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Thread: Difference in HD coils and regular f150 coils?

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    Question Difference in HD coils and regular f150 coils?

    what's the difference in a 2003 Harley Davidson front coil spring compared to a 2001 Regular f150 coil spring?

    I am wanting to cut my coils to drop the harley and still have my stock springs off of my 01 f150. It had a 5.4 in it if that helps any. How much will i need to cut the coils off of the regular f150 to drop my 03' Harley 1"?

    thanks
    2003 Two-Tone Harley Davidson #9192

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    "Shadow the Hedgehog"
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    The difference is that HD '03 spring is 1" dropped compared to a reg F-150.

    IIRC if you cut half coil of stock HD springs you'll have 1"drop,so you'll have to cut one full coil from a regular f-150 spring to reach 1"drop in a HD...
    Last edited by Hoffmann; 08-24-2005 at 03:54 PM.
    #2256 built in 3/26/02 - 6# lower, 377HP/483TQ before the Whipple.

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    Thanks Man!!!

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    World's Fastest Street HD
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    ah, hoffie can do math with suspension distances finally!


    i also think the spring rates are a little bit different. I think the Lightning & Harley coils are a tad bit stiffer than the regular f150 coils, as well as an inch lower, for improved handling.

    when you cut your regular f150 coil it will increase the spring rate a little bit, but i dont know how much it will exactly raise it, if it will end up being equal to, or less than or greater than the stock HD spring rate.

    but as hoffie said, if you want to cut your stock f150 coils to match the HD coils height wise, the rough rule of thumb is every 1/2 coil cut off will net 1" of drop. so cut off a full coil from the regular f150 coil and you'll end up with 2" of drop over f150 stock, or 1" of drop over HD stock.

    if you cut the springs properly though (grinder with cutoff wheel, etc.) and dont heat them up (torch) which will screw up the springs totally, the ride will still be fine. i'm on the 3rd different cut spring setup in my truck keep going lower and lower little bit by little bit

    had cut 02 HD coils
    had cut Hotchkis coils
    have cut Ruslow coils right now, and about to cut another 1/4 coil off

    M.HYDE: 2000 HD F-150 #0356 of 8197, Built 05/18/00, Bought 07/03/00, 700/784, 09.89@138.78
    *Worlds Fastest Street HD: '08/'09/'10/'11/'12/'13****Worlds Fastest Eaton Powered HD: 12.19@112.48 11/17/07*
    D.JEKL: 2000 HD F-150 #1552 of 8197, Built 06/20/00, Bought 06/25/09, 372/450, 13.75@099.46 (*SOLD* 10/15/11)
    REPTAR: 2012 SVTF-150 #2893 of ????, Built 01/19/12, Bought 08/26/11, ???/???, 14.93@091.30
    HASTIE: 2011 GT Mustang 5.0 6-Speed, Built 10/29/10, Bought 11/11/10, 392/352, 12.00@117.79 (*SOLD* 05/14/13)
    BADGER: 2013 Explorer Sport 3.5L TT, Built ??/??/??, Bought 05/14/13, ???/???, 14.53@096.25
    GEN.0L: 1985 XL F-150 w/'94 Lightning Donor Engine Swap, Holley Projection EFI, 03 HD Paint

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    "Shadow the Hedgehog"
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    Originally posted by Harley#356
    ah, hoffie can do math with suspension distances finally!
    Too funny...

    Will you eventually stop picking on me...

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    Isn't cutting the OEM coils a NO NO?

    Would it be better to replace them with aftermarket coils that are lower with the proper spring rate.

    Just curious..

    -Del

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    I think the spring rates are different as well. I have a set of front coils from an 04 L with maybe 4k miles on them. The guy I got the Bilsteins from included them in the sale since he no longer had his L. I'll sell them for $75 plus shipping if you're interested. That way you can cut those and not really affect the spring rate.
    George

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    World's Fastest Street HD
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    the L coils and 00 HD coils are identical, because my 00 HD stock coils had a sticker right on them that said SVT. the screw HD's though have a sticker that says OIL on them usually, so i think ford made a new set of 1" drop springs for them to hold the heavier weight of the screw more.


    and cutting the coils is 100% fine to do. its cutting a progressive rate coil that is a big NO-NO, or cutting the coils with heat or a torch which will totally screw up the spring rate. If you cut a linear rate coil with an angle grinder it is totally fine to do and wont have any adverse effects on the spring.

    so if you like how the stock ride feels and dont want to go with a stiffer aftermarket coil to lower the truck, cutting the stock coils is the way to go. it'll get you to the altitude you want, with a stock ride to go along with it

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