i have stan ruslow's 1200lb coil springs on my L. i only got a 1" drop which put me at 18" from the center of the center cap to the bottom lip of the fender lip. i want to get the truck down to 16.5". how much of the coil spring should i trim off? also how much will the spring rating increase?

 

Cut no more than half a coil and see where that puts you should be very close to the additional 1.5 drop. As for rate figure int eh 1350 to 1425 range now.Stan

 

Stan - Are the coils progressive?

 

not progressive but it is hard to say exactly what the rate will be without using a spring rate tool.Stan

 

You can't say exactly, but you can get close enough for government work buy dividing the number of active coils pre-cutting and post-cutting. The spring rate will increase in direct proportion to what is removed.

 

thanks stan! and all others!

 

what should i use to cut the coils? is one coil when you start at the tip of the coil spring (where it contacts the control arm) to the point just above it. then just cut 1/2 the distance out of that coil. sorry just do not want to cut to much out. thanks

 

Use a cutoff wheel.



If you're really ****, you can sit the coil in a bucket of water to keep it cool.

You got it.

Indeed. Measure twice, cut once!

 

thanks tim! what total drop did you end up with on your new suspension? have you started on the hellwig bars with their new brackets yet?

 

yah i agree, use a cutting wheel, and either bucket, or just do about halfway through it, then cut halfway through the other coil spring, then return to the original etc.

Take your time, and try to cut as perpindicular as possible to the coil, and not the over all spring, if that made sense.
-Patrick

 

is there going to be any neg. affects from lowering my truck 2"+ with coils only? if it is going to affect the handling in a neg. way i will drop it with control arms.

 

I have not yet had a chance to redo the suspension. I finally have most of the parts ready, but I'm only able to do a little at a time. Now that I've blown the last track event of the season, I'm just taking my time.

 

mines droped with 2" coils. problem is tho if you only got one inch drop out of your coils, its b.c your lightning coils are already 1" lowered from the factory. So you are really going 3" down from factory f150, and i would imagine that you will not be able to align your truck. Im still having a few issues with getting mine aligned.
-Patrick

 

You will have more bump steer, whether the drop is via springs or control arms. Either way, the relationship between the control arms and tie rods is the same.

Whether you find the increased bump steer objectionable is another story. Some are sensitive to it, some are not. I have had it for four years. I'm used to it.

 

you musta never watched home improvement... its measure never cut once... go buy another and try again