Questions about lowering the car

[Jason]

Anyone ever cut the springs to lower your car? I would like to get mine down about an inch up front, and maybe a 1-1/2 out back. Nothing too drastic, and it seems to me the ride is pretty firm as it is so I figured bottoming out shouldn't be an issue. Can you do it this way or is it not recomended.

Thanks,
Jason

[heavyequipment]

It's better to heat a short length of the coil until it sags. If you cut the spring you make it stiffer. When the spring is compressed, as by a bump in the road, the wire twists and then springs back. A shorter wire is harder to twist; therefore a stiffer spring.

Also, it's a lot easier to make them sag than to remove them, cut them, and contour the ends fo fit the mounts.

Where I live, it's more about raising the suspension (3 miles of bad dirt road).

[Jason]

I hadn't thought about heating it... I'll look into that. I'm all pavement here, so no worries. I certainly don't want the ride any stiffer, its fine how it is.

Jason

[cuaz64]

Hoy have a lot of lowering options, from mild to wild:
1. Lowering springs from FCP Groton or Ipd
2. Coilovers from kaplenhke racing, you win adjustable ride height with them

I recommend you use upgraded shocks as the twin HD or Koni

[Jason]

Thanks for the suggestions!

Jason

[77volvo245]

On my diesel I have bilstein HDs all round with 2.5 coils in the front and 2 in the rear. I really like they way my car handles really made a difference even with stock sways.:o

Heating the coils will weaken the springs a be to soft

Another thing I've been told you can cut too much on a 700 series. I think you can get away with 2 coils maybe a little more.

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z229/77volvo245/1985%20Diesel/biodieseloil069.jpg

[Jason]

So you cut your coils? Did the ride change much?

Looks good!

Jason

[77volvo245]

So you cut your coils? Did the ride change much?

Looks good!

Jason

Yes I did. I think it's a cheap way to lower your car if you don't have money for springs. Some people think IPD or other aftermarket springs don't lower car enough and cut them as well. My diesel is now more solid and less body roll around corners with the HDs as well. The down side when I cut the springs my alignment needed some ajustment because of the camber. I like the diesel springs because there stiffer than the gas 240s.

[cuaz64]

hmm....I forget to mention, somepeople prefer use cutted diesel front springs and cutted rear wagon (overload) springs.:)

[reed]

Has anyone put the ipd springs on a 740/760 Diesel. The diesel weights more than the gas motor. Will the ride height be the same or will set a lot lower than the gas cars? Overall ride quality.

[heavyequipment]

[QUOTE=Heating the coils will weaken the springs a be to soft.]

Heating the coils only weakens them while they are hot enough to sag. After cooling, they will have their original stiffness, or close enough that you won't notice the difference.

[cuaz64]

Hmmm...I found this: http://www.sfxperformance.com/parts/MRG1280.htm
...no cutting...no unmounting....

[v8volvo]

Jason, don't forget that 760 Volvos used the Nivomat self-leveling setup in back... I don't know if they were doing that as early as 1984, but make sure, because if it has nivomats then you need to take a totally different approach...

[reed]

OK does anyone know if the IPD lowering springs will work on the diesels b/c of the added weight on the front end? Has anyone tried it?

[Andydonnelly]

cut two coils off each spring it will be grand iv done it tom my 940 pick-up an i much nicer to drive and looks way better. one thing make sure you have goo condition shocks.....

[MRDART]

I would not recomend cutting... I once had a 745 wich someonehad done this to... the front springs would jump out of the seat and a sharp end cut the tire at the freeway doing about 75 mph....

[Jason]

Nivomat self leveling? Never heard of that. As far as I can tell, my car just has regular springs/shocks out back, nothing special.

Jason

[77volvo245]

I would not recomend cutting... I once had a 745 wich someonehad done this to... the front springs would jump out of the seat and a sharp end cut the tire at the freeway doing about 75 mph....

On 240s you don't really need to worried about that to much. I've seen people cut more than three coils on their 240s. 700 series are a little different and may only get away with 2 coils max to be safe.

[cuaz64]

Nivomat self leveling? Never heard of that. As far as I can tell, my car just has regular springs/shocks out back, nothing special.

Jason

Don't worry about that, the Nivomats started to be used in the '88 760. They are a special (and expensive) shocks that always retain the height in the rear.

[kevinyoung03]

You can easily find solution for your problems on google search or on several websites.

[Jason]

Thanks for that helpful tip...


Jason

[cuaz64]

I found an interesting way of lowering:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/morganpartee/1125091427.jpg
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r133/morganpartee/1126091752.jpg
Using "motosport" 2.5x10" springs. Also, you can find various spring rate tu use.:). I gonna use this way.

[Jason]

Nice, color matched wheels. Kinda what I did but I'm diggin' the white!

I ended up cutting my rear springs as well, the look is great and the ride didn't change much at all. I'll post up some pics when the car isn't covered with salt and snow!

Jason

[Sweedspeed18]

Pshh.
Put up dirty ride height pics Jason :D

http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp178/sweedspeed18/DSC_0004-1.jpg

This is my 854 T5.
I love winter car pics haha.