The Cabrio Suspension Thread

[randomquickness]

ordered the vert specific Eibach Pro Kit Plus with sway bars and Koni yellows. Also ordered an x brace and skid plate from race skids. Hopefully she'll look and handle better!

[WhyNot]

man. all this shits so confusing. i wish i grew up with someone to teach me this stuff. learning from scratchhhh.

it might seem like that till you get the jardon down.
its basically just springs that lower and stiffen
struts&shocks that just dampen the bouncing
tophats which slightly lower the ride height
bumpstops which stop struts from smash bottoming
sway bars and links that stop leaning in turns
then tires&rims

[fporro]

it might seem like that till you get the jardon down.
its basically just springs that lower and stiffen
struts&shocks that just dampen the bouncing
tophats which slightly lower the ride height
bumpstops which stop struts from smash bottoming
sway bars and links that stop leaning in turns
then tires&rims

-IE's 25mm/22mm swaybars will stop bouncing even with oem suspension. ., opps, i'll retract that statement. car did bounce a whole lot.

[Wiglaf]

I've been on cosmo coilovers.. They are completely topped out for ride height and it's as low as I want to go. I don't want the car slammed... and these things are pretty stiff.

I've been doing a lot less auto-x, I think I will switch to something that's a little softer and rides higher.. going back to stock style springs for the front will require replacing the front struts. :/
Maybe I'll see if I can find a source for new 2.5" springs that are hopefully a bit taller. I like the adjustability.. but to be honest I'm not 100% confident in this setup, the collars are all aluminum and just slapped in there, seems a little half-assed.

[ZoomZoomBoom]

I have been running full Ground Control coilovers for almost a week now with corner balancing and alignment for street/track from Rhom Innovations and I'm super happy with the setup. It's firm but not jarring and the rebound is excellent.

[fporro]

I've been on cosmo coilovers.. They are completely topped out for ride height and it's as low as I want to go. I don't want the car slammed... and these things are pretty stiff.

I've been doing a lot less auto-x, I think I will switch to something that's a little softer and rides higher.. going back to stock style springs for the front will require replacing the front struts. :/
Maybe I'll see if I can find a source for new 2.5" springs that are hopefully a bit taller. I like the adjustability.. but to be honest I'm not 100% confident in this setup, the collars are all aluminum and just slapped in there, seems a little half-assed.

my H&R are topped out too with tender (red) and 300lbs main springs.
i like using nylon washers so there's less binding, also have AFCO's thrust bearings.

GC / Eibach have springs from 3" to 8" free lenght and 80 to 900+ lbs and http://www.ground-control-store.com/...set=100&CA=212


copied this from e30tech.com ...

Spring---------------------Front(lb/in.)-------------Rear(lb/in.)

Stock 325i*-----------------------106------------------------245
Stock 325is*----------------------118------------------------265
Stock 325ix*----------------------106------------------------308
Stock M3*-------------------------114------------------------314
Stock M3--------------------------140------------------------250
Dinan Sport-----------------------172------------------------300
H&R OE Sport---------------------180------------------------380
H&R Sport-------------------------180------------------------380
H&R Sport (29664)---------------200------------------------285
H&R Race-------------------------315------------------------ 570
H&R Coilovers***----------------340------------------------380
Eibach Pro-Kit--------------------102-------------------------277
Eibach Race----------------------160-------------------------445
IE SIII----------------------------315-------------------------570 [Group Buy - $285]
Koni Coilovers-------------------342-------------------------407
Cosmo Coilovers----------------450-------------------------560
Tokico----------------------------165-------------------------265
TMS J-Stock**-------------------680------------------------1026
Alpina(est.)---------------------~200-----------------------~350
FK 60/60 cup kit-----------------379--------------------------379
Vogtland Standard***--------115/197-----------------------360
Vogtland CS***---------------137/200-----------------------400
Vogtland--------------------------225--------------------------360
Intrax-----------------------------126--------------------------250
Apex: --- ---
KW: --- ---
Spax: --- ---

[Wiglaf]

my H&R are topped out too with tender (red) and 300lbs main springs.
i like using nylon washers so there's less binding, also have AFCO's thrust bearings.

GC / Eibach have springs from 3" to 8" free lenght and 80 to 900+ lbs and http://www.ground-control-store.com/...set=100&CA=212


copied this from e30tech.com ...

Spring---------------------Front(lb/in.)-------------Rear(lb/in.)

Stock 325i*-----------------------106------------------------245
Stock 325is*----------------------118------------------------265
Stock 325ix*----------------------106------------------------308
Stock M3*-------------------------114------------------------314
Stock M3--------------------------140------------------------250
Dinan Sport-----------------------172------------------------300
H&R OE Sport---------------------180------------------------380
H&R Sport-------------------------180------------------------380
H&R Sport (29664)---------------200------------------------285
H&R Race-------------------------315------------------------ 570
H&R Coilovers***----------------340------------------------380
Eibach Pro-Kit--------------------102-------------------------277
Eibach Race----------------------160-------------------------445
IE SIII----------------------------315-------------------------570 [Group Buy - $285]
Koni Coilovers-------------------342-------------------------407
Cosmo Coilovers----------------450-------------------------560
Tokico----------------------------165-------------------------265
TMS J-Stock**-------------------680------------------------1026
Alpina(est.)---------------------~200-----------------------~350
FK 60/60 cup kit-----------------379--------------------------379
Vogtland Standard***--------115/197-----------------------360
Vogtland CS***---------------137/200-----------------------400
Vogtland--------------------------225--------------------------360
Intrax-----------------------------126--------------------------250
Apex: --- ---
KW: --- ---
Spax: --- ---

great link man, nice.
Something else I should mention, the IE3's rode much nicer. I'd have kept them if they didn't drop the car so much. They are a progressive rate spring (similar to most stock style springs). The cosmo's are a linear spring, they're just as stiff from the onset as they are in a 2" dip. We're getting into a subjective area on this one.. gonna have to call the GC guy I before ordering. This will be the fourth set of springs..
Just remember to beef up the rear rates especially on verts. Some of those on the chart are just scary.. the vogtlands had the rear bottoming out if anyone sat back there.

[Bearmw]

Why the different M3 rates? With or without AC or North American vs. Europe? I like my height and ride with M3 springs (and KYB's) but I don't know which ones I have.

[mpower]

I'm sure it reads somewhere... but I'm too blind.
What size are the rims and tires???

[Mr. Burns]

likely Ronal/ACT LS's. they are 15x7.5
tires are likely 225/50/15

[georgE30]

It would be interesting to see the stock 325ic spring rates and the "H&R SPORT CABRIO 50407" spring rates.

[mpower]

likely Ronal/ACT LS's. they are 15x7.5
tires are likely 225/50/15

Thanks.

Big difference compared to stock 14" weaves and 195/65 tires



When I had the pair of 88s with stock suspension. Forget the rims size maybe 15".

[jeffnhiscars]

It would be interesting to see the stock 325ic spring rates and the "H&R SPORT CABRIO 50407" spring rates.

IIRC the 50407s are 180/380 (or very close)

[georgE30]

Thanks for the info. So why does H&R market cabrio specific springs if they have the same spring rates as the sport springs?

Your zino looks great with the e90 drop hats btw.

IIRC the 50407s are 180/380 (or very close)

[jeffnhiscars]

Thanks for the info. So why does H&R market cabrio specific springs if they have the same spring rates as the sport springs?

Your zino looks great with the e90 drop hats btw.

Thanks. I threw the drop hats in when I replaced the blown inserts with BS Touring struts (essentially stock replacements) and honestly it did not seem to make much difference so I cant say they contribute a lot to the stance compared to what the new setup does.

Its possible that H&R misquoted me on the rates but I also think mfgs use terms like "sport" or "OE" rather liberally so what may be a sport spring rate fior one model may just be a lowering spring for another. I think you can also have different height springs with the same rate so I wouldn't put too much faith in names and numbers.

What I do know is that the more I drive on this setup the more I like it. I believe the springs are "relaxing" as they seem more "progressive" and not as harsh as they did at first. I drove a friends 2011 135iC the other day and while it has gobs of power the ride was very "distant" and was not half the fun of my e30. I also rode in a brand spanking new Avalon Hybrid yesterday and while its a helluva lot of car for the $44k sticker I cant imagine DDing it or the 135.

Has me wondering if there is a new car out there that I would buy as opposed to taking one of my e30's and throwing a stupid amount of cash at it ;-)