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+--- Thread: torching springs (/showthread.php?tid=2577)
torching springs - larsalan - 04-30-2011
I was cutting up the heap today and this old time mechanic friend of mine walked by. He started telling me to save every bit of that car and that all of it could be worth money.
I had mentioned how people will cut the springs and that I had saved mine to sell them. He says cutting springs is dumb and what you should do is put heat on them while they are still in and when they shrink down blast them with a spray of water.
Ever heard of that?
RE: torching springs - DeliveryValve - 04-30-2011
Cutting springs can only be done effectively on certain spring types/shapes. For instance a w123 spring can be done effectively because of the shape of the lower spring perch.
Heating springs are an 'old school' method of lowering. You would torch the bottom coils until the desired height is attained. But with a modern car, the problem you run into is the spring rates will change with heating and you cannot be consistent with all the springs. So spring rates will be be random, and the ride will end up uneven and "floaty".
The other issue is the spring would be weakened. So the possibility for the coil to crack apart is great.
If the spring type allows for it, cutting with cutting disk is the best and only option.
.
RE: torching springs - dieselboy - 05-01-2011
Heating springs is a no no. It makes the spring steel not so springy. It will break alot eaiser and will fail eventually.
RE: torching springs - Captain America - 05-02-2011
+1
Cut only!
RE: torching springs - 300D50 - 05-02-2011
After seeing an Infinity in the yard that had a mild side impact and shattered a good stock spring on the other side, I'd say "stay the hell away with a torch".
RE: torching springs - okto - 05-06-2011
Learn about annealing and hardening to see why heat-modifying springs is the worst idea. Unless you want to use your springs to make a knife.
