Cut a 1/4 coil off and wtf?

[Intense RT]

The truck's front, depending on grade, would slightly be higher if it was pointing up hill. On flat ground it was hard to tell which was higher. So I thought I would just cut a 1/4 coil off to get a half inch or so lower front going by what I've read. Nooo! Now I need to lower the damn rear. It at least dropped it an inch and probably more. Damnit. Maybe if I go from the 3/4 inch lowering block (milled it) to a 1" it will teeter down a 1/4 in the rear and raise the front a 1/4"?? What do you think? Kinda looks jacked up now, lol.

[BTLFED R/T]

That's weird! We cut a half coil out of my brother's and I don't think we even got an inch out of it. We ended up cutting another 1/4 to get 2".

[sunike32]

I plan on cutting my Hotchkis coils just a tiny bit in the spring when it comes out of storage. I was going to cut just 1/4 coil but I may just be cutting like an 1/8 of a coil now, haha.

Was this on stock coils?

[Branx5.9]

Post some pics of what it looks like intense :D

[sunike32]

It's funny because what you described is EXACTLY how I feel about mine. If its sitting on a downhill slope then it looks AWESOME. If it sitting on flat ground then its like 50-50; sometimes I think it looks OK and other times the front end appears too high. And the when it's on an uphill slop then the front end always looks horrible...too high.

[WhiteRT]

I plan on cutting my Hotchkis coils just a tiny bit in the spring when it comes out of storage. I was going to cut just 1/4 coil but I may just be cutting like an 1/8 of a coil now, haha.

Was this on stock coils?

1/2 of a hotchkis coil is a full inch....it will get you 2 full inches of drop over the stock coils.

I was going to try 1/4 coil but found a buddy with a 1/2 coil already cut on hotchkis coils so I will try those some day down the road.

Todd

[sunike32]

1/2 of a hotchkis coil is a full inch....it will get you 2 full inches of drop over the stock coils.

I was going to try 1/4 coil but found a buddy with a 1/2 coil already cut on hotchkis coils so I will try those some day down the road.

Todd

Ya, I think I am going to play it SAFE/CONSERVATIVE and cut like 1/8 coil. I just need it like half an inch lower...if that. I'm running 255/55 all around still, so I'll need to go with a 255/50 when I do it.

[krs1r/t]

The truck's front, depending on grade, would slightly be higher if it was pointing up hill. On flat ground it was hard to tell which was higher. So I thought I would just cut a 1/4 coil off to get a half inch or so lower front going by what I've read. Nooo! Now I need to lower the damn rear. It at least dropped it an inch and probably more. Damnit. Maybe if I go from the 3/4 inch lowering block (milled it) to a 1" it will teeter down a 1/4 in the rear and raise the front a 1/4"?? What do you think? Kinda looks jacked up now, lol.
i have stock coils if u wannna try it again
:biggthumpup:

[Intense RT]

I plan on cutting my Hotchkis coils just a tiny bit in the spring when it comes out of storage. I was going to cut just 1/4 coil but I may just be cutting like an 1/8 of a coil now, haha.

Was this on stock coils?Yeah...stock coil. Go figure.

[Intense RT]

Post some pics of what it looks like intense :D
I'll try tomorrow.

[Intense RT]

It's funny because what you described is EXACTLY how I feel about mine. If its sitting on a downhill slope then it looks AWESOME. If it sitting on flat ground then its like 50-50; sometimes I think it looks OK and other times the front end appears too high. And the when it's on an uphill slop then the front end always looks horrible...too high.Yep, that's how I felt about mine. Lol, I even measured the circumference and divided by 4 so I wouldn't take too much. Marked it with a scribe and used a cut off wheel being very precise and consistent from one coil to the next.

[Intense RT]

Are there any urethane coil spring isolators we can get? Not the lifting type, but just to replace the old ones.

[2k1AmberR/T]

Are there any urethane coil spring isolators we can get? Not the lifting type, but just to replace the old ones.

That's a good question, I'm not sure but if you find out I'd like to know, post that info in here if you get the chance.

On a side note, I'm leaving in about an hour or so to go do a bunch of stuff to my truck that's needed to get done for the past few months. Cutting the coils is on the list.

[Intense RT]

When I reassembled everything, the iso's kept wanting to squirm from off the top as I jacked up the lower control arm...to the point I couldn't feed the shock into the top mount. I eventually got them on there straight. Went for a drive and think the front settled a hair more. I'm gonna try to peek under there with a good light. I hope both of the isolators moved and that's why it's lower. Too damn cold right now.

[Bos-R/T]

I cant get over the fact of how sensitive these springs are in our trucks. You cut a 1/4 of a coil and it dropped it an inch? I mean a 1/4 of a coil is how long? 3 or 4 inches? How many coils do we have? 4?

[Intense RT]

I cant get over the fact of how sensitive these springs are in our trucks. You cut a 1/4 of a coil and it dropped it an inch? I mean a 1/4 of a coil is how long? 3 or 4 inches? How many coils do we have? 4?
Normally, I guess, it's about a 1/2" drop.:bs:

[Five9Dak]

Our front suspension is large compared to the cars and the spring perch isn't that close to the hub, so small changes will do a lot.

[Bos-R/T]

Our front suspension is large compared to the cars and the spring perch isn't that close to the hub, so small changes will do a lot.

I see that. This is good info because I was thinking about doint this to mine but I never would have thought just that little does so much. When I used to lower the old fox body mustangs when I was in high school we would take out like 2 or 3 coils to drop it 2 inches.

[Intense RT]

Our front suspension is large compared to the cars and the spring perch isn't that close to the hub, so small changes will do a lot.I thought I was safe...delphi, dak r/t forum, dak dur...general concensus is a HALF coil is about a 1 " drop. I cut off a 1/4 of a coil....

[WhiteRT]

Are there any urethane coil spring isolators we can get? Not the lifting type, but just to replace the old ones.

I dont think they make a urethane one but moog has replacements for them - I am ordering some today before my suspension goes back together. K160036 is the part number - rockauto is 11.xx for them. SO 22.xx to do get new ones.

Todd

[Intense RT]

I dont think they make a urethane one but moog has replacements for them - I am ordering some today before my suspension goes back together. K160036 is the part number - rockauto is 11.xx for them. SO 22.xx to do get new ones.

Todd
Thank you. Sometime moog makes urethane replacements...I wonder if they are rubber or urethane? Long shot, I know. Either way, if the old ones moved, I'll order some and replace. Thanks again.

[Intense RT]

Tried a search to see and no details...actually very litte search result for the Moog iso's.

Our axle tubes are 3.5", right? Would NAPA carry these U bolts?

[WhiteRT]

Tried a search to see and no details...actually very litte search result for the Moog iso's.

Our axle tubes are 3.5", right? Would NAPA carry these?

I found the part in rockauto and oreilly's verified it was for my truck....

I ordered two just now in the store - they did them for 11.99 each.

NAPA can cross reference the moog part I gave you, they have a complete cross with moog part #'s

Here is what I bought - you can click on the vehicles this application fits thing and see the dakota listed there as well as in rock auto.

http://www.kragen.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=MOO&MfrPartNumber=K160036

Todd

[wyotech_cuda440]

Thank you. Sometime moog makes urethane replacements...I wonder if they are rubber or urethane? Long shot, I know. Either way, if the old ones moved, I'll order some and replace. Thanks again.

Maybe you can put an isolator on the top and bottom of each coil to gain a little height?

[Intense RT]

Maybe you can put an isolator on the top and bottom of each coil to gain a little height? I think it would just pinch right through. Kinda like the stock one's now. There's a hole where the end of the coil is. I think it would just rip the hell out of it and squeeze out with up and down movement in a short time. Especially since there's a point where the spring could become almost totally unloaded, IE like you see when swapping springs. You can just lower the control arm a pretty good amount and the spring won't try to kill you if you undo a ball joint. Other cars I've had, you better have the coil compressed, then let the ball joint go.

[sunike32]

My spring isolators looked pretty good when I put my Hotchkis coils in this summer so I just reused them. However, before I put the coil in, I took two pieces of electrical tape and just taped the isolator to the top of the spring -- WA-LA no problem getting it back in :biggthumpup:

[wyotech_cuda440]

I had mine out a month ago, and the rubber was still pretty thick (1/4" - 3/8")where the end of the coil is, and that's with 85,xxx miles on them. Yours must have rotted and wore through. Maybe just some new ones on the top will get it looking good.

[Intense RT]

I had mine out a month ago, and the rubber was still pretty thick (1/4" - 3/8")where the end of the coil is, and that's with 85,xxx miles on them. Yours must have rotted and wore through. Maybe just some new ones on the top will get it looking good.
Maybe so. Hope for it. I'll try to take it somewhere level, besides my yard, and take a pic. It may not be as bad as I think it is. It's raining and sleeting a bit right now, so I'll try to shine a light up there when it's nicer out.

My iso's fit on the spring ok, but the sides are kinda wavy. They're 10.5 years old, so maybe it's time to replace anyway.

[360 XRT]

i've been cutting springs for years.one thing i've noticed,when cutting used springs,is they never end up the same.i've cut 2 springs (used),and have it not match (l/r) which REALLY sucks.now when i cut springs,i take the springs to my buddies shop and have them rated (HE RACES STOCKCARS).ask around your town,i'm sure someone has a spring rate press you can use.

[Intense RT]

Been considering getting some v6 springs. Should have a longer free length and help on launch. I'd have to install first to see where they will sit. I had a bad feeling I might be making the wrong decision to lower the front of my truck. Shoulda listened to it. Now I've got something to bug me.

Anyone have some used V6 reg cab coil springs laying around?

[Intense RT]

That's a good question, I'm not sure but if you find out I'd like to know, post that info in here if you get the chance.

On a side note, I'm leaving in about an hour or so to go do a bunch of stuff to my truck that's needed to get done for the past few months. Cutting the coils is on the list.Only ones I see here, ours is B style. Anyone take some measurements based on what the link needs??

I don't have my isolators out, of course.

WhiteRT, you got some new ones?:D
http://www.energysuspension.com/universal-products/shock-boots-coil-spring-isolators.html

[Intense RT]

I think I may have figured out what happened. Some things I found keeping in mind my drag shocks are hydaulic with no compressed gas inside like the stock shocks.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f15/gas-vs-hydraulic-shocks-357697/

Excerpt from Monroe tech page...

"An additional benefit of gas charging is that it creates a mild boost in spring rate to the vehicle. This does not mean that a gas charged shock would raise the vehicle up to correct ride height if the springs were sagging. It does help reduce body roll, sway, brake dive, and acceleration squat.
This mild boost in spring rate is also caused by the difference in the surface area above and below the piston. With greater surface area below the piston than above, more pressurized fluid is in contact with this surface. This is why a gas charged shock absorber will extend on its own."

I think the switch to hydro drag shocks helped to slightly lower the rate from the new height of the spring, lowering it further. I think if I had stock shocks, I would have ended up with the typical ~1/2" drop up front.

btw, can someone correct my spelling of "off" in the title. I missed the extra key stroke. :)

[WhiteRT]

btw, can someone correct my spelling of "off" in the title. I missed the extra key stroke. :)

FIXED! :)

I also got my moog coil spring isolators - they are not poly but still nice replacements for 12 bux a piece.

Todd

[Intense RT]

FIXED! :)

I also got my moog coil spring isolators - they are not poly but still nice replacements for 12 bux a piece.

ToddThanks! Can you take some measurements on those to see if those Type B Energy Susp. Universal isolators will work? The links a couple posts back for the measurements needed...if it wouldn't be too much trouble.

[WhiteRT]

Thanks! Can you take some measurements on those to see if those Type B Energy Susp. Universal isolators will work? The links a couple posts back for the measurements needed...if it wouldn't be too much trouble.

Yeah I will try to do that for you.....I dont think either of those will work but I could be wrong - either way the new moog ones are nice and THICK, really beefy I am happy for 25 bux :)

Todd

[Intense RT]

Well, I still had the old gabriel shocks and checked with Autozone and there was a lifetime warranty. One was weak and the other was blown so they warrantied them out. I have to make a road trip so I thought I would take off the drag shocks and put the new ones on. I measured before I took them off, from rim lip to federwell, and then again after I replaced the drag shocks with the new gas charged shocks. It raised the front end 1/4"! So gas charged vs non gas charged hydro shocks does affect the rate as Monroe's tech article said. Thought I would post this so others consider this when, especially, trying to level the truck out for drag racing. Drag shocks will lower the truck up front.