So ive been doing some research on this topic and i have a well understanding of how to do this. My only question is in the dodge dakota springs. Does anyone know what type of spring they are? Ie, tangenital, square or pigtail? I took a look best I could but I can't tell for sure.

 

my 2001 dak factory service manual paper verson. shows a coil spring in the front. all i know is there is a right way and a wrong way to do. my guess is buy a spring made to lower it the amt you want is the RIGHT way. back in the 50s people people would use a torch to sag the spring, it is a NO NO. it changes the temper of the spring. and can break. and do NOT try to mod the rear leaf springs your self. i know of shops that mod and make from scratch leaf springs. they can re curve the leaf spring to get any lift you need. a different ride higth way make some parts work different than before or wear out sooner.

 

Judging by the picture of them, they appear to be square on one end and pigtail (?) on the other. Or is that tangenital? I never heard of tangenital. It sounds like something you get at a nude beach.

 

yes if not made like the pic the spring will not load square. this is for valve springs and suspension springs. when they make a spring they wind the coils at the ends close together for one wind. then they have to cut of some wire off so it leaves a flat area. its really cool to see it done. cutting car springs is NOT to be done at home. i think there are people that springs for what you need.

 

Not all coil springs are flat on the end. Many are, in fact, just cut off. The spring buckets on these applications will be shaped to accept the pigtail end of the spring. If you have this type, they CAN be cut at home with a hacksaw, but it's a PITA because you have to cut a little, test fit, and repeat until they're just right. Plenty of people have ruined their springs by cutting off too much.

BTW, it's important to remember that the more you cut off, the stiffer the springs get.

 

yep Tom i for got about the other way to seat the spring. i found a spring to lower a dak 1-2 inches.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/be...e/model/dakota

 

For that price, there's no reason to mess around with cutting the stock springs. Buy those and save the stockers in case you ever want to put it back to original condition.

 

The springs pictured have one square end and one tangential, which is the one that isn't flat. Pigtail springs coil tighter at the end and look pretty wierd. I would love to get the lowering springs but even at that great price that would cost me a whole paycheck haha. However, maybe I'll see what income tax brings me? Anyways, thanks for the info.

 

I cut off half a coil in the front and it amounted to a one inch drop, no problems.

 

I should add to the last post. I cut off the half coil with a torch then heated the opposite side of that coil and pressed it flat back toward the spring. Like I said, no problems.