95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

Can Coil Springs Be Cut To Shorten?

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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 06:28 AM
  #1  
Gerdo's Avatar
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From: SouthWest Littleton, Colorado
Can Coil Springs Be Cut To Shorten?

I want the carrying capaity of a OME 891 but I only want about 2" of lift. I want to use Tundra springs up front w/o any spacers and 891s in back but I'm afraid that the back will be way too high for the front. I would like the back about 1" higher than the front. Can I cut coil springs to shorten them? I know that anything that causes heat would not be good, but what about a cold saw?
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 06:39 AM
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You might want to read this first:
http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/tech/2002spring/

....and to make things more complicated, the OME 890s and 891s are progressive.
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 06:48 AM
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From: Socal
Originally Posted by Gerdo
I want the carrying capaity of a OME 891 but I only want about 2" of lift. I want to use Tundra springs up front w/o any spacers and 891s in back but I'm afraid that the back will be way too high for the front. I would like the back about 1" higher than the front. Can I cut coil springs to shorten them? I know that anything that causes heat would not be good, but what about a cold saw?
Instead of cutting the spring, why not just go w/ the shorter OME springs. IIRC, they're the 906's? Anyway, search and you'll find the answer if this is another path for you?
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 07:16 AM
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have you considered airbags? You could run the softer OME springs in the back and use the airbags to control your ride height, especially when loaded down.
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 07:36 AM
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From: SouthWest Littleton, Colorado
MTL 4Runner
I like the look of your setup, 881/890. Thanks for the pictures you sent me. Do you have any spacers up front or is it just the spring?
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 08:26 AM
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From: Montreal, QC Canada
Originally Posted by Gerdo
MTL 4Runner
I like the look of your setup, 881/890. Thanks for the pictures you sent me. Do you have any spacers up front or is it just the spring?
No spacers (or trim packers) up front at all and my CV boots don't touch one another. I was debating on doing a diff drop just for insurance against wear (or if I wanted to put spacers later), but I am Ok for right now. If you do put ANY spacers in I would definately suggest a diff drop.

Here's a shot of my truck on level ground:


It also takes a little while for the springs to break in so don't rush out and get it aligned the same day or you'll probably have to do it again when they settle. Give them at least a solid week of driving (unless your steering is really off, ie it pulls to one side, bad vibrations, etc), but also don't go too long or you will probably have irregular wear on your tires.

Last edited by MTL_4runner; Apr 11, 2006 at 10:19 AM.
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 11:53 AM
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I have heard scary stories about cutting springs. Since they are progressive and made to carry a certain type of weight if yoo cut them all their characteristics are off. It can create a lot of highway bounce and stability issues, or so the performance shop told me.
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 12:43 PM
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Cutting them is out of the question. Thanks for the info.
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Old Apr 11, 2006 | 03:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Gerdo
Cutting them is out of the question. Thanks for the info.
I debated it myself and decided it was a bad idea.
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