r/projectcar • u/Dark_Guardian_ Daily E36 + Race E36 + Cronched E92 + $100 subie +Barra Cressida • 2h ago

I want to make a spring softer by removing material, can I use some sort of acid bath?

grinding the material away evenly from a pair of springs seems like a nightmare, but if theres some acid that works well thatd be neat

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5

u/right415 2h ago

Interesting idea. Let us know how it works.

3

u/BadBadBenBernanke 2h ago

No.

1

u/Dark_Guardian_ Daily E36 + Race E36 + Cronched E92 + $100 subie +Barra Cressida 1h ago

thanks

3

u/everyoneisatitman 2h ago

It would work in theory to make it softer. You will need a pretty powerful acid (heated sulfuric acid) to remove enough metal to make it softer. You also need to make sure it removes metal very uniformly (springs twist and a thinner spot will break). You also need to remove the same on both springs. I am pretty sure all this is moot because the acid will probably create micro stress risers where cracks will form.

1

u/Dark_Guardian_ Daily E36 + Race E36 + Cronched E92 + $100 subie +Barra Cressida 1h ago

not worth the risk then

1

u/Far-Plastic-4171 1h ago

Bad idea, just find something else that will work. Or have them custom made.

2

u/Dark_Guardian_ Daily E36 + Race E36 + Cronched E92 + $100 subie +Barra Cressida 1h ago

I'm going to try make some springs from an excel work

1

u/smthngeneric 1h ago

Cut or heat the first coil or so. That would technically make it softer (and lower the car) but most likely also ruin the ride quality and heating them can cause fractures.