Cutting Springs?

aeroengineerguy · #1 (**permalink**) 11-20-2003, 02:12 PM

I want to lower my GTV about 1" - 1.5" but I don't have money for new springs

Does anyone have any experience with cutting springs? If so, please tell me everthing you know!

Oh, BTW, I have IAP performance springs.

Thanks in advance
Jason

**papajam** · #2 (**permalink**) 11-20-2003, 02:29 PM

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't the IAP springs themselves lower the car? Or do you want to go even lower? I'd try removing the spring shims and/or the rubber spring seat before cutting the springs.

aeroengineerguy · #3 (**permalink**) 11-20-2003, 03:38 PM

Papajam
The IAP springs lower the car slightly but it is still pretty tall. I'm not familiar with the shims. Are they on the front and back? could you tell me a little more about them, and removing them?

Thanks
Jason

**papajam** · #4 (**permalink**) 11-20-2003, 05:06 PM

Alfa used spring shims both front and rear in order to level the ride height. The front shims came in four sizes ranging from 3.5 to 10.5mm and the rears, also in four sizes, from 6.5 to 21.5mm. Your GTV may or may not have any shims. The front springs also use two rubber spring seats (or insulators), one on top and the other on the bottom, each about 25mm thick. The rear spring uses only one rubber spring insulator located at the top.
This pic is of the front. The rubber insulators are the black donuts at the top and bottom of the spring. Next are two thin pieces of sheet metal that fit between the insulator and the spring. The donut in the lower right corner is the shim(s) that goes between the insulator and the spring pan.

**papajam** · #5 (**permalink**) 11-20-2003, 05:20 PM

This is the rear. The insulator is at the top and the shim is shown at the top left.
I recall the procedure to remove the springs is here on the BB. Try doing a search and see what comes up.
You also might want to check out this thread on corner weights. It explains why, along with a link to a Hotrod magazine article, proper corner weights are so important. Basically, just lowering the car by removing shims, insulators or spring cutting may not necessarily improve handling if the corner weights are afu.

aeroengineerguy · #6 (**permalink**) 11-20-2003, 07:56 PM

Thanks Papajam

What are the cons of taking out the shims and insulators? It seems like it would be necessary to keep them in. right?

I appreciate all the help

Jason

**Sniady** · #7 (**permalink**) 11-20-2003, 08:58 PM

From what I heard, Alfa put the shims in to meet bumper laws here in the states.

Leave the spring seats in, if you take them out the springs will rattle.

IAP made 3 different springs. Stock, Sport and Super Sport. The sports are about 1-2 coils more then the super sports. The pound per spring are rated the same on both springs.

I purchased super sports, and they shipped me the wrong ones. So I ended up pulling the spring's and cutting a coil all the way around. It worked well for me.

aafoon · #8 (**permalink**) 11-20-2003, 09:17 PM

I think Sniady means to say Alfa Ricambi sells the 3 different version of springs.IAP just sells stock and there version of Sport.

aeroengineerguy · #9 (**permalink**) 11-20-2003, 09:25 PM

Sniady-

So you cut a full loop out of each spring? I've seen pics of your car, it looks pretty kick a$$. The height is perfect. My GTV is the same color, but oxidized. BTW, what size wheels and tires do you have?

Thanks
Jason

aeroengineerguy · #10 (**permalink**) 11-20-2003, 09:29 PM

aafoon-

I have IAP "performance" springs. They feel a little softer than I would expect from performance springs. I just want to cut the springs for now so that it looks a little more aggressive and hopefully I will be buying some shankles or something in the future.

Jason