Springs 40 / 60?

Post Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:03 pm

I did my susspension kit this weekend, all went ok. I used a 40mm spax kit. My big issue is the rear looks great but the front looks a bit high. Is this why some people go for a 60mm drop on the front?

I'm gonna give it a week or two to see how it beds in, but I think I'm gonna have to go for a 60mm drop on the front! Which brings me on to my next question. Is there anywhere I can buy just the front springs from?

Post Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:17 pm

If you are going to go to 60mm in the front, DONT USE JUST SPRINGS. You must get a spring/shock set matched for 60mm.

Post Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:37 pm

Bugger, I wish I had done that in the first place! Having just bought -40mm for all round. Do you reckon they will compress more seeing as they are brand new?

The rears are tight to the arches and look really good, but the fronts have about a 2" gap!!!

Post Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:53 pm

There is really no way around it. Mine was lowerd 60 in front with spring/shock combo.

Post Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:56 pm

I dropped my car 40 and i like the front its just low enough for me. the back was a bit too low but that was because my shocks were bad.

Post Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:06 pm

kam-325i wrote:If you are going to go to 60mm in the front, DONT USE JUST SPRINGS. You must get a spring/shock set matched for 60mm.

what?? never heard that before lol

Post Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:12 pm

Standard shocks are designed to work within a set range, lets say 50 - 80 mm of travel before hitting the bottom. if you put them with shorter springs, you will remove about 80% of the operating range, causing them to bottom out a lot more. Matched shocks will have a shorter operating range, but a much more stiffer responce over standard shocks.

Post Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:24 pm

The Spax shocks I have fitted are for running with shorter springs, I didn't realise they made shocks matched to each drop rate eg. 40mm or 60mm.

Post Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:29 pm

hey ropeman.. was down your way ion the weekend.. Went to the market dinner?? had a market special.. damn nice!

Interestied to hear the feedback from this. looking at getting a 40mm drop..

Post Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:32 pm

The dont really bother up to 40mm as most people will just use springs.
If you do use a proper set-up, matched spring & shocks, the handling will be much better than just using springs.

Post Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:44 pm

oze30 wrote:hey ropeman.. was down your way ion the weekend.. Went to the market dinner?? had a market special.. damn nice!

Interestied to hear the feedback from this. looking at getting a 40mm drop..

I hope that was breakfast at 2 / 3am! Everything from there tastes good at that time in the morning. lol! If sober everything is a lot worse!

Anyway, so I am running shortened shocks already with the 40mm kit. If people get away with dropping 40mm on standard shocks then surely I'll get away with an extra 20mm on my shortened shocks????

Post Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:48 pm

I should think so, To be on the safe side, you would need to compare things like "reboud rate" and the like between the 40/60 setup, i would think that it is not much.

Post Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:53 pm

Cool, I guess the thing to do is try it. If it feels wrong and doesn't handle well then I should go for some even shorter shocks. Which brings me right back to the start. Does anyone know where to I can buy just a set of front -60mm springs and not have to buy the rears as well?

Post Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:58 pm

You might find some on ebay..

Post Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:35 pm

Check these out

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-E30-APEX-Susp ... dZViewItem

Nowt to do with seller.

Post Thu Dec 01, 2005 2:10 pm

Look good! Cheers

Post Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:04 pm

dude, spax make 60/40 springs kit! about the only company that do

Post Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:12 pm

Simon13 wrote:dude, spax make 60/40 springs kit! about the only company that do

Bugger! If I had known that then.............

Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 8:31 pm

ropeman.. yeah.. 3 am.. just after the gloucester closed! LOoking at a 40 40 drop, but not sure how it would look..

Post Fri Dec 02, 2005 11:34 pm

40/40 looks fine my car is currently 35mm all round and looks great as people will testify!

Havn't really got any pic's though to show the drop

Post Sat Dec 03, 2005 1:41 am

iv got 60mm drop looks good but makes life a little hard sometimes ie mot and getting the jack under the front but i dont like 40mm drop so i put up with it

http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... ic&t=19223

i had 60mm on standard shock on my old bm it was ok one of my friends didnt like the drop on his car so he cut the springs it worked ok

Post Sat Dec 03, 2005 4:49 pm

Ropeman buddy i had the same problem about 3 years ago now when i had my first 325i sport i did exacly the same thing with a spax spring and didnt like it i ended up just getting the 60mm front springs if u just have a word with Spax explain the situation they might even swap the 2 that u have just put in the front over and u may have to pay a bit extra but im sure they will swap it all over for u dude! at the end of the day ur the customer and ur not happy!!..............And elegadly m8 that means ur entitled to have wat u want im not a genius but my dads a financial auditor and i know every trik in the book!!

give em a ring dude.

Failing that take the whole lot bak off and buy urself a H&R 60 - 40 mm full suspension kit off the zone shop thats exacly wat im doin in the next couple of weeks to my new arrival lol!!