Spring rate - DD and track

[Dave_ET]

Hi all

Another question about spring rate, so please bear with me. I own a '90 325 with an S52 5lug (owned previously by SamIAm3356), 4100 AST suspension (adjustable shocks) running 600 in the front and 650 in the back. Sam set the car up for a track car, but I'm looking to have it as a DD/track car.

Please let me know what you think of my plan:

For DD, keep the 650s in the back, and run ???s in the front. 450? 475? Keeping the 650s in the back will make it much easier to change only the fronts to 600 when I track. Some questions:

1) Will the fact that I only have to change the fronts when I track give me more flexibility in the front for DD? Should I go 400?

2) Would something like 400/600 be sufficient for a DD? I live in central Austin, full of hills and wacked out roads due to construction.

Thanks in advance for your spring rate reply :D

[shiboujin]

why do people run the oddest spring rates?!? run 1,100 lbs in the rear. Put up with the ride because racecar.

[e30Rooster]

Have you tried adjusting the shocks?

-Alex

[Dave_ET]

Have you tried adjusting the shocks?

-Alex

Yes, the softest setting is still pretty harsh.

[shiboujin]

panzy

[Dave_ET]

panzy

Youve got a cat in your sig

[akorcovelos]

Track car or comfy dd, pick one because you can't have both.

[shiboujin]

Track car or comfy dd, pick one because you can't have both.

Yea! What he said.


Look at the cute kitty

[acolella76]

Why do you want to change out just the fronts? The rears take like 2 seconds to do! 300/500 is the stiffest i would run if you want a comfortable daily.

But, have you tried adjusting the shocks? Not to max softest setting, but to the proper stiffness for the springs? The shocks have to be valve correctly for the springs and once you find that 'sweet spot' it will feel a lot better.

[akorcovelos]

But, have you tried adjusting the shocks? Not to max softest setting, but to the proper stiffness for the springs? The shocks have to be valve correctly for the springs and once you find that 'sweet spot' it will feel a lot better.

Qft. Im running J Stock springs and matching shocks now and I think it rides very nice on the road, 750f 1100r. I think it rides better that my old H&R Race/Bilstein Sport combo I was running last year.

[Dave_ET]

Why do you want to change out just the fronts? The rears take like 2 seconds to do! 300/500 is the stiffest i would run if you want a comfortable daily.

But, have you tried adjusting the shocks? Not to max softest setting, but to the proper stiffness for the springs? The shocks have to be valve correctly for the springs and once you find that 'sweet spot' it will feel a lot better.

I've tried a few settings with no luck. From what I've read it looks like changing the rear springs is a much harder task.

[bmwguy325is]

I daily drive on 525s front and 750 rears. I have the m20 though. The rear springs practily pop out when you want to change them. My car is firm and a lil jaring over bumps but then I have AWSOME shocks so...
as noted about
race car or track car pick it or put up with a rough ride or a car that is not so good on track.

[8ball]

Seriously, rear spring swap takes all of 15 minutes including taking the wheels off, jacking it up and down.

[acolella76]

Dont even need to take off the wheels!

[einstein57]

Being able to run your current front springs in the rear may or may not work depending on how low you want to be. a 5" 650 sits pretty nice on an e30 with out adjusters. a 6" puts you in h&r height. Food for thought. For a comfortable daily i'd probably be in the 250f 400r but i'm an old man with a shelf full of springs.