chopped springs - Page 2

Coxy · 06-03-09, 08:27 PM

first of all, I'd give it chance to settle.
As you've only just put them on.

ZermattGT · 06-03-09, 09:20 PM

Just a thought, an old trick I remember from some of the guys in the SCCA. Auto -Crossers in early VW Golfs and Hondas put the springs in the oven at 500 degrees F. for some hours, which as I understand it relaxed the spring by SMALL intervals. I believe this gave them very specific ride heights with a variety of wheel combinations.

I have not done this, and am no expert. Just putting it out there for discussion.

Isimmo · 06-03-09, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZermattGT

Just a thought, an old trick I remember from some of the guys in the SCCA. Auto -Crossers in early VW Golfs and Hondas put the springs in the oven at 500 degrees F. for some hours, which as I understand it relaxed the spring by SMALL intervals. I believe this gave them very specific ride heights with a variety of wheel combinations.

I have not done this, and am no expert. Just putting it out there for discussion.

I seem to recall they did that with spring compressors on... Is that true...?

ZermattGT · 06-03-09, 09:35 PM

Yeh, sounds right. I'm checking with some old Auto-X buddies now.

Stay tuned.

4v6 · 06-03-09, 10:00 PM

Theres another aspect to this besides the spring rate change that cutting the spring will achieve, and thats the fact that springs and dampers are a matched pair.
Suspension engineers go to great lengths to ensure that a dmaper is matched to the spring it has to control.
Its a bit like pushing someone on a swing where if you time it right theyll go higher and higher as each push adds momentum, wheras if you time it wrong theyll stall and slow down -which is what a damper does to a spring.
Anytime the rate of the spring is altered, youll need to alter the damping rates to best match the new rate.
If you dont youll get a spring thats not being controlled correctly leading to pitching, poor control of the tyre over undulations and bumps, you can end up with a car thats got lengthened stopping distances also.

Best to go the whole hog and get a kit where the dampers and springs are matched.

Emjay · 06-03-09, 11:40 PM

its not big and its not clever. dont do it

Booty · 07-03-09, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emjay

its not big and its not clever. dont do it

Yeah, just like he said......nuff said!!

dandan · 07-03-09, 07:54 AM

right ok, the reason i say chop a coil off is simply i can not find a set 80mm springs anywhere, they make them for the golf and jetta but thats all i can find, i aint doing it for better handling, remember its an old diesel not a quattro. il ride on the 60mm another month, i think maybe 15's might make it look lower by filling the arch better. will post pics soon.

Coxy · 07-03-09, 07:56 AM

put a couple of bags of sand in the boot!
and a full tank of juice will help as well!

pimpdriver · 07-03-09, 08:21 AM

coilovers???

air bags?

Get some piccies up of it now, and we'll have a vote to let you know if you need to go lower.

07-03-09, 07:54 AM	#18
dandan big gimping Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: derby Posts: 1,105	right ok, the reason i say chop a coil off is simply i can not find a set 80mm springs anywhere, they make them for the golf and jetta but thats all i can find, i aint doing it for better handling, remember its an old diesel not a quattro. il ride on the 60mm another month, i think maybe 15's might make it look lower by filling the arch better. will post pics soon. __________________

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06-03-09, 08:27 PM	#11
Coxy 4 Ring Mafia Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: on the side of a hill in Shropshire! Posts: 28,215	first of all, I'd give it chance to settle. As you've only just put them on.

06-03-09, 09:20 PM	#12
ZermattGT Quad Lamp Commando Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Massachusetts, U.S.A. Posts: 4,299	Just a thought, an old trick I remember from some of the guys in the SCCA. Auto -Crossers in early VW Golfs and Hondas put the springs in the oven at 500 degrees F. for some hours, which as I understand it relaxed the spring by SMALL intervals. I believe this gave them very specific ride heights with a variety of wheel combinations. I have not done this, and am no expert. Just putting it out there for discussion.

06-03-09, 09:35 PM	#14
ZermattGT Quad Lamp Commando Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Massachusetts, U.S.A. Posts: 4,299	Yeh, sounds right. I'm checking with some old Auto-X buddies now. Stay tuned.

06-03-09, 10:00 PM	#15
4v6 Ex Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,565	Theres another aspect to this besides the spring rate change that cutting the spring will achieve, and thats the fact that springs and dampers are a matched pair. Suspension engineers go to great lengths to ensure that a dmaper is matched to the spring it has to control. Its a bit like pushing someone on a swing where if you time it right theyll go higher and higher as each push adds momentum, wheras if you time it wrong theyll stall and slow down -which is what a damper does to a spring. Anytime the rate of the spring is altered, youll need to alter the damping rates to best match the new rate. If you dont youll get a spring thats not being controlled correctly leading to pitching, poor control of the tyre over undulations and bumps, you can end up with a car thats got lengthened stopping distances also. Best to go the whole hog and get a kit where the dampers and springs are matched.

06-03-09, 11:40 PM	#16
Emjay Man Fettler Extraodinaire Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Up my own arse blowing smoke Posts: 7,417	its not big and its not clever. dont do it

07-03-09, 07:56 AM	#19
Coxy 4 Ring Mafia Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: on the side of a hill in Shropshire! Posts: 28,215	put a couple of bags of sand in the boot! and a full tank of juice will help as well!

07-03-09, 08:21 AM	#20
pimpdriver Devon Pastie Muncher Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Calne Wiltshire Posts: 7,530	coilovers??? air bags? Get some piccies up of it now, and we'll have a vote to let you know if you need to go lower.