding and haven't been able to get it to adjust either way. Adding shims seemed to take it towards the direction I need. Adding shims was taking the top of the tire towards each other.
Kerby......I can try and find my uncompressed coil height, but I'm not sure that would help unless you have exactly the same coil springs/spring rate. With that said, it seems like I'm remembering 14 1/4, but will have to verify.
Yes, what end you cut from is important. One end will have just a cut coil. That's the bottom that fits into the pocket (lower control arm), with the coil's end up against the "stop" inside the arm's pocket. That keeps the spring from rotating (important to constrain the rotation). This is the end you want to cut. Make sure you cold cut, not torch. I used a cut off tool, just went slow and used a water spray bottle to avoid excessive heat build up.
The other end has been ground flat It gets the rubber isolator pad. The pocket in the frame that end of the spring fits into is flat. Don't cut this end,
edit...for some reason, I thought I read your opening post as asking which end is commonly cut..probably not what you were asking, sorry.
http://57fordsforever.com/smf/index.php?topic=5795.465
Quote from: hiball3985 on 2017-10-03 06:36
Maybe I'm not quite awake and need another cup of coffee, but if you have too much positive camber it seem like you would need to remove shims not add them :dontknow:
Hiball is right. Removing shims will add negative camber. Look at how the pivot arm at the top moves towards the center of the car as shims are removed. I have seen positive camber increase when the car is rolled if the toe in is way off? Just guessing.
Now I'm second guessing my adjustments. I'll need to take all of my shims out and start from scratch, which is what I should do anyway before cutting my coil. I must be thinking opposite of what the shims are doing. I thought by adding shims I'm pulling the top of the tire in. It looks like I'm bassackward again!!
If you still need to cut the spring, and I've done a few in the past to lower the front, I never removed more then a half coil. A half will lower it more then you think. In you case with the lighter engine it may take several tries a little at a time..
I bought two sets of springs from Detroit Spring after talking to their engineers and giving them dementions of the height of car. One set made the car too high and neither set allowed front end alignment afterwards. I ended up going with a 60 year old spring (the one's that came with it). Good luck, they make dropped axles for that.
Thanks guys for your input. I reinstalled the spring this afternoon and will finish up the stabilizer bar tomorrow and remove all shims to start with none and see what I end up with. I think I need to before I cut anything. I really appreciate the feed back, great forum!!
I have original 6cyl. springs on mine with a 312 engine and it looks just right. (to me)
Also I cut 3 inches from the coils on my mustang a few days ago and dropped almost an inch.
I recently tried S-10 springs from the parts store at around $70/pair on my Ranchwagon with 5.0/AOD, P/S, and Air and it sat about an 1" lower than stock, but really had a nice ride. I removed a full coil wich made them firmer, but got me a great stance with plenty of suspension travel left.
I think I bought MOOG 850 springs (Aerostar) for $58. They dropped the car too low, I had less than an inch of suspension travel, so I bought 3/4" spacers from Summit. They are 600 lbs./inch compared to 400ish for stock springs. Still not totally happy.... I see dropped spindles in my future.
Here are Moog numbers with installed height and rate of springs that fit our cars.
Part # Installed Height/Rate
CC850(Aerostar)= 8.84"/608#(too low, no travel)
5658(S10) = 10.15"/530#(haven't tried yet)
5660 (S10) = 10.42"/598#(slightly lower than stock height, can be trimmed, 1 coil removed will drop another 2")
5662(S10) = 10.74"/748#(very tall with high spring rate, seems too aggressive)
Stock Coils cut up to one coil work good too.
I have used some drop-stop custom made springs and they were close in height to what I asked for out of the box.
Granada spindles can help drop 1", yet retain precious suspension travel. I've used with the 5660 and trimmed to my liking.
Cut 1/2 initially, then go slow with the rest of the cuts. Drive over some bumps after each trimming, and expect another .5" of settling in a few weeks.
You can trim 3/4" off the lower suspension bumper to gain more travel
So many variables in each car, you have to be willing to experiment to get it perfect.
It might not be so difficult if it were a bit easier to swap springs. I like the height of mine. I got my spring reinstalled and installed one set of 1/8" shims. I'll be test driving tomorrow so they can settle in and see where it needs adjusting. the
I want to update on my springs and alignment issues. First of all thanks to Hiball for his comment regarding the shims and removal of them to correct positive camber, that was the problem. I kept adding shims and got off in the direction I needed to go. I got confused and was making the problem worse. I almost cut my springs thinking I had no more adjustment. It's one of the analagies of not seeing the forest for the trees. I told my friend Jumping Jack Flash to put a bunch of shims in a sock and hit me upside the head next time he sees me for being so stupid. I appreciate the wisdom and experiences that so many on this site share. Great forum! My alignment issue has been corrected and I'm more knowledgeable today than yesterday. Life is good. :deadhorse:
Glad they were able to spot the problem and help you get it resolved. Just a head's up on getting a pro alignment...........I thought mine was close enough to drive for a while to settle the springs in, but it wasn't. If you recall my episode blowing out a tire at 70, with less than a few hundred miles on the new tires.
Thanks Rich, I remember, I'll keep an eye on them. Looking forward to putting some miles on this fall!