DIY 15mm Drop hat installation

[willcapture]

hey guys sorry for the newb question but i been trying to search but what exactly are drop hats? and what purpose do they serve?

[peytonracer4]

they lower your car however many mm. in this case 15mm without modifications of any suspension parts like springs. they allow you to slightly lower your car slightly for fairly cheap.
that's as much as i know about them...

[Cletonius]

Is it possible to do hats on all 4 corners to get a mild drop with stock springs? I want to go a little lower but the PO put all new stock springs and sachs/boge shocks on it about 10k miles ago. I'll eventually get around to buying new stuff but this would be a great substitute in the meantime.

[devon.818]

Is it possible to do hats on all 4 corners to get a mild drop with stock springs? I want to go a little lower but the PO put all new stock springs and sachs/boge shocks on it about 10k miles ago. I'll eventually get around to buying new stuff but this would be a great substitute in the meantime.

only on front. im pretty sure that there are drop hats for rear...
the point is to drop the front down a little and A. give your car a slight forward rake, B. reverse the back rake and make car even.

if you want lower, just spend 115 bucks on vogtland springs. done.

[brickwhite]

FYI, you cannot use this process with standard springs

[ck_taft325is]

FYI, you cannot use this process with standard springs

Yeah you can ;)

I just did it. Are you referring to putting drop hats on stock springs and getting the stock spring compressed enough to make it over the top gland nut? You can, as I've done it but, I'm not sure why you would want to put drop hats on stock suspension.

Now, if you mean you cannot remove the stock spring without spring compressors? You're wrong. It's not advisable or nearly as safe as spring compressors but it can be done. Ask "Coldburn" or several other's in the WA area that have seen me do Suspension. Or, Luke for that matter (StereoInstaller1). You point the spring and top gland nut away from you and not at anything valuable. Then you take an impact, put a face shield on to guard your eyes and wrench it off. Is it the safest? No. But, it can be done. Do not EVER put your face over the top of the gland nut while loosening anything under tensions. This should be common sense.

[LJ851]

You can easily and safely remove the gland nuts before you take them out of the car as well. The car does a very nice job of spring compression.

[ck_taft325is]

You can easily and safely remove the gland nuts before you take them out of the car as well. The car does a very nice job of spring compression.

Bingo.

[Bimmerman4Ever]

Anyone have a photo of a cab' on stock springs with E90 drop hats installed?

I already ordered some, so if no one does I'll have a photo up soon.

The ride height on stock I'm fine with, just want to change the rake of the front a little so there's not as much of a gap.

I just picked up the car, I think the previous owner said the rear shock mounts are E36.

[saturnv7890]

Took some pictures when I did this. I am on H&R sports here.

Tips:
-even with sports, you might as well borrow a spring compressor. It's free to borrow at advanced/autozone
-impact wrench is helpful, bought this cordless one off craigslist for $50, paid for itself many times over


PICTURES:




Brace the spring against the top of the fender and wiggled everything in to place

[mpower]

Took some pictures when I did this. I am on H&R sports here.

Tips:
-even with sports, you might as well borrow a spring compressor. It's free to borrow at advanced/autozone
-impact wrench is helpful, bought this cordless one off craigslist for $50, paid for itself many times over


PICTURES:

Aren't the red ones Race Springs and blue (or black) are Sports?

Oh, and did you already post photo of before and after?

[saturnv7890]

Those are sports, I know at least that the sports do come in red.

It's not a very good before/after picture set because the before wasn't taken on level ground, but here's the best I can do for everyone:
Before:


After:




The lighting does help either.. but it definitely dropped a tasteful amount!

[mpower]

OK. Thanks.

My H&Rs should be coming in by Thursday. Already have the drop hats.
Debating whether or not to mount with pads or without.

Any significant difference without pads.
I'm sure there's plenty of photos posted... somewhere

as you can see stock is pretty high

[saturnv7890]

It's a really clean car! Whered you get the sidemarkers and parking lights?

I've heard running without the pads transmits a lot more NVH. (NOTE: this is what I've heard, not experienced) For the extra ~2mm you get out of it.. I can't see how it's worth it, but that's just me. And rear pads might as well keep them in, I think an e30 looks good with some healthy rake.

If you truly want to go low I feel like coilovers are the way to go, and can be had for cheap. I'm not running them because I've got a joke of a 3" exhaust thats about 2" from the ground at the current height.

[mpower]

It's a really clean car! Whered you get the sidemarkers and parking lights?

I've heard running without the pads transmits a lot more NVH. (NOTE: this is what I've heard, not experienced) For the extra ~2mm you get out of it.. I can't see how it's worth it, but that's just me. And rear pads might as well keep them in, I think an e30 looks good with some healthy rake.

If you truly want to go low I feel like coilovers are the way to go, and can be had for cheap. I'm not running them because I've got a joke of a 3" exhaust thats about 2" from the ground at the current height.

Bought the car that way. (recent purchase).
Already upgraded the stereo, performance chip, and of course springs this week.
I think I'll keep the pads, but still mount the E90 drop hats since I'll have it out.
A couple mm makes no dif' to me, just want lower and better handling ride.

This is the only closest roads with corners. Almost anything else around here is miles and miles of straights.
When I had my 93 740iL
Stock suspension with 18x8.5 rims

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDUevWfAn1U