What tools do I need to change springs?
Tools To Install Lowering Springs
- Basic hand tools, including screwdrivers, pry bars, metric and fractional wrenches, metric and fractional sockets, ratchets, and extensions.
- Impact wrench, either electric or pneumatic.
- Floor jack and jack stands.
- Spring compressors.
Can you cut springs on struts?
You can lower your car by cutting the coil springs that are compressed in the strut above the car’s tires. A professional mechanic often carries out the process of cutting a car’s coil springs and lowering the vehicle. With a few tools, such as a coil compressor and angle grinder, you can cut the coil springs yourself.
Is it OK to cut coil springs?
The only coil springs that can be safely cut are coil springs with tangential ends. Because Square ends and Pigtail ends are designed to make full contact with their mounting points, they would have to be re-shaped after they were cut. So, Coil springs with Square or Pigtail ends can not be safely cut.
Can you install lowering springs yourself?
The process is not difficult, so anyone with garage access and a little know-how can accomplish this modification. Since lowering springs are designed to work with your existing factory suspension, they can simply replace your coil springs.
Why you shouldn’t cut your springs?
1) You can go too low. If the springs are cut excessively, the spring coils can bottom out on themselves. Using a plasma cutter or oxyacetylene torch to cut springs will destroy the temper of the metal and will make the spring too soft. You also shouldn’t cut progressive springs or springs with square ends.
What happens if you cut car springs?
The first thing you need to know is that cutting a coil spring will not only lower the vehicle, but it will also stiffen the spring making the ride and handling a bit firmer. But this is a good thing because lowering a vehicle reduces the amount of suspension travel. A stiffer spring will help reduce bottoming out.
Where can I get tools to cut coil springs?
A professional mechanic often carries out the process of cutting a car’s coil springs and lowering the vehicle. With a few tools, such as a coil compressor and angle grinder, you can cut the coil springs yourself. All of the tools and supplies necessary to cut coil springs are available at auto parts stores…
What happens if you cut the springs on a car?
However, cutting the springs will place more strain on the dampers, not to mention you will likely bottom out the shocks, due to lower ride height and less strong springs, so the dampers will probably fail prematurely. Thanks! If the rear springs are cut and the back were not, will that give the front a rough ride?
Can a coil compressor be used to remove a spring?
A coil compressor allows you to remove the spring while it is still compressed, and to safely and gradually decompress the spring. Follow the instructions that come with the coil compressor. Measure the new coil spring. Locate the dead coils on the spring.
Which is the last coil of a spring?
Pigtail – the last coil of the spring is the square type but has a much smaller diameter than the coils in the body of the spring. The type of ends a coil spring has is determined by how the springs are mounted in the suspension. A coil spring can have 2 of the same ends or it can have 2 different ends.