Home made zero rate rears?

[aychdee]

I'm finishing up my 52" front custom job tommorow, and I'm having that sneaking suspicion that my front custom crossmember setup will give it the dreaded "Cali rake". The rear setup is a rear front hanger mounted at the back shackle flip/ 64" spring setup that I got a spare spring pack. Can I lop one of the rear spare springs about 2-3" away from the ubolts front and back and not have to worry about anything or by cutting them will they lose structural integrity and crack apart. This is a 'just in case' scenario and not sure if I'll need to worry about it til I get the setup mocked in before final weld. Oh, and my budget has been exceeded quite a bit so far, so if I can use what I got, even better .

 

[NorCalKid]

People run cut down overload springs all the time as "zero rates". You shouldn't have any problems

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

People run cut down overload springs all the time as "zero rates". You shouldn't have any problems

x 2

 

[aychdee]

Awesome, thanks guys

 

[sandypants]

if you cut them down, smooth out the edges like the zero rats you can buy from diy4x to keep stress cracks from forming later

 

[dhcomp]

Unless you plan to be on the overloads, you could also run them uncut. Not going to change your spring rate until you flex and hit them. Either that, or you can run the stock one right side up, and the 2nd one upside down (on the bottom...obviously)

 

[Greg72]

A longer rear shackle can have the same effect as a zero-rate (since you've got a flip in there already).

I added 2" to my factory rear shackles (which most people agree are too short anyway) and got an extra inch of lift for the cost of a little scrap metal and some quality time behind my welding mask.

 

[VegasBruce]

I cut down the overloads so they wouldn't hang down and snag.