Spacers for Cut Rear Springs

thehackmechanic

thehackmechanic

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As per prior post, I cut a coil off the front and rear springs. The car sits perfectly using the three-dot rear spacers. That is, until I load up the trunk with stuff for a road trip. I was just reminded of this as I unexpectedly took the coupe on the 1900 mile round trip drive to The Vintage. With the trunk fully loaded, there's very little room between the rear fender lip and the tires.

When I got back, I put the original rear springs back in with the two-dot spacers, and the rear wheel wells are showing too much air. I could go down to the one-dot spacer, but I don't think that's enough. The ride height of the cut springs are close; I just need maybe another 1/2" of height.

I know there's not a four-dot spacer, but has anyone hit on a good old fashion do-it-yourself solution to thicken the spacer at either the top or the bottom of the rear spring?

--Rob
 
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Slip a piece of rubber hose of the closest diameter on the first segment of the cut coil and try that on the 1 or 2 dot? Send us a photo of this if you do it.
 
Rob,

Doesn't this make the ride a bit jarring? My NK had cut springs and I put the original stock springs back in, before that it rode like an ox cart. The fronts would rattle over bumps as the springs would move in the mounts. If the rear springs had green stripes that is the heaviest load rating and would help prevent sagging.
 
Chris-

From memory, one coil removed is about 10-15% stiffer, which IMO is ideal. It's also much more predictable than CN's springs (at least previously- not sure about the latest batch) when it comes to final height and rate.

The last set I purchased for my CSi didn't lower it appreciably at all but were noticeably stiffer? It was a bit frustrating to go through all the trouble and expense of installing them and not get the desired effect.

I wonder if a set of CSL progressive springs could be modified (cut) to give the desired height on a standard E9 front strut?

Regards- Richard
 
My experience is that cutting springs for the rear works well-they still fit nicely top and bottom.

The front is another story...once they're cut, the springs never sit right again on the upper strut mount. Mine slid off while driving and it was quite a shock!

Perhaps mounting the cut side down would help on the front struts....I never tried it, I went to a coil over instead.

Sorry Rob-no ideas on the spacer.
 
What about cutting some spacers from a flat plastic stock like ABS or Delron... for that matter you could use some rubber sheet goods. I bought some to make the anti-backflow flaps for my old jet boat's water exhaust ports. It's about 1/4" thick and has a fiber backer in it for stability- very tough stuff.
 
I had on '02 with aftermarket springs and no rubber cushion at all, with 15" Revolution wheels that were within a hair of touching the trimmed back fenders. The springs creaked against the mounts each time they flexed, and when I jacked up the car for something, they hung free.

I took some leftover half-inch somekinda rubber hose, cleaned the last six inches of the spring top and bottom, and slid the hose over the spring ends. It would have helped to put some lubricant on but that's another forum. This added about a quarter inch to the total height and stopped the creaking entirely. So you could do the same for "just a little" more height.

Surely there are more, and um, other... backyard ways to approach this.
 
Springs and ride height

I have several coupes and several spring setups. It all depends on what you want to achieve, from a looks and driving perspective. It also depends on the weight of the car, esp at the front where AC, power steering, bumpers and more add weight to the front.
I don´t have any cars with those US strut spacers which wreck any comparisons.
I have most cars on the BMW CSL springs front and back. Perfect in the front but the rear sits a bit low, even with 3dot pads. OK when alone in the car (and not too fat), with nothing in the trunk. Add a passenger, even in the front, and a full tank and it gets a bit low. Add heavy luggage and it gets very low. The 205/70 VR14 tyres will pass inside the rear fenders and not rub, but it looks tired. Drivewise it is still fine.
I have changed one car back to stock springs in the rear, which need to be cut by about one coil as far as I can make out. Trial and error. It´s on my "to do list". The difference between the 1, 2 and 3 dots is minimal. Some springs are softer than others. Don´t know exactly which is which, and on some it doesn´t show anymore, plus they tire with age.
I tried a set of Eibach on one car, with 1 dot pads, and that turned out well.
 
thehackmechanic said:
I know there's not a four-dot spacer, but has anyone hit on a good old fashion do-it-yourself solution to thicken the spacer at either the top or the bottom of the rear spring?

--Rob
Click to expand...

Two thoughts. I seem to recall you can use the front strut spacers (that you probably removed) and fit them between the top rear spring perches and the springs. An alternative might be to adapt aluminum wheel spacers.

Number 15
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