Eureka moment--or not?

[JLKasper]

I was driving on a long country road at work last week, that was an asphalt-covered former concrete road with the bulging expansion joints.  While enduring the jolts in my Corolla, I remembered a trip on that road I took "back in the day" on my GS400, and how miserable the ride was (the road's been improved a bit, but not that much).  I had an idea that might benefit us who feel our front suspension with Progressive springs is a bit too harsh.  Has anybody ever tried cutting down a stock fork spring and using it as a preload spacer instead of a PVC end cap or similar 1" length?  It seems to me that it would provide a measure of suppleness that's lost when using Progressives.  Has anybody ever tried this, and if not, what are your opinions on it?

[dgyver]

The main problem with cutting a spring is that it will not have the flat grind to it on both ends. Without it the spring will rock to one side.

[JLKasper]

The main problem with cutting a spring is that it will not have the flat grind to it on both ends. Without it the spring will rock to one side.

Even after grinding the cut flat, the loose coils of the stock spring would cause the rocking you describe...   Okay, what about using elastomer dampers from mountain bike forks?

[The Buddha]

Elastomers... Nope The old trick (1999-2001 time frame) wa to use a washer and chevy small block valve springs as preload spacer... flat ends naturally.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Gisser]

For a more supple ride, go back to 10W or lighter.  

[Ratboy]

Aren't the valve springs out of a chevy small block a lot longer than the recommended .75"?  Just wondering.