I have a question, and YES I have searched. And found some info just not what Im looking for. First off I don't care if the shocks get blow they will get replaced anyways, my question is how many coils do I have to cut off to get a 2" drop.

If no one has anything helpful to say, besides saying how bad of an idea it is, then don't post.

My car is a 1989 Honda Civic Hatchback.

 

First, go and measure the installed spring length. We'll call this length "x1". Then, subtract 2" or whatever drop you want, and we'll call that "x2". Then use this equation:

N2 = N1 * (x2/x1)
Where, N1 is the original number of active coils
N2 is the number of active coils that you want for whatever drop

I'm not recommending that you cut your springs, but that's how you'd figure it out.

 

Alright, after doing more searching, and seeing pictures of other peoples cars with 2 coils and 1 coils cut I decided Im going to meet them in the middle, and cut 1 1/2 coils off each one. And see how that works. If I don't like it I will install a set of stock springs back on it. But if I like how it sits, then I will replace the shocks with some stiffer ones to help with the bumpy ride.

Now I no the ride will be bumpy, Im not worryed about it, Iv been in cars with cut springs and crappy coilovers. So Im not worryed about the bump.

 

1 last question before I start to work on the car. I did go out and rent coil spring compressors, but do I need them? If so I no how to use them.

*EDIT*

Found the answer I was looking for.

 

I ended up cutting 1 coil off each spring, and I ended up with a 1" drop. Its better then nothing, but I was hopping for a 2".

 

My post must have been invisible. I'll look into that.

 

common sense died.

 

No your post was not invisible.

 

Even if you get shocks like Koni Sports, which would be able to handle your cut springs just fine, the springs may not be stiff enough to keep the car from bottoming out.

Yes the spring rate increases slightly when cutting a few coils off, but it still probably won't be enough to keep it off the bumpstops.