Sways with stock springs

[Wh33lhop]

So I'm thinking of making the car a bit more fun for a small amount of cash. I don't want to lower it yet (kind of like the stock look) but I'll eventually have it on H&R sport or race and billy sports.

I understand with soft stock springs the sway bars will be working hard and I'm going to need to reinforce the mounting points, it sort of looks like the ST 22/19 kit is sort of sketchy with the reinforcements, but the IE kit has everything needed.

Does anyone have experience with aftermarket sways and stock springs/struts?

[thereisnoyun]

I would go with moderate lowering springs first. Just get the 14.5 rear and 21 cab front if you want to increase sway.

[Wh33lhop]

I would go with moderate lowering springs first. Just get the 14.5 rear and 21 cab front if you want to increase sway.

I'm not going to lower it without getting struts, and that's a $400 affair on top of the $200 or so for springs. I'd probably rather do sway bars first, then struts/strut mounts and then springs.

I'd also still need to reinforce at least the rear sway bar mounts. What's the stock sway bar diameter for an early (87) 325i sedan?

[87e30]

Your order of purchases is all screwed up.

[Wh33lhop]

Your order of purchases is all screwed up.

I'd rather be overdamped than underdamped. And sway bars will only increase roll rate so they won't really bring about more oscillation the same way springs would. I'd like the car to corner a lot more flat, after putting the LSD in that's the most outstanding thing to me now.

[Liam]

I'd rather be overdamped than underdamped. And sway bars will only increase roll rate so they won't really bring about more oscillation the same way springs would. I'd like the car to corner a lot more flat, after putting the LSD in that's the most outstanding thing to me now.

I follow you here, and yes you can corner flater without sacrificing ride comfort by upping the ASBs.

I would recommend something a bit less aggressive than 22/19 though on a stock spring because thos bastards are going to get worked hard.

[Wh33lhop]

I follow you here, and yes you can corner flater without sacrificing ride comfort by upping the ASBs.

Well the roll stiffness will be increased so whenever you hit a bump with one wheel you'll feel the whole car tilt to the side... but that's cool with me :D

I would recommend something a bit less aggressive than 22/19 though on a stock spring because thos bastards are going to get worked hard.

That's what the reinforcement (billet aluminum) is for... I figure I'll have to get new endlinks as my bushings are shot... might as well get adjustable heim link endlinks ($90) and a rear sway bar reinforcement kit ($75) if I get OEM sways, and even then how much will the stiffest front and rear bars be if I can find em on here?

[Liam]

Off the top of my head I think the stiffest OEMs are 21mm front (late iCs) and 14.5mm (rear M3).

I am please with a 21mm/16mm adjustable set from Eibach I have on my DD.

[Wh33lhop]

Off the top of my head I think the stiffest OEMs are 21mm front (late iCs) and 14.5mm (rear M3).

I am please with a 21mm/16mm adjustable set from Eibach I have on my DD.

What's the rest of your suspension setup?

[Liam]

What's the rest of your suspension setup?

On my 318is H&R Sports, Bilstein HDs, AKG LCABS (non offset) and the 21/16 Eibach ASBs with urethane bushings.

My 325is suicide machine is a bit lower and stiffer.

I also use a lot of chassis bracing, but that's another story.

[Wh33lhop]

On my 318is H&R Sports, Bilstein HDs, AKG LCABS (non offset) and the 21/16 Eibach ASBs with urethane bushings.

My 325is suicide machine is a bit lower and stiffer.

I also use a lot of chassis bracing, but that's another story.

I'm a big chassis freak but all the good stuff for E30s seems to be $$$ (zen rear strut brace for instance). I do really want it but I hav a hard time paying $500 shipped for a few bars considering I paid $1100 for the car.

[z31maniac]

Order the new UUC kit if you are determined to upgrade your sways.

I'll be picking up the phone in a few hours to preorder a set.

[Wh33lhop]

Order the new UUC kit if you are determined to upgrade your sways.

I'll be picking up the phone in a few hours to preorder a set.

I was looking at the swaybarbarian kit, but that's a bit steep. I'm off to see how much I could pick up a 21/14.5 sway setup for.