How to put OBX/Cheap ebay e36 coilovers on your e30

[trashcop 80s 80s]

I seem to get atleast one pm a week with people asking me how I put the e36 obx coilovers on in the rear. So, it is easier for me to just make a thread to refer them to.

Drill a hole through the rear trailing arm to mount the sleeve. I used a long bit and a right angle chuck, and did it from the top. Use a punch to start the hole, use a smaller bit to go through the first time. Then open it up with a larger one.

The threaded sleeve needs to be drilled out to fit over the nipple thing all the way. You could not do this, but you would have about an inch less adjustment. I used a drill press and a big bit. Then I finished it with a carbide bit and rotary tool.

Two years with no problems, dun hate

Pictures came out wierd looking because I used a cheap resizing tool. I will post the cleaner ones when I get home later.

[trashcop 80s 80s]

Here is the original picture of the spring. The resizing made it look weird.

[m42technic]

So what keeps the spring centered on top?

[trashcop 80s 80s]

So what keeps the spring centered on top?

The kit comes with a urethane pad, I had it out in the pic to remove the stock one. I had them stacked but now I am just running the urethane one.

[KenC]

What are the spring rates? Can you buy just rears?

[e30sd]

ok i understand the "ingenius" aspect of it, but spring perches and springs arent that expensive. and dont involve drilling.

[thejimlab]

What are the spring rates? Can you buy just rears?

x2

[alex]

ok i understand the "ingenius" aspect of it, but spring perches and springs arent that expensive. and dont involve drilling.

Well, that makes just too much common sense.

[1991 318is]

Spring Rates

I have a different brand (el cheapo-$100 at your door) than OBX and the spring rates are 350 and 450. There's also a set specifically for the E30 from Cosmo Racing in Canada for $200. Their rates are 275 and 360. The attraction of the OBX and other E36 kits is price. $100-$130 per set.

[trashcop 80s 80s]

What are the spring rates? Can you buy just rears?

305 front, 450 rear. I bought the whole kit on ebay for $150. I have been using it for 2 years with no problems.

ok i understand the "ingenius" aspect of it, but spring perches and springs arent that expensive. and dont involve drilling.

It is not about being ingenius, its about teh cheap. These don't "require" drilling of the trailing arm, just like GC, but I decided to do it for support. The only real needed modification is to make the sleeve fit over the TA nipple thing.

[King Luis]

whats with everyone jacking up their car with the stock jack on gravel or grass or not on pavement or concrete?

[arsevader]

whats with everyone jacking up their car with the stock jack on gravel or grass or not on pavement or concrete?

I guess it's the thrill of it all.

I barely trust the stock jack to change a wheel, let alone do any serious work.

[Dave]

I only used the stock jack when my car was too low to go on my old floor jack - jack it up enough to get the floor jack under there and that is it.

[1991 318is]

Stock jack on grass.

That looks like Georgia red clay. Harder than concrete when dry. Isn't that jack a product of "superior German engineering"? Before you hit the reply button, I am being facetious!

[2002maniac]

I am being facetious!

There are probably 13 people on here that understand you. :)