e36 rear coilovers

[MattTheHat325]

a few months ago i bought an e36 tourer which was already equipped with gaz coilovers. the car was absolutely slammed, 9j rear style 5's with 215/40s stretched and not enough room for a fag paper between tyre and arch even with / \ camber like that. anyway, i smashed a style 5 in the snow and bought a set of 'pinas to run through the winter.
At the weekend i put the alpinas on and wound the coilovers up on the front, but when i came to do the back i discovered that the rear seats were wound right to the top of the perchs, i.e ride height as high as it would go. I've scratched my head so hard i've almost worn through.
Now i noticed that there are no upper spring pads but i'm sure the thickest ones bmw do are 10mm? which won't really make a massive difference, even though i will put some in anyway!

the only other thing i can think has happened is that whoever put the coilovers on used normal e36 ones and not touring specific, so the rears are the wrong rate. the ride on the rear is very stiff but really bouncy which kind of backs up this theory. If this is the case, would anyone be able to advise me on what poundage springs i would need on the back? and is there anywhere i can buy the rears seperately?
i really need some more ride height!

[MattTheHat325]

anyone? i don't know the names of any of you gurus on this type of subject to ask anyone specifically, suspension heads please help? i really need to get this sorted out before new year!

[Jhonno]

Gaz will supply seperately I believe

[MattTheHat325]

can you buy direct from gaz if you contact them using the number on their homepage? would i need chassis numbers or anything like that? anybody dealt with them direct before?

[tim_s]

sounds obvious but have you checked the subframe's not hanging off?

[Jhonno]

Stiff but bouncy is lack of damping btw..

[martinpallot]

Get the 10mm rubber spring perches, not only will it stop the spring rubbing through the body but it will raise it more than the 10mm of the pad due to the leverage ratio of the upper arms. When we fitted a set of Gaz shocks to an e36 rally car we had the opposite problem where the car sat far too high, but that was with 500lb spings. I woulod imagine that yours must be significantly softer to be cuasing the car to sit so low.

[MattTheHat325]

im definately getting some spring pads because they should be in there at the end of the day, i think it needs top mounts at least in the back. sorry to sound stupid but where is the spring perch actually supposed to go? because mine is at the bottom of the spring but in this months total BMW they are fitting coilovers to an e36 and they put it on top of the spring so that big nipple like thing that sticks down out of the floor goes inside the hollow of the perch thread? i cant see it making much difference to ride height either way but there must be a correct way?

@Jhonno, so forgetting the ride height for a second, you think the shocks need softening off?

[Jhonno]

Nope.. I think they need MORE damping to stop it bouncing.. Trouble is, Gaz shocks are harsh when you turn them up..

[MattTheHat325]

ah i see, how sensitive is the adjustment? i.e how many turns to make a difference?

[Jhonno]

Not a clue.. turn them right up and then set them 1/2 way see what it does and go from there.

[dips346]

pretty sure the rubber pads have to be removed to fit the coilover platform

[MattTheHat325]

Does the spring perch need to be at the top or bottom of the spring? I.e against the car or against the arm?

[BadDave]

If the spring perch is screwed as far up as it can go, and the car is still too low, then longer and/or stiffer springs is the only answer.

Gaz coilovers are normally 2 1/4" and are about £15ea from Rally Design or £20 ish ea direct from Gaz(both ex vat)

[MattTheHat325]

i'm dragging this old thread up to save starting a new one about the same thing. I got in touch with GAZ and they said i needed 7.5" 450lb pigtails. Ordered and fitted. Its gone from bein at highest adjustment sat on its arse, to being on its lowest adjustment and massive arch gap, the old springs were 325lb and a lot shorter. Its way too high now and its still too bouncy, the shocks are half a turn away from max stiffness. its doing my head in now, i just want it to be low with reasonable compliance on the road, i wish you guys could feel the ride because all of my cars have been lowered and none of them have rode as shite as this thing

[Andyboy]

Take the coilover shite off and sell it. Buy a set of Boge gas or Bilstein B4 shocks and some Eibach 35mm springs. Result - a car that rides and handles well. Simple.

[pacerpete]

Take the coilover shite off and sell it. Buy a set of Boge gas or Bilstein B4 shocks and some Eibach 35mm springs. Result - a car that rides and handles well. Simple.

+1

Shock horror, another coilover fail on a road car.

Be sure to sign up to "Stancecocks" and post some pics before you fix it

[Andyboy]

Haterz!

[tim_s]

Take the coilover shite off and sell it. Buy a set of Boge gas or Bilstein B4 shocks and some Eibach 35mm springs. Result - a car that rides and handles well. Simple.

True to some extent, but my e36 sport tourer on new Boge gas on the front, B4 on the rear and new eibach springs with all new bushes on the rear and e30 arms on the front, lsd etc is still bloody soft. I know it's a touring, but still, it pretty much sucks for spirited driving and if it weren't just a big barge to drive up and down the m4 it would def get better dampers.

[Kos]

i'm dragging this old thread up to save starting a new one about the same thing. I got in touch with GAZ and they said i needed 7.5" 450lb pigtails. Ordered and fitted. Its gone from bein at highest adjustment sat on its arse, to being on its lowest adjustment and massive arch gap, the old springs were 325lb and a lot shorter. Its way too high now and its still too bouncy, the shocks are half a turn away from max stiffness. its doing my head in now, i just want it to be low with reasonable compliance on the road, i wish you guys could feel the ride because all of my cars have been lowered and none of them have rode as shite as this thing

they gave you stiffer and longer springs, do GAZ know what they are doing ?
did you adjust the damper settings with origninal springs to see if it would ride anybetter ?
personaly i'd have stuck to the same poundage but longer. stiffer spring is not going to help on the ride side of things

[Andyboy]

Take the coilover shite off and sell it. Buy a set of Boge gas or Bilstein B4 shocks and some Eibach 35mm springs. Result - a car that rides and handles well. Simple.

True to some extent, but my e36 sport tourer on new Boge gas on the front, B4 on the rear and new eibach springs with all new bushes on the rear and e30 arms on the front, lsd etc is still bloody soft. I know it's a touring, but still, it pretty much sucks for spirited driving and if it weren't just a big barge to drive up and down the m4 it would def get better dampers.

I have this set up on mine for track days and it's absolutely fine. With Eibach anti roll bars it was a bit understeery so I reverted to standard ones. I drive around Cadwell Park a lot faster than you do on the road...............

[harry_p]

i think a lot of companies struggle with the seperate, and different location points for the rear spring and damper.

when i put hottuning coilovers on my compact (stance innit ) i went for a drive with just the fronts fitted and it felt superb. however, after putting the rear hottuning stuff on it never felt settled, it used to bob around. in the dry on the right road it felt really lively and darty, in wet or icy conditions it felt almost undriveable at times!

[MattTheHat325]

well its just failed its mot, both the front shocks have blown, gaz's recomended rear springs dislocate, outer rear bushes, brake lines blah blah
time for the jerry can and a match effin e36 piece of absolute dogs dinner
e30 went straight through no advisories. old school ftw

[Andyboy]

Well, you fitted some low rent Gaz rubbish. Not the car's fault is it?

[MattTheHat325]

did you read the thread? missed the bit where it says they were already on the car when i bought it did you?

[Andyboy]

did you read the thread? missed the bit where it says they were already on the car when i bought it did you?

Aaah, a toys out the pram moment!

I do remember you saying you'd be fitting more Gaz crap - and i quote "I got in touch with GAZ and they said i needed 7.5" 450lb pigtails. Ordered and fitted. Its gone from bein at highest adjustment sat on its arse, to being on its lowest adjustment and massive arch gap, the old springs were 325lb and a lot shorter. Its way too high now and its still too bouncy, the shocks are half a turn away from max stiffness. its doing my head in now, i just want it to be low with reasonable compliance on the road, i wish you guys could feel the ride because all of my cars have been lowered and none of them have rode as shite as this thing"

[MattTheHat325]

definately, i've got no toys left in my pram and i've thrown them so far they're in their own post code. sorry for snapping mate just having a bad day, i just wanted the ride sorted because i wanted to sell it but now it needs new front shocks aswell looks like i'm gonna have to shell out for more than a pair of springs!
i'm just a bit strapped at the moment because my work has gone quiet, so i'm having to use my e30 as a daily, which i hate because my work yard is like a mud bath and whats more i can't lock it! so stress levels are quite high at the mo!
reverting back to near standard seems like my only option as i want to sell, so can you tell me where the best place (price wise) is to sort me out a set of b4/6's and some sensible eibachs?

[DanThe]

i think a lot of companies struggle with the seperate, and different location points for the rear spring and damper.

when i put hottuning coilovers on my compact (stance innit ) i went for a drive with just the fronts fitted and it felt superb. however, after putting the rear hottuning stuff on it never felt settled, it used to bob around. in the dry on the right road it felt really lively and darty, in wet or icy conditions it felt almost undriveable at times!

Softish rear FTW, get rid of the ARB if you have one, will be much more forgiving

I have some Gmax compact dampers/springs you could use the fronts from if you want it

[Royalratch]

Just pop into ECP for some Bilstein B4's and you're golden.

[MattTheHat325]

do ecp sell eibachs aswell or some decent equivalent? thats nice because a new ecp has popped up just down the road from work!

[Andyboy]

definately, i've got no toys left in my pram and i've thrown them so far they're in their own post code. sorry for snapping mate just having a bad day

No problem chap. I have more than a few..........

For now, I'd just look on Ebay or whatever for a pair of standard front legs and some rear springs. Someone must be pulling an old 6 Cyl E36 apart somewhere.

[MattTheHat325]

i think i'm going to have to keep the old girl for a while now as i'm spending a bit on it, so i'll probably try and compromise, looking at kits(springs and shocks) at the mo, it needs a new clutch too amongst other niggles so i'm going to try and get it as mint as i can and maybe sell up in a few months. Sounds stupid but i'd rather lose a couple of hundred notes and sell a near perfect car than cut my losses and shift on a nail. Not particularly logical i know but its just what makes me feel better! its not a bad barge i suppose, now i've chilled out a bit

[Royalratch]

Get to ECP and fit some new cheap parts, drive it and sell in Summer FTW.

I think ECP do sell Eibachs.

I'd go used springs if you can find them but dampers are best new.

[Jhonno]

i'm dragging this old thread up to save starting a new one about the same thing. I got in touch with GAZ and they said i needed 7.5" 450lb pigtails. Ordered and fitted. Its gone from bein at highest adjustment sat on its arse, to being on its lowest adjustment and massive arch gap, the old springs were 325lb and a lot shorter. Its way too high now and its still too bouncy, the shocks are half a turn away from max stiffness. its doing my head in now, i just want it to be low with reasonable compliance on the road, i wish you guys could feel the ride because all of my cars have been lowered and none of them have rode as shite as this thing

I did say.. It's the dampers, not the springs. Gaz dampers are not the best. Their springs are Faulkner..

I run decent coilovers with much higher poundage springs and the ride is decent, and it doesn't bounce. All down to the shock..

[Kos]

thanks god i didnt buy GAZ

i've recently been hearing a lot of negative things about them, especially if they are used on a car that also gets used on the road