Help with coilover spring
Discussion
My car a BMW e36 m3 AST Coilovers handles terribly as soon as I encounter any slight dip on the road the front wheels leaves Tarmac completely whilst driving normally try that in a corner and the car jumps across the road it's scary I am using a 900lb spring which hardly compresses which also results in it not extending much either I don't know how to remedy this
If I jack the car up there is a huge gap between spring and spring platform. If I fit shorter or longer springs and keep the ride height where it is just now then all I altering is the threaded collar further up or down and jacking the car up will still reveal a huge gap I believe. Can anyone help me at all?
If I jack the car up there is a huge gap between spring and spring platform. If I fit shorter or longer springs and keep the ride height where it is just now then all I altering is the threaded collar further up or down and jacking the car up will still reveal a huge gap I believe. Can anyone help me at all?
king hell, 900lb springs are pretty stiff even for a GT or Touring car of that weight!OK, let's get back to basics.
You can't extend a spring that isn't compressed, so your handling issues are 100% expected from your description of your spring installation.
There is something else that you may be missing here, either in your description, or from your order.
Coilovers that are as hard as you are suggesting generally have an additional spring that is a lot softer than the main spring to allow for the spring to extend under droop, but still be firm under load, see the pic attached. This spring also fills the gap you are seeing.
Pictured on the right.
http://www.ast-suspension.co.uk/images/stories/vir...
You can't extend a spring that isn't compressed, so your handling issues are 100% expected from your description of your spring installation.
There is something else that you may be missing here, either in your description, or from your order.
Coilovers that are as hard as you are suggesting generally have an additional spring that is a lot softer than the main spring to allow for the spring to extend under droop, but still be firm under load, see the pic attached. This spring also fills the gap you are seeing.
Pictured on the right.
http://www.ast-suspension.co.uk/images/stories/vir...
delcbr said:
I bought it from AST but it's never been right contacted them again trying to sort it out.
I fitted it there isn't much to it. Also using pillowball top mounts.
it'd surprise some people who wrong people can fit things.I fitted it there isn't much to it. Also using pillowball top mounts.
And whilst you say 900lb springs I'd be surprised if AST were using imperial markings. Any I've seen use metric...so again, there are lots of things to get wrong.
You have too hard a spring and you have too little Damping.
Assuming the shocks are adjustable (for bump ) this will be adjusted by a little knob on the body. Count the clicks (notches as you turn it) between the lowest and the highest and set to half way. that will give you a good baseline. would do this before changing springs
After that Fit some softer springs, I would go with 400lb fronts and 350lb rears to start with.
The gap you see between spring and platform is just a short spring this is pretty normal, changing spring rate or the above won't change that, and it isn't contributing to your issue.
If you don't like the idea of it you can fit helper springs and platforms. They will just take up the space. https://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/s/coilover-spri...
Rob
Assuming the shocks are adjustable (for bump ) this will be adjusted by a little knob on the body. Count the clicks (notches as you turn it) between the lowest and the highest and set to half way. that will give you a good baseline. would do this before changing springs
After that Fit some softer springs, I would go with 400lb fronts and 350lb rears to start with.
The gap you see between spring and platform is just a short spring this is pretty normal, changing spring rate or the above won't change that, and it isn't contributing to your issue.
If you don't like the idea of it you can fit helper springs and platforms. They will just take up the space. https://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/s/coilover-spri...
Rob
delcbr said:
The ride height is 317mm
I jack the car up the wheel drops down it changes to 343mm a difference of 26mm. Or 1"
If I push down on The wheel it changes to 355mm and leaves a 15mm spring gap between spring and perch.
Any ideas anybody?
From that description, not only are your springs way to hard, but they're too short, so your going to need helper springs.I jack the car up the wheel drops down it changes to 343mm a difference of 26mm. Or 1"
If I push down on The wheel it changes to 355mm and leaves a 15mm spring gap between spring and perch.
Any ideas anybody?
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1...
These will allow the damper to reach full extension without the spring being unlocated from it's seat.
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