Hi, my 66 Malibu went out on the road for the first time. Its a big block and has big block springs up front, so it does sit high, but I liked the straight axle look. But it comprimises the ride, you hit a pot hole and it feels like your moving over and inch on the road. My plan is to cut one coil off the front springs (this info comes from past Q&A 's in this site) and take it back in for allignment. My question is would it help if just the upper front control arm was replaced with performance (Hotchkis , Global west). There quite expensive, replacing both upper and lower would knock me out. thanks for any help:beers:

Sorry forgot to add, every thing up front is brand new and stock rubber, ball joints etc. good tires thread also a new sway bar 1 1/8. thanks

Your problem sounds like "bump steer". With the front up, It puts your tie rods at an angle from your cross shaft. Cutting the springs should align everything better. I'd suggest you start with a half a coil. Then If that doesn't bring it down enough for you, Cut another half.

My question would be by cutting a coil (half coil...) does not the shorter spring increase the spring rate? I always thought it did....

I found the same info within this site, cutting springs will cause a stiffer ride but with good shocks it will still handle well.

Cutting springs does not increase spring rate. Spring wire diameter, coil diameter and strength of the spring steel determine spring rate. With that in mind, the spring length, number of coils, plus spring strength determine the stored energy in the spring. Cutting coils does not change the spring rate, but it does reduce the stored energy/load capacity of the spring. For any existing spring, reducing the number of coils equals reduced energy/capacity, but the spring rate is unchanged. Or, another way to look at it is if you have a 400 pound rated spring you can cut off three coils (or whatever number) and the remaining coils will still have a 400 pound rate...they just wont have the energy/capacity of the full spring.