RE: Shortening springs - don't heat them!

["Ian Lomax" <sfalfisto@domain.elided>]

Please don't use this method.  If you want to lower a car, installed
different springs, or carefully cut yours, but don't heat them to
collapse them.

Springs collapse when heated because you're changing the metals
fundamental tensile properties, a key value in the spring formula.  And
you're doing just the opposite of what you want, not only does the car
now sit lower, but the spring will be softer so you're more likely to
bottom out.  But more importantly, you've now greatly increased the odds
of the springs failing and breaking.

Heating springs is an old hot-rod trick that was proven to be dangerous
years ago.

Ian Lomax
Mechanical Engineer - University of California, Berkeley and former
automotive engineer


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-alfa@domain.elided [mailto:owner-alfa@domain.elided] On 
> Behalf Of Frank Smith
> Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003 3:02 PM
> To: alfa digest
> Subject: Shortening springs
> 
> 
> Yoy can shorten springs without cutting or 
> stiffening.....make a plate to cover the spring [1/4" steel]  
> with a 1/2' hole in the middle.....get a suitable length of 
> 1/2' allthread and sandwich the spring between the 
> plates......I then use a press to compress the spring 
> completely and tighten the nuts....put the spring in an oven 
> [when wife is out] and "bake' at 450 degrees for 20 
> minutes.....time exactly....when released your spring will be 
> about 3/4'" shorter......length of time will dictate length 
> reduction......repeat on 2nd spring.....I have only tried 
> this on rears....fronts would obviously need heavier allthread.
> Frank Smith
> Capital Chapter
> 69 1750 Spider
> 72  GT JR
> Cockeysville, MD
> 
> [demime 0.99c.7 removed an attachment of type text/x-vcard 
> which had a name of Frank Smith.vcf]
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