Drop Hats

[Low Level E30]

Do drop hats reduce front suspension travel? Not exactly sure how they fit and work... ?

Thanks!

[egk2]

Basically the springs go deeper into the hats raising the perch,lowering the front of the car and reducing
travel as well.

[Low Level E30]

So raising the lower perch by approx a quarter-inch, then?

[egk2]

dropped the front end 10mm or so

[SandyEggoE30Girl]

OK Maybe this is a really good jumping in point for me???
I now have my shocks,springs,control arms, front M3 bushings, strut berings. Will drop hats help bring the front end down on my 87 is in conjunction with the Vogtland springs?
And that being said, do I need to buy the spring rubber for the front and rear, and any other bits and peices?
I think I am going stock on the rear bushiings, and the sub frame bushings too? I have read to many post on the polyurethane bushings going south to fast, and also I really don't want a squeeker. (one in the family is enough).
But that 87 High Boy IS of mine will soon be a low slung ride, all I need is some info from the E30 gurus to help me along! :bow:

[Teaguer]

Springs hats do NOT reduce suspension travel .

Sure the struts might bottom out or the car might hit the ground first but they don't limit the suspension travel .

[joshh]

Springs hats do NOT reduce suspension travel .

Sure the struts might bottom out or the car might hit the ground first but they don't limit the suspension travel .

How would you use the upper hat to lower the car?

Sounds like what they are talking about is like the Ground Control "shock extenders".http://www.ground-control-store.com/...egory.php/CA=5



Shocks have a "sweet spot" and this is intended to put the shock at this point. It makes it so the shock doesn't bottom out as well. But the shock doesn't lower a car. The spring does.

[matt]

Springs hats do NOT reduce suspension travel .

Sure the struts might bottom out or the car might hit the ground first but they don't limit the suspension travel .

Yes they do... with lowered spring hats, you have less bump travel and less droop travel. Hence, less travel.

[egk2]

Yes they do... with lowered spring hats, you have less bump travel and less droop travel. Hence, less travel.

QFT. They definitely reduce travel.

Btw for those who are interested in running these from Bekkers be forwarned that I had to grind them down to stock circumference. Out of the box they are way too wide as compared to stock units which caused them to rub the insides of the strut towers causing coil binding/clunking during slow turns. I don't think these are necessary for those running lowering springs and conventional sized wheels and tires. They are a good alternative to coilovers for getting the front end down enough to fill the gap when running a euro wheel and tire setup(stretched rubber).

[SchnellerVert]

Don't believe Bekker's sells these anymore.

[joshh]

Guess I was off...I've never heard of these and can't even find anything from searching. What else are they called?

[SA E30]

Anyone got a picture ? I'm curious, what they look like ?

[Hick]

im thinking of removing mine come summer. the front geometry has been screwed ever since i put them on [didnt change the alignment after installation] and the car is basically on the bump stops w/ h&r sports and bil sports.

used the 10mm from bekkers as well, and they do need a but of reduction to fit the strut tower.

[MrK]

I'm running H&Rs + Billy sports as well, and I'm looking at my front tire gap, ain't no way that I can afford more drop! Drop-hats would probably have me riding on bump-stops too, not to mention screwing up my fenders when I turn.

[Teaguer]

QFT. They definitely reduce travel.

Btw for those who are interested in running these from Bekkers be forwarned that I had to grind them down to stock circumference. Out of the box they are way too wide as compared to stock units which caused them to rub the insides of the strut towers causing coil binding/clunking during slow turns. I don't think these are necessary for those running lowering springs and conventional sized wheels and tires. They are a good alternative to coilovers for getting the front end down enough to fill the gap when running a euro wheel and tire setup(stretched rubber).

Yeah they definitely ned some work out of the box .
I noticed they were a little off initially but mounted one on the strut anyway .
As soon as I bolted up the strut mount I knew it was not gonna work .

Heres a few crappy pics :


This is how much I took off ...you can see my pre-cut guide line on the one on the right :


Heres how they compare to stock :


I'm still of the opinion that they do NOT reduce travel ....in theory .
It has the same effect as raising/extending up the strut towers or lke reducing the stack height on camber plates .

I'm also of the opinion that these things should solely be used for looks unless you have shortened struts .
My Bilstein Sports bottom out internaly all the time with this set-up .