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How to Narrow and Re dimple your springs
captainvw - February 14th, 2011 at 06:17 PM

Well this is how i do it anyways......
When dimpling spring packs I like to use the early style trailing arms,they don't have the chiseled ends so the excess spring can hang out the end of your now narrowed beam.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/captianvw/P1280310.jpg
Make sure the adjuster is centered end to end and clamp it up
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/captianvw/P1280311.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/captianvw/P1280345.jpg
I have 4 14mm x 20mm long bolts that have had a 4 mm hole drilled through the centre (20bucks at a machine shop) and the ends machined flat .Clamp up the trailing arms onto your springs get your 4mm drill bit out and make a pilot hole 5mm deep .I use suttons high speed steel drill bits and cutting compound or liquid
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/captianvw/P1280312.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/captianvw/P1280315.jpg
Once the pilot holes are marked remove springs from beam.I mark them left and Right to make sure they go back in the way they come out .
I have a spare centre that i use to clamp the springs together works better than cable ties or tape .
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/captianvw/P1280319.jpg
I've sharpened a 13mm drill bit to the same taper as a standard trailing arm grub screw.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/captianvw/P1280321.jpg
Place the springs in a drill press clamp and as long as you go slow and use plenty of cutting compound the drill bit will easily cut through a couple of sets of springs
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/captianvw/P1280326.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/captianvw/P1280331.jpg
You can then cut the ends of the springs with a drop saw,or a grinder with a 1mm cuttng disc
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/captianvw/P1280336.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/captianvw/P1280339.jpg
Its also a good idea to touch the ends up with a bench grinder for easier assembly through centre adjuster and trailing arms
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/captianvw/P1280334.jpg
Then its time for re assembly checking the dimples line up
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/captianvw/P1280344.jpg
People get worried about heating up the ends the springs and affecting the spring steel ,don't forget they where welded together from the factory on the earlier beams that used the non chiseled trailing arms


OZ Towdster - February 14th, 2011 at 06:30 PM

Good one Captain ,and nice pics too


NUG637 - February 15th, 2011 at 09:15 AM

if i could fall pregnant i would want you to be the father of my children....:cool: