Drop Hats (Yay or Nay) Need More Infos - CONCLUSION

[Schnitzer318is]

UPDATE/CONCLUSION PG 2

I've read lots of conflicting info on doing drop hats. Normally I'd skip them and do a spring/strut setup to my liking but on this particular car I want to keep stock ride and don't care as much about handling.

The issue: Just did struts (monroe sensatracks) and mounts on my 92 Alpine vert... and with my 16's in the front there is just way too much gap. The rear is perfect on stock suspension stuff thought I am going to do the mounts and shocks later this year also with monroe and new mounts. This car is a cruiser only... never going to see track use or even spirited driving really.

I have read of "binding" issues with the steering when using drop hats. Some say this is when you don't use the compliance washers... why would you not use the compliance washers? I'd use everything that was supposed to be there except use the drop hats instead of the factory ones. Is there any risk of binding when doing this? My wife drives this car as much (or more) than I do and want nothing to do with worrying about steering locking or something.

So give me your experience and opinions on this as drop hats would give me the perfect minor drop in front without changing the ride characteristics. Thanks in advance.

[Schnitzer318is]

No one has experience with these? Am holding off ordering them until getting more info from users of the product. I'll shoot Garagistic a PM about them as well since they sell them... again thanks for any info people.

[mr.vang]

I have the e90 top hat and I have no issue. There will be binding if the washer under the top mount is missing. For the price, It is not worth it in my opinion. I found my at the junk yard for $13 that's why I bought it. Don't waste your money on the drop hat.

[rcsoundn1]

Bumping this up as I to am in the same boat. Just want a slight front drop to fill the well a bit. How much drop did you get from the hats?

[N2MYE30]

Ive used them on 2 e30s so far. Correct washers and good condition bearing and you should not have problems. I have the 15mm hats and they give me just the right amount of drop for me.

[agent]

There will be binding if the washer under the top mount is missing.

QFT

Correct washers and good condition bearing and you should not have problems.

And again.

[Schnitzer318is]

Thanks all... will go ahead and order them then.

N2MYE30... your vert looks so nice. Is that cirrus? And are the hats installed on it in that shot?

[N2MYE30]

Thanks, it Glacier Metallic. I don't remember if they were installed in that pic. Here are the 2 times they have been installed on mine. Both cars have coupe H&R sport springs.

[Schnitzer318is]

Thanks again. Good looking vehicles. Lower than I will be since I am on stock suspension, I just wanted to even out the front to rear gap. On the late models the front looks so high compared to the rear from the factory.

Edit: Since these are a minor drop... do you think I'd have any issues with suspension travel on stock replacement type struts (Monroe Sensatracks)? Would I risk reaching the bottom of the strut travel? I'm guessing it would be okay, but thought I'd ask since that just popped into my head.

[N2MYE30]

You will be fine. It's just a minor drop and you won't notice any performance difference.

[AndrewBird]

Drop hats are pointless IMO. 15mm is nothing (~1/2") and is unnoticeable IMO.

Honestly, cutting a coil or two off your stock springs would likely give you what you want. Either that or go with a pair of E30 M3 springs.

[Schnitzer318is]

You will be fine. It's just a minor drop and you won't notice any performance difference.

Thanks for the input. Ordering a set.

Drop hats are pointless IMO. 15mm is nothing (~1/2") and is unnoticeable IMO.

Honestly, cutting a coil or two off your stock springs would likely give you what you want. Either that or go with a pair of E30 M3 springs.

Also thanks for the input, but I disagree. 1/2" can make all the difference to the right eye, which in this case is mine... they are so cheap it's worth a shot at any rate.

Couple that with the fact that I just replaced with OE style replacement struts that wouldn't handle a real drop... and this is probably a good use case scenario for them. I agree that 95% of the time these are not what people will be after... but in this case, I think they will fit the bill.

[rcsoundn1]

Take before and after pics and post them please. As well as what you order, P/N maybe? Thanks!

[Steve Corbett]

Edit: Since these are a minor drop... do you think I'd have any issues with suspension travel on stock replacement type struts (Monroe Sensatracks)? Would I risk reaching the bottom of the strut travel? I'm guessing it would be okay, but thought I'd ask since that just popped into my head.

I have them on my 89 325I and have no issues. The suspension travel on the struts will not change with drop hats. It changes how the strut assembly is located on the strut tower, does not limit the travel as a shorter spring would.

[Schnitzer318is]

Take before and after pics and post them please. As well as what you order, P/N maybe? Thanks!

Will do.

I have them on my 89 325I and have no issues. The suspension travel on the struts will not change with drop hats. It changes how the strut assembly is located on the strut tower, does not limit the travel as a shorter spring would.

Thanks for the info. I have never done them before so am not familiar with their function.