I just removed cut coils from a Mustang II suspension and installed 2" dropped spindles and stock springs on my 53 Chevy Coupe. The car now rides nice! But, it sits about 3/4" higher from where it was. Will the springs settle and give me a slight drop? It "looked" perfect where it was now it's a little high. Hell, I'll take a 1/2" difference from where it was... Thanks in advance for your input.
Yes, new coils can settle in. Cheaper made coils will take a set after driving for a while but usually no more than 1/2". Higher end coils are cycled a few times before the official spring rating and shipping. That's usually why they cost more.
X 2. As a former spring engineer - how much settling you get depends on a lot of things - design stress , quality of wire, etc. But, in the near term, I would not plan on getting anywhere near 3/4 inch - it takes a lot of miles to settle. A good spring shop (like Eaton Spring in Detroit area) can "bulldoze' the spring to lower it - essentially compress it one or more times beyond its design height to overstress it. Or chop a LITTLE out of it .
Eaton Spring is nothing like a good spring shop. Mike Eaton still owes me $655 for the new springs he fucked up in 2005. He has the springs which he made too long after careful measuring and consultation with the original factory data. I am also out shipping both ways. I had a GM Development Engineer look at the springs and he confirmed that they were way out of whack. The spring manufacturer who made me a correct set said "Oh yeah I have to fix a lot of that guy's stuff". Mike Eaton's comment was - "the spring doesn't care which way it sits - negative arch is okay" - really Mr. Eaton? So where is the compression travel? Looks like the spring has taken it all up when static and the axle is resting on the bump stops....
All the MII "stock" repop springs I've seen / used have settled at least an inch. Luckily I used a CE adjustable MII set up on my 37 Ford chassis. I got the ride height ok at first but after awhile I had to really screw the shock mounting collars back down to raise the front end up again. Drive it at least 6 months before you decide. I had some chrome ProSprings sag the same way. Weasel... the CE guys say the same thing about their late-30's leafs. I just couldn't stand how then "reversed" themselves after awhile. But at least you can take out your lowering blocks! Gary "
No. Coil springs do not settle. When I set up my race car for SCCA autocross I bounce the chassis up and down three times and roll the car back and forth and that's final ride height. It's a common misconception in the car hobbyist world. I have seen a car get lower because the owner keeps adding weight to the car over time. But never because the springs settle.
All springs settle. Some more, some less, some quickly, some slowly. It is not a misconception, it is a fact. If you are running stiff springs (I'm sure you are being a cone racer) on a fairly light car, you may not experience spring sag or settle in the short time you utilize them. But that does not negate the fact that they will settle. To the OP, I'm thinking some coil cutting is in your future. 3/4 is a lot to wait for!
yep, plan on doing some cutting (a small amount at a time) or order some shorter springs and shocks. post a picture of your ride.
They shouldn't. They should shoot for the stars. After all...they're good enough, they're smart enough, and doggone it...people like them.
Thats some weak looking shit there-My fix would to go to a salvage yard and but a pair of same width springs-tear them apart and cut the eyes off the main and install it and the second spring to your set-should solve the de arch situation. Use to build all my springs like that and I never had any failures.
my stock boneyard m2 [v8] springs were a little stiff so i tried 4 cy springs and that put me at a good height.stock boneyard springs.pre stressed,maybe ,and the price was right.
I installed a Fatman Mll in my coupe. I was told by the guys at Fatman which NAPA coils to buy for my car with the SBC. I was tempted to remove 1/2 coil before I installed them but at Fatman's advice held off . Fatman was right, the coils settled about 1/2 to 3/4 inch and put the lower arms perfectly horizontal .
Ok, I'll leave em' and see what happens. When I get it back from the alignment shop I'll post a pic or two. Thanks for the replies.
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