Cutting Eibachs?

[Tony_SS]

Anyone ever cut a half coil off the front set of Eibachs? I'm about to...!

[vintageracer]

Be careful! EVERYTIME I have seen someone cut a 1/2 coil or more off an aftermarket performance spring like Eibachs for their first cut, they were SORRY. The car was lowered much more than they wanted.

1/2 coil on an aftermarket is a LOT more than a 1/2 coil on a stock spring. Try a 1/4 coil cut first.

[Tony_SS]

1/2 coil on an aftermarket is a LOT more than a 1/2 coil on a stock spring. Try a 1/4 coil cut first.

Thanks for the heads up.. I wonder why this is though?

[67velle]

let me know what you did and what the result....... Could be in my near future.Todd

[Tony_SS]

Hey Todd.... you first :P

[vintageracer]

Typically the Eibach spring is already 2-3 inches shorter unloaded than a stock spring unloaded. Since the spring rate is between the stock and Eibach spring is different and the design of the spring is different (coil spacing and wire thickness), the springs compress to different loaded heights. A stock spring by design will compress upon itself much more so with the distance between the coils when loaded being much smaller than the distance between the coils of a compressed aftermarket performace spring. Therefore even though the stock spring is much taller unloaded, the springs could have an equal loaded height. Since you are intersted in loaded height of the spring you will cut the Eibach spring MUCH less than you would cut a stock spring. The Eibach "may" even be a progressive rate spring rather which again adds complexity. Cutting a progressive rate spring changes the spring rate even more.

Go to the Moog website or Detroit Spring for a little education on the design of coil springs. The technology behind coil spring design is actually kind of interesting.

Worst case scenario is that you have to remove/cut/install the Eibachs 2 or 3 times to get it right instead of screwing it up and then needing to buy another set of springs to replace the ones you miscut!