Coilover spring lengths

[Ant_e30]

Hi all,

I am probably going to be getting some coilovers shortly. I am still deciding which i will go for, but due to postage etc i probably won't go for GC or Gaz. I am looking at some eBay ones or BC Racing. Unfortunately BC Racing Australia don't seem to answer my emails.

My question is in relation to spring lengths. I see info around about people not being able to get as low as they want due to spring lengths. I want to go low with my car with aggressive wheels so i want to get the right springs.

What springs do BC sell that people complain about being too long? what is the optimal length front and rear for an E30 to allow a really low height? I would like to keep my adjusters in but can remove if need be. I just don't want to not be able to get low enough.

The eBay coilover person i have been talking with says the shortest springs they offer are 150mm (~6").

thanks all,
Ant

[ak-]

6" is too high for the rear. 5" with no adjuster is pretty low.*
6" is usually what it takes to go low and what not in the front.

*Spring rates make a difference too.
Oh, and isn't illegal or something to be lowered in Australia?

[Ant_e30]

ak- thanks for the clear reply. looks like i will need to keep searching for 5" rear springs, maybe through BC after all. Rates are going to be 8k / 10k so it won't sag much.

Laws differ a little around Australia, but basically the lowest point of the vehicle can't be any lower than 100mm from the ground. But then they just do it by eye, and they also have started to say 'too stiff' etc :P Basically over here you try to keep a set of stock suspension or at least soft springs that you can swap in if you get a defect notice :P

[ak-]

Ah, bummer.
10k is 560lbs, so a 5" would go really low without an adjuster for certain in the rear.

[simplyclean325i]

i have bc coilovers and the fronts go real low but the rears not so much. you will need another spring in the rear to go low. only company i found that makes a rear spring that will fit and go low is swift springs. they make a 5 inch spring, 2.5 diameter which will fit the bc coilover. 5 inch rear spring with adjusters in will allow you to go real low. i'm on 16x9 wheels wrapped in 215/40 tires and i have the stock bc rear springs in and i need about another half an inch to have the right stance. i'll be buying the swift springs soon.

hope that helps

[einstein57]

A GE kit would be $368 shipped. 6" 450 fronts and 4.5" 650 rears. Food for thought.

[110stx]

How about H&R?

I have some H&R coilover springs in the rear of my autoX car that are about 4.75-inches free length and 630 lb-in., run with RH adjusters.

I say "about" because the H&Rs have metric markings, and these are ballpark conversions.

Hyperco also has a bunch of 5- and 5.5-inch rear springs for coilover.

d.hitchcock

[Ant_e30]

Thanks for the technical answers guys, appreciate the input. I will make sure that either the coilovers i buy have adequate spring lengths like 6" / 5" or so, otherwise i will just make sure i buy some springs to swap onto them before installation.

[immajackuup]

6 front and 4 rear is all you need, bc does make custom spring length for free when order their kit.