Coilovers question

[Northern]

the rules require a spring that does NOT coil bind.

Spec e30 spring does not coil bind:



HR race spring does coilbind

Is there a typo in there? Otherwise it seems pretty contradictory.


FWIW, I've been cleaning the torrington/thrust bearings out once a year and lubing everything up with Mobilgrease 28 without issue.
I've had zero issues with my GC race plates, despite how old they are.

I think the biggest problem is when they get installed wrong. I've seen a few "creative installations" so far: upside down strut bushings, so the strut binds on the upper perch (Bilstein and Koni), "Reinforced" RSM's ripping out because someone put the reinforcement plate up through the bottom (Found that one on my old M3)...

[rwh11385]

once per year, preferably before it rains a lot.

Hells yeah. I was going to ping GC on what I need to convert my current E36 street plates from running H&R sports + bilstein to your perch system (+ Konis) and that picture helps out a LOT! (it's been a while since I sold my E30 on GCs) Yeah, and this time I'm aware of the lubing up necessary so can avoid chewing up the needle bearings.

Now I just need to buy the needle bearings + washers, and maybe the gold cup / what you called the slider (have the purple piece that seats on the top of the spring as well as the bushings for the Koni that go into the camber plate bearing). I'm assuming calling is the easiest way to get pieces like that?

[Hellabad]

thanks!

white lithium grease ok?

No.

Its just not good enough.

We have tried everything in the known world, and much of what has proven best has been recommended to us.

#1 Best for the slider, recommended by a racer in Texas who works in the oil fields: Lub O Gard MP50.

#2 Any anti-sieze without copper

Everything else is equal, but not as good, yet may be found in the enthusiast's home depending on hobbies:

>Boat trailer wheel bearing grease.

>Grease for DT Swiss bicycle hub ratchets.

>Molybdenum trailer hitch lubricant, specifically for fifth wheel.

>CV joint grease for Jeeps

>Redline engine assembly lube (temporary)

Best for the Torrington needle bearings and seals, as recommended by many Midwesterners who work with farm and construction equipment: Lucas Red N tacky.

Found around the garage:

>Phil Wood bicycle grease (waterproof)

>Winter motocross chain lube

>Any waterproof boat grease

[BraveUlysses]

once per year, preferably before it rains a lot.

thanks!

white lithium grease ok?

[Emre]

I'm not clear here...are you speaking of a spring rate low enough that it allows compression to the point of the shocks being on the their stops? I would think that with the relatively high spring rate, the opposite would be true...the shocks would never see the stops because of the high spring rate. Or, are you speaking of coil bind, where the spring rate goes to infinity?

The second thing. Lol. Didn't know it was called spring bind. The spring compress a bit, then acts solid.

[Revzillia]

If your looking for Koni yellow. Double adjustable. I have a set for sale 575 One front shock is blown but theses are 1200-1400((retail. I bought them in june

[Hellabad]

hey while you're here, what kind of maintenance do my GC hybrid camber plates require? thanks!

once per year, preferably before it rains a lot.

[BraveUlysses]

hey while you're here, what kind of maintenance do my GC hybrid camber plates require? thanks!

[Hellabad]

https://nasa-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/document/document/4276/SpecE30_2017_V1.0.pdf

Almost all of the posters in this thread are exactly correct about everything, but I just want to c-l-a-r-i-f-y a few things, because some misconceptions have started to appear.

GC (aka Ground Control) makes 6 different CCP (camber/caster plates) for e30. They are ALL on the GC website.

One of the CCP, "GC Spec e30" is made only for racing BMW e30s in a race class called Spec e30, and only to use Bilstein struts P36-0335 with P30-0334 and HR front Springs 50404-88F and EBS-BMW-3/1. There are few if any other racing classes that require ccp and stock diameter springs anymore, so racers choose coilover springs and adjusters for racing.

There are other HR springs and Bilsteins that physically bolt up to GC CCPspec-e30, however the rules require a spring that does NOT coil bind.



Spec e30 spring does not coil bind:



HR race spring does coilbind, and this will bend any stock spring perch it is jammed against. (stock perch is required by Spec-e30 rules)



So, when using springs that can coilbind, GC recommends the GC "CCP-Touring" with a heavy duty (1.7 pounds) spring perch that is very strong because GC is not trying to satisfy a set of racing rules. This plate is steel, very strong, but does have limitations to remain streetable and quiet.



Here is a link to two of the GC camber plates, and their ranges of adjustment:

http://ground-control.com/images/bmw/e30/comp/

GC spec e30, Bilstein and HR spec e30 only, racing only.
GC e30 touring, any strut, stock or coilover spring, urethane bushings and street bearings.
GC e30 Hybrid, track day car, coilover with urethane spring pad, quick adjust.
GC e30 Street Prepared. coilover only, mounts under sheetmetal to satisfy SCCA rules.
GC e30 SCCA Improved Touring, coilover only, cutting required.
GC e30 Rally, coilover only, integrated stress bar, steel construction.

[Hellabad]

Oh hey.

This is Jay from Ground Control. I have been told of some questions in this thread by someone. (I don't know real names).

I feel bad for not posting on R3V for a long time. I don't want to be "that guy", but sometimes it just happens. ...But just in case you think I haven't been down with the struggle for e30 and e28, I have attached a few pics.





Thanks to everyone here who keeps posting, and lets me see what the valve lash specs are, while I'm helping my kid adjust his valves at 10 at night.

next post clarifies questions about camber plates and springs.

[TobyB]

ANY race series should have the sense to run parts that work and work correctly

Bwa aha hah hah!!!

Thanks, that made my whole morning....

https://www.scca.com/pages/cars-and-rules

t

[BlackbirdM3]

I'm not clear here...are you speaking of a spring rate low enough that it allows compression to the point of the shocks being on the their stops? I would think that with the relatively high spring rate, the opposite would be true...the shocks would never see the stops because of the high spring rate. Or, are you speaking of coil bind, where the spring rate goes to infinity?

I would like to stay off the bump stops.

Thanks, Ed

The J stock spring rates are 640 front 1080 rear, and I'm never on the bumpstops on my car. I was with the H&R race springs, but never on the J stocks. They also aren't bouncy at all. Coil bind is possible, yet unlikely. I don't see any evidence of it on my springs.

I have seen some of the early J stock springs made by Eibach listed as the same spring rate as the H&R race springs, but the ones I have are much beefier than the race springs that I took off the car when I installed the J-Stocks. If I remember I can get the part numbers off the Bilstein J stock dampers I have. They have far more damping on both rebound and compression than stock Bilstein Sports.

Will

[vitiokas95]

Not to hijack thread, but I will have my GC set with housings, springs, camber plates etc for sale in few weeks. Pretty much identical what was for sale at Panjo few weeks ago. Waiting for my MCS set to come in and then will be selling mine. PM if someone interested.

[ed94r]

Just chiming in because folks have brought up J-Stock.

Unless you're on silky smooth roads, you're basically riding on bump stops.

I'm not clear here...are you speaking of a spring rate low enough that it allows compression to the point of the shocks being on the their stops? I would think that with the relatively high spring rate, the opposite would be true...the shocks would never see the stops because of the high spring rate. Or, are you speaking of coil bind, where the spring rate goes to infinity?

I would like to stay off the bump stops.

Thanks, Ed

[Emre]

Just chiming in because folks have brought up J-Stock.

TMS J-Stock springs are just copies of BMW Gr.N springs. They're the furthest thing from linear. Not only are they progressive, but it hardly takes any compression before you hit the stiffer part of the spring. That's what makes them so bouncy. Unless you're on silky smooth roads, you're basically riding on bump stops.

As for the J-Stock Bilsteins, they're the same as regular Bilstein Sports, but revalved to Firehawk spec and mounted upside-down.