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h&r spring question

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Old Dec 12, 2014 | 05:12 PM
  #1  
W210calibenz's Avatar
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From: Seattle, WA
2000 Mercedes Benz E320 W210
h&r spring question

How much will cutting half a coil off the front lower my car? I installed H&R sport springs with #1 pads all around but the front sits over half an inch higher than the rear and it's hard to look at.


Any help would be appreciated. Just don't want to take too much off the front and regret it.
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Old Dec 16, 2014 | 11:21 AM
  #2  
R2dMax's Avatar
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87 190e 2.3-16v Cosworth; 2000 E320 Saloon
I can't answer your question but I have the same spring and was considering cutting them a bit before I install. Can you post a side view of how it sits?

Last edited by R2dMax; Dec 16, 2014 at 11:30 AM.
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Old Dec 16, 2014 | 12:00 PM
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1996 E320, 2018 Ducati Panigale V4S, 2012 1199 Panigale
Originally Posted by W210calibenz
How much will cutting half a coil off the front lower my car? I installed H&R sport springs with #1 pads all around but the front sits over half an inch higher than the rear and it's hard to look at.


Any help would be appreciated. Just don't want to take too much off the front and regret it.
Should be about a half inch. Do you have the spring compressor tool?

I cut one whole coil off and the front sat about a half inch lower than the rear...a half coil should be perfect.
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Old Dec 16, 2014 | 04:33 PM
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99 E300
I've never been a fan of cutting springs.....
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Old Dec 16, 2014 | 07:27 PM
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From: Seattle, WA
2000 Mercedes Benz E320 W210
Originally Posted by FlatlineEF9
Should be about a half inch. Do you have the spring compressor tool?

I cut one whole coil off and the front sat about a half inch lower than the rear...a half coil should be perfect.

Thanks flatline, you da man
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Old Dec 16, 2014 | 08:33 PM
  #6  
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From: Seattle, WA
2000 Mercedes Benz E320 W210
Originally Posted by Cloudsurfer
I've never been a fan of cutting springs.....
Never asked how you felt about cutting springs. Thanks though
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Old Dec 16, 2014 | 09:46 PM
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raymond g-'s Avatar
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From: Seattle WA
99 E320
Originally Posted by FlatlineEF9
Should be about a half inch. Do you have the spring compressor tool?

I cut one whole coil off and the front sat about a half inch lower than the rear...a half coil should be perfect.
Didn't remember you had H&R springs. Did you switch from Eibachs?

Needs to keep heat down when cutting. This is do-able using a cutoff wheel
on an angle grinder. Torch is a no-no. Recip saw will use up blades.
Hacksaw if you have lots of time and blades. You should understand effects
of metallurgy and not to raise temperature unecessarily.

Amount of coil to be cut depends on the specs of the spring and if it is
straight or progressive winding.

ghetto route: If you're simply going to cut for drop and to hell with the
spring rate, you can also consider placing the coil upright (plumb...or
place in verified 90º corners between 2 walls and floor...using it as a jig)
then using a simple laser leveler to identify 1/2" drop from the top of the
coil.

oh, another thing, some springs may require a few hundred miles over
undulating pavement in order to settle. would hate to have you cut new
springs, then find out that you'll need to pull them a few months later
to shim the front end back up.
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Old Dec 17, 2014 | 12:33 PM
  #8  
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1996 E320, 2018 Ducati Panigale V4S, 2012 1199 Panigale
Originally Posted by raymond g-
Didn't remember you had H&R springs. Did you switch from Eibachs?

Needs to keep heat down when cutting. This is do-able using a cutoff wheel
on an angle grinder. Torch is a no-no. Recip saw will use up blades.
Hacksaw if you have lots of time and blades. You should understand effects
of metallurgy and not to raise temperature unecessarily.

Amount of coil to be cut depends on the specs of the spring and if it is
straight or progressive winding.

ghetto route: If you're simply going to cut for drop and to hell with the
spring rate, you can also consider placing the coil upright (plumb...or
place in verified 90º corners between 2 walls and floor...using it as a jig)
then using a simple laser leveler to identify 1/2" drop from the top of the
coil.

oh, another thing, some springs may require a few hundred miles over
undulating pavement in order to settle. would hate to have you cut new
springs, then find out that you'll need to pull them a few months later
to shim the front end back up.
Yup when I sold the car to my brother he wanted a bit of a drop, had to cut a half coil on the front because my sounds in the back made it sit way lower. He rolled on Stock pads and H&R, until eventually replacing it with stock 4X4 springs again after he ripped off my brabus lip a few times lol.
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Old Dec 17, 2014 | 12:38 PM
  #9  
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Any pics of said vehicles before and after cutting?
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Old Dec 18, 2014 | 12:03 PM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by R2dMax
Any pics of said vehicles before and after cutting?
Only with my eibachs and one coil cut in front on #1 pads. After raising it up, I was rather depressed and didn't want evidence of the travesty. Check my build thread in my sig for those pics.
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