E36 coil over issue
Discussion
I have a drift / track car and it has been off road/ track for past 5 years
At the time I bought a set of cheap frsport coilover and hardly done 300 miles on total. Now trying to adjust them and something is not right.
The coilover has a progressive spring and then liner one. Adjustment is done on the progressive one ( see pic)
What I find strange is I have adjusted it all the way on the driver side and it is almost half that on passenger side
What do you think the problem is?
Even now the driver side is still 5mm lower and can’t raise it
anymore
I am about to buy set of hsd as had enough of these. I have mister r on my r34 and they are good as far as I can tell
Had is £700 and miester r is £900 or can get kw
Thoughts?![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/pFuPfmSG.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/xNRfrf6J" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/xNRfrf6J.jpg)
At the time I bought a set of cheap frsport coilover and hardly done 300 miles on total. Now trying to adjust them and something is not right.
The coilover has a progressive spring and then liner one. Adjustment is done on the progressive one ( see pic)
What I find strange is I have adjusted it all the way on the driver side and it is almost half that on passenger side
What do you think the problem is?
Even now the driver side is still 5mm lower and can’t raise it
anymore
I am about to buy set of hsd as had enough of these. I have mister r on my r34 and they are good as far as I can tell
Had is £700 and miester r is £900 or can get kw
Thoughts?
Not quite sure what you mean by "progressive" and "liner" spring.
What you have there is a linear rate spring (the main one) that is the one that does all of the actual suspension work, then you have a much smaller "helper spring" that one is there to stop the suspension falling off the main spring on suspension droop.
All you have done it compressed the helper spring more on one side that the other, and that isn't doing what you think it is.
The forces that are at work on the car come from all 4 corners don't forget.
If the rears are stiffer then one rear being higher will push the opposing front lower.
The only way to do what you are actually trying to do is to adjust/level everything up on level ground.
Years ago I did mine on level ground with a "long level" made using some clear washer hose with the right amount of water to transfer the same level from one side to the other.
It basically took most of the day to achieve but all worked well.
When it was done left/right both looked different but the height was accurate for all, so I am guessing cheapo coilovers aren't quite as consistent as better ones.
When I changed to better ones a few years later they were much more consistent.
Don't forget the possibility that you may be trying to compensate for a bent chassis.
ETA. Just had another look at the pics & the one that is set "higher" is showing MUCH more rust, probably a shot spring not helping the above.
If you can find the spring rate and dimensions by taking one off, a new pair of springs off ebay isn't very much.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275586058760?hash=item4...
What you have there is a linear rate spring (the main one) that is the one that does all of the actual suspension work, then you have a much smaller "helper spring" that one is there to stop the suspension falling off the main spring on suspension droop.
All you have done it compressed the helper spring more on one side that the other, and that isn't doing what you think it is.
The forces that are at work on the car come from all 4 corners don't forget.
If the rears are stiffer then one rear being higher will push the opposing front lower.
The only way to do what you are actually trying to do is to adjust/level everything up on level ground.
Years ago I did mine on level ground with a "long level" made using some clear washer hose with the right amount of water to transfer the same level from one side to the other.
It basically took most of the day to achieve but all worked well.
When it was done left/right both looked different but the height was accurate for all, so I am guessing cheapo coilovers aren't quite as consistent as better ones.
When I changed to better ones a few years later they were much more consistent.
Don't forget the possibility that you may be trying to compensate for a bent chassis.
ETA. Just had another look at the pics & the one that is set "higher" is showing MUCH more rust, probably a shot spring not helping the above.
If you can find the spring rate and dimensions by taking one off, a new pair of springs off ebay isn't very much.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275586058760?hash=item4...
Edited by E-bmw on Tuesday 27th December 10:38
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