Cutting Springs

[benz88]

Its OK to cut non-progressive springs. I've got the springs in my lincoln cut to half what they were and it rides like a dream

[dubmotion]

please do not cut your springs, that is all.

[ScrappinBeretta]

i rode cut springs in my beretta for a few mins to a car meet and home, it had hella bounce , like some really stiff coilovers would and any slight bump would make the car wanna rip the car off the road. it looked sick slammed but not worth it since the cut coils dont stay in palce. Deff save for coilovers or get the lowest drop lowering springs make for the car

[FunfGang]

Stance + aggressive driving is a recipe for disaster imo. Riding low means going slow unless you know the area really well so... Automatic isn't a big deal

I'm not SUPER low, but I drive the shit out of my car almost everywhere. Ive got a skid plate to protect me.

[mopman93]

cutting any spring will increase the spring rate, cut springs "ride like shit" because the overall height is too short and you hit bumpstops blow out your shocks. I run cut springs and the ride is great.... until i hit a bumpstop.

Think of the strut and spring as a system, they are meant to work together for a specified load and travel the same effective distance. If you go and cut the spring then you throw off the system, causing the strut to be effectively 30-60% (depending on how much of the spring you cut) through its compression cycle at free-height and have equally less length for rebound. If you use shortened struts with shortened springs then the system is back in balance. People aren't telling you to choose coilovers because its the only way to lower your car because all a coilover is essentially a macpherson strut, with the coil on top of the strut. The "coilovers" that people tell you to save your money for have shortened struts and stiffer springs and correct valving for the shorter stroke etc. etc. etc.

[SinlessVillainy]

Cut springs ride like shit. Heated springs also ride like shit. It's worth it to save the money and do it right.

[Vince30]

Racelands are dirt cheap for e36s, adjustable, and I have actually heard great things about them from e36 forums. Obviously not competing with the expensive stuff, but you get a lot for what you pay.

[FittedDownLow]

coming from a person who has driven his car on cut springs for 2 years..... don't do unless your going to make extended top hats if even possible for the e36.....

just buy racelands or something, or buy SEANDUB's zero clearance coilovers lol

[Devocat]

thanks alot for the help guys. ill start off with lowering springs, i guess your right cutting springs is dumb. if i get the money, ill buy coils. not exactly sure what i was thinking when i made this thread... sometimes i get a bit too anxious, and caught up in thought haha. anyway, back to the topic, thanks alot for the help. hopefully you'll see a build thread from me soon :P

[ghoster]

Rolling on cuts with a 240.Still have travel so it's not bad. Coilovers are necessary for better fitment and babes. Volvo is not bad but I wouldn't want to stay this way for more than a year.Doing it right takes a long time but it's worth it.Pretty sure you have a lot more aftermarket support than I do.You don't know how bad I want to just want to slap some 4in lips on my E50s.BTW-I have an automatic and I'm still breakin necks.


grant

[Krolik]

Do not cut progressive rate springs.

[FluidMotorUnion]

Cutting springs will do two things for you:

- Get you made fun of.
- Ruin your ride quality. I've never ridden on cut springs and described the ride as "good" or "average."

If you're a baller on a budget, and can't stand to be riding high, buy a set of Racelands while you save up (at whatever rate possible) for a set of real coilovers. At least then you'll be riding on trash, but height-adjustable trash that won't bottom out and destroy your car and your spine.

[fizn]

E36... You can find really cheap coilovers to 'em.
Rather bought that instead of cutting the springs.

Atleast in Norway, there are an okey coiloverset to E36 and that costs like 315euroes.
And I bet there are cheaper than that around the world.

http://www.partsandretards.no/justerbare-senkesett/bmw/3-serie-e36/tuningart

[oilcover]

if you wanna lower it just a couple inches why dont you just buy lowering springs?

http://www.ddmtuning.com/Product-Categories/Suspension/Lowering-Springs

its not that expensive...i found that within 25 seconds of searching for 'cheap lowering springs'

[kaidotech]

Another cut springs thread?

Just search, FFS.

And seriously, stop trying to justify hack jobs with "oh, I don't want to spend money on this car" or "oh, I'm a poor college student" or whatever. Just do work. And if you're going to do hack jobs anyways, just admit it's because you're too impatient or too lazy to do it right.

He speaks da truth, troof!