Cheapest way to lower a 88 festiva

[brickdog2000]

What is the easiest way to lower a festiva? I have an 88 festiva L that I am itching to lower since I put 13 inch rims on her. She seems to sit a little taller now. I have found spring compression kits for 50 bucks, but I am sure there is another way. I have heard of cutting the springs, but what will that do to the ride and posssible wear and tear on the suspension? Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you for your help.

[25Horseplay]

Heat the springs with a torch, although not recommended, could cause handling issues.

[pyrothehitman]

or cut the springs but also not recommended as is becomes a very stiff suspension

[FestYboy]

cutting the springs causes a negligable increase in springrate (which you want anyway).

DO NOT heat the springs, i've seen the results and they aren't preaty. the only way to do it properly is to use an oven and have a way to compress the spring while still fresh from the oven untill it has cooled off on it's own. and the results will be inconsistant at best anyway.

[25Horseplay]

Hey he asked what "the cheapest" or "easiest" way was, not the "best" way.

[pyrothehitman]

there are alot of toyota and honda people that cut the springs(use to where im from)...it looks stiffer than it should be...there looks as if there is 0 play which stresses the motor mounts and everything when you hit bumps...and you have to keep the cuts even

[GenevaDirt]

carry 3 other people in the car with you at all times....try to make sure they are all close to your weight....should do the trick.

[FestYboy]

there are alot of toyota and honda people that cut the springs(use to where im from)...it looks stiffer than it should be...there looks as if there is 0 play which stresses the motor mounts and everything when you hit bumps...and you have to keep the cuts even

thats because the honduhs are riding on their bumpstops. the springs are there just for show.

[FestYboy]

Hey he asked what "the cheapest" or "easiest" way was, not the "best" way.

i was just trying to make the point that heat is neither a cheap nor easy way to lower a car, and steer him away from that idea.

oh, and heating springs will reduce their rate, which is counter productive.

[brickdog2000]

So the best way is to cut the springs? If so I can do that since I have all the tools for it.

[pyrothehitman]

yeah you can do it yourself....just cut the coils at the same spot it ends....gl

[brickdog2000]

One more question. How much should I cut off? I am only looking for an inch maybe two inches all the way around. I think I can figure it out, I just dont want to cut them to short.

[ruppenduro]

cut off 2 coils from each spring with a grinder. here is a pic of my aspire with 2 coils off the front and 2 1/4 off the back. it sits pretty level, but i kind of wish i left the extra 1/4 coil on the rear for more of a rake.

[lanemeyer14]

I cut 2 coils from mine, front and back. I haven't measured, but I think it's about a 2 inch drop. Went from being able to stick almost entire hand in between top of wheel and bottom of fender, to just barely two fingers in front and a tad higher in the rear. Has a slight rake like Ruppenduro mentions above....

[Festiva_Fred]

^ It'll be even lower once you reassemble everything..