Height adjusting IE stage3's

[static]

Hey

need some advice: I am going to get my suspension setup pretty soon, but still having second thoughts.

My e30 is going to be a spirited daily with occasional track/autox.
I am planning to go with koni SA and IE stage3 springs. However i don't want my car to be too low, only about 1.5 - 1.6" all around. Reason is that my S50 oilpan is gonna be lower than m20 and i don't wana damage it, plus my underground garage ramp is pretty steep.

But i DO want the stiffness of IE's (at first i was considering H&Rsports)

I figured GC's are going to be overkill in my application and not too comfy (also expensive). So IE's seem like the best compromise.

Can anyone chime in who had some experience with adjusting the ride height on those with different height spring pads? Does it work well? would i be able to achieve my goal of 1.5" drop with IEs and pads? Also can i fine tune (corner balance) those with pads? (i hear some people have good results with corner balancing with pads - i do know that the proper way would be to do it with real coilovers)

Thanks
Alex

[Ryan Stewart]

Its more a of a level drop than most so the rear will be a bit lower than your average E30 suspension in the rear. If its an early model car its not bad but if its a late you tuck.

Personally, I think they are too stiff if the car is your primary mode of transportation. I will admit that I have had no troubles with my S50 oilpan, if I scrape its usually my center resonator and its only in a certain parking garage.

[JRKOUPE]

springs

I run HR race.....very similiar. I used thicker rear spring pads to vary my rake.......using pads to corner balance is kinda bizarre and you dont need to corner balance for your use! But pads are a good cheap way to play around.


I agree also that for a daily it will be kinda hard....but doable. Mine is a track toy.

[e30sd]

they're a little annoying over bumps, but even with the m42, i think its the perfect height. i can bomb burms no problem.

[herragge]

I have IE3's and Bilstein sports and they are harsh; defintely not the most comfortable but they aren't that bad on the street. The compromise you get with them by eliminating all the body roll I think is worth it.

It is somewhat managable if you try to avoid the bumps.

Mike

[Mystikal]

I have IE3's and Bilstein sports and they are harsh; defintely not the most comfortable but they aren't that bad on the street. The compromise you get with them by eliminating all the body roll I think is worth it.

It is somewhat managable if you try to avoid the bumps.

Mike

The Bilsteins are harsh, not the IE's.

Dampers dictate ride quality, not springs.

And Bilsteins have A LOT of compression dampening. I never recommend them.

[herragge]

Personally, I think they are too stiff if the car is your primary mode of transportation. I will admit that I have had no troubles with my S50 oilpan, if I scrape its usually my center resonator and its only in a certain parking garage.

Ok, I think this is a common misconception about what I send. This makes entire sense what you said Mystical, but when people talk about stiffness in relation to springs, are they incorrect to speak about springs in terms of damping? I mean, do the springs not dictate any transfer of shock from the road for feedback to the driver?

Springs= strictly reduction in body roll? or no?

Thanks for clearing this up

Mike

[DarkWing6]

I have a Koni SA and IE Stage 3 setup on my late model and I have been running it for 6 months or so on my daily and I love it. I run the Konis somwhat soft up front and stiff in the rear. The softness up front helps cushion the daily drive to where it is comfortable. The stiffness has never really bothered me. I would like a skid plate just in case, but if you pay attention you should be fine.

With the S50 oil pan sitting lower, I would recommend a skidplate just in case. I have a couple scratches on mine, but my cat seems to see the most scratches. I may do some sort of custom skidplate for that one of these days.

[Axxe]

On IE stg 3's, the most abuse my underbody takes is the exhaust and exhaust hanger bolted to the transmission. It's bent back 45* right now.

[static]

very good info here guys, thanks

so is it 100% true that IE stage3 is exact same spring as H&R race?

Thanks
Alex

[JRKOUPE]

very good info here guys, thanks

so is it 100% true that IE stage3 is exact same spring as H&R race?

Thanks
Alex

Ive never seen any proof showing "exact" same ....but all the rates I have seen are very close.

[rolandmw]

I just put on my koni's and IE springs. The rear is a bit lower that I expected, and I also think I may be bottoming out. Anyone else with Koni's and IE springs experience this? There is a thump when I go over bumps.

Other than that, the ride is really not too bad.

[e30Matt]

I just put on my koni's and IE springs. The rear is a bit lower that I expected, and I also think I may be bottoming out. Anyone else with Koni's and IE springs experience this? There is a thump when I go over bumps.

Other than that, the ride is really not too bad.

Check the tightness of all your suspension hardware and check the tightness on the gland nuts on the front strut housings.

Are you running spring pads?

[rolandmw]

I have the stock rubber spring thingys installed on the perch and the top strut bushing. I checked everything for tightness. If I do a slalom type run I hear something bumping in the front. I also installed the IE sway bar with adjustable links. I didnt install any other bump stops though. I think that my be my problem. Not sure.

I was hoping I could run some 225's for Autox'ing, but they may rub on the rear, since the tire is so far tucked.

[JRKOUPE]

225's

I run HR race and went w/ thicker rear pads......I run 15/7 w/ 225/50's and have no rub issues, ......try thicker rear pads, or roll rear fenders or bang in rear inner fender area.