e30 lowering and suspension advice

[ameetgill1]

can you please advise if the below is suitable and if it is a good product?





FK Automotive offers one of the most comprehensive programs in the chassis. With years of experience in this field we can guarantee the excellent quality of our shock absorbers and springs. FK High Tec Sport Suspension Automotive consist FK High Tec Lowering Springs High Tec and perfectly matched shock absorbers. FK High Tec suspensions are characterized by high quality at reasonable prices. The core of the suspensions are the special high tech shock absorbers which have completed the development of an extensive testing program on the racetrack. The high-tech suspension improves the handling of your vehicle. Thanks to the tighter coordination are higher cornering speeds, braking behave better and faster lane change possible. With the high-tech lowering springs, they have the opportunity to reduce their vehicle height between 35 and 70mm. This not only beautifies the look but performs the relocation of the vehicle weight also to improved road holding. Despite the sporty version offering high-tech moving trolleys still remaining comfortable enough to drive the vehicle in everyday life. Our high tech springs on modern CNC controlled winding machines from chrome silicon steel and the springs to protect against corrosion, they are plastic coated. Most have high-tech sport shocks also has shortened shock body which results in lowering rates, that even at high enough suspension travel is available. Many of our high-tech chassis have a 7-fold nuten adjustment, they thus allow more height adjustment on the rear axle. For most of our high-tech sports suspension, they receive a partial appraisal, they can register the chassis in most cases without problems by the TÃaV. FK Sport suspension brought into vehicle driving dynamics and optical to a new level, and they do not hesitate to grab it.

[Grrrmachine]

Once you get past the crudely-translated German and the corporate bullshit, it's basically lowering springs for between 35 and 70mm drop.

Is this just springs, or is it coilovers? Either way, anything more than a 30mm drop on an E30 is considered "excessive"; you significantly affect the ride and handling in a bad way, and your sump is at a greatly increased risk of being smashed to oblivion.

[steve_k]

FK automotive??

used them last year, got a pair of front shocks & a set of front & rear springs (60 - 40 drop) & bump stop's & the whole lot came to about 65 euro's incl shipping & only took 3 days to het here.

had np probs at all with the kit & yes i would buy them again if i needed to.

the coilovers can be pricey but at the end of the day they are koni unit's & therefore should they need a rebuild they can be done by any koni service centre.

[ameetgill1]

above is the link have a look guys

Thank you guys i appreciate the replys. will this be suitable and will 30mm around on 15inch rims?

[steve_k]

above is the link have a look guys

Thank you guys i appreciate the replys. will this be suitable and will 30mm around on 15inch rims?

that link is for the suspension kitk for a 1 series not an e30 lol.

[steve_k]

just a thought try www.venommotorsport.co.uk as i'm sure they stock FK parts.

[redcar]

Once you get past the crudely-translated German and the corporate bullshit, it's basically lowering springs for between 35 and 70mm drop.

Is this just springs, or is it coilovers? Either way, anything more than a 30mm drop on an E30 is considered "excessive"; you significantly affect the ride and handling in a bad way, and your sump is at a greatly increased risk of being smashed to oblivion.

Please can you explain why more than a 3-mm drop will significantly affect the ride and handling in a bad way?

[Grrrmachine]

Please can you explain why more than a 3-mm drop will significantly affect the ride and handling in a bad way?

Nope, that's why the whole Suspension Geometry page of the Wiki is empty. When asked, no-one wanted to fill in the blanks:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... _Explained

But when we* did the research for the Suspension page, and looked into a writing a guide to Lowering it became too much of a minefield; the Tech forum is awash with comments about affected camber, reduced dynamic response, dramatic tyre wear and so on. The consensus (not my personal opinion, but the forum average) is that more than 30mm is therefore not recommended, unless you're going to make corresponding changes, such as to the trailing arm tabs on the rear beam. If there's a counter-argument, type it here and I'll Wikify it.

*collaborative effort.

[ameetgill1]

lol i didnt realise venom motors is wicked is it good to have 30mil all round. i want to go over bumps without a problem

[redcar]

Please can you explain why more than a 3-mm drop will significantly affect the ride and handling in a bad way?

Nope, that's why the whole Suspension Geometry page of the Wiki is empty. When asked, no-one wanted to fill in the blanks:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... _Explained

But when we* did the research for the Suspension page, and looked into a writing a guide to Lowering it became too much of a minefield; the Tech forum is awash with comments about affected camber, reduced dynamic response, dramatic tyre wear and so on. The consensus (not my personal opinion, but the forum average) is that more than 30mm is therefore not recommended, unless you're going to make corresponding changes, such as to the trailing arm tabs on the rear beam. If there's a counter-argument, type it here and I'll Wikify it.

*collaborative effort.

My car is dropped 70mm front and about 60mm rear, and I can tell you it handles like its on rails. Also, I haven't smashed any sumps, and I can drive over speed bumps too. Of course I haven't just dropped the turd, there are some other mods to the suspension, but it's very strange to just state that a drop of over 30mm will make the handling compromised?

I can imagine that your statement may be more relevant to a 25 year old e30 with knackered/tired suspension and bushes etc.

[Grrrmachine]

I wouldn't say it's too strange at all. How much clearance have you got between the road and the sump, or between the road and your valance lip? The frequency of "Oi've smashed moi sump" posts on Chat suggests it's not exactly harmless.

I don't mean to be antagonising; these are genuine questions because I know that you've done some serious motorsport mods to your car so your knowledge here is perfectly valid. So for daily driving (and knowing that "lowering" really does just mean shorter springs or coilovers here), would you say that more than a 30mm drop will have no negative effect on an otherwise standard E30?

[redcar]

My brother's GUG had 60/40 drop with a H&R cup kit and poly rear bushes. Possibly some other suspension mods also. He said that it handled pretty nicely, and remember it had an m20 anchor up front.

I've never driven another e30 aparts from my own. It has out handled many modern BMWs and other "sports" cars though. It's very slow in a straight line though being an m42.

I wouldn't say my car has serious motorsport mods at all. Every wearing suspension component, and every bush is brand new. It is very very low, the iS lip is 2.5cm off the ground, and the sump guard is 1.25cm off the ground. The sump guard very rarely scrapes. Infact I could tell you exactly how many times it has and also where the sump guard has scraped. That's how little it has scraped

Really the points i'm trying to make are, that if all your suspension is changed for new OEM parts, and your springs and dampers are good quality, then I think that your handling would definitely improve with lowering. The car will be nice and tights and you will feel it immediately through your steering.
However, simply slamming a tired e30 to the ground and riding around on the bump stops isn't going to help your handling at all.
Your statement about 30mm is probably correct regarding the tired e30.

[Grrrmachine]

Hmm, maybe I'm confusing you with someone else (who was it who raised their rear beam a few inches?).

Still, 12mm ground clearance Just the ripples in the tarmac at the traffic lights over here would kill that in seconds.

What sort of tyre wear are you experiencing at the back with that sort of drop?

[redcar]

Hmm, maybe I'm confusing you with someone else (who was it who raised their rear beam a few inches?).

Still, 12mm ground clearance Just the ripples in the tarmac at the traffic lights over here would kill that in seconds.

What sort of tyre wear are you experiencing at the back with that sort of drop?

Yes, the rear subframe has been raised, but not by a few inches! Corrects the rear camber and roll centre.

Regarding ground clearance, I suppose you learn where you can and can't drive.

Rear tyres were new 7000 miles ago. Wear is good on the rear. No stupidly unever wear. If I had an e30 purely for comfort and a bit of road fun, 60/40 drop would do me fine.

[rskools]

Sorry guys is that 60 in the front and 40 in the rear?

[bimanut]

Hmm, maybe I'm confusing you with someone else (who was it who raised their rear beam a few inches?).

Still, 12mm ground clearance Just the ripples in the tarmac at the traffic lights over here would kill that in seconds.

What sort of tyre wear are you experiencing at the back with that sort of drop?

Yes, the rear subframe has been raised, but not by a few inches! Corrects the rear camber and roll centre.

Regarding ground clearance, I suppose you learn where you can and can't drive.



Rear tyres were new 7000 miles ago. Wear is good on the rear. No stupidly unever wear. If I had an e30 purely for comfort and a bit of road fun, 60/40 drop would do me fine.

Have you got a link on how you raised the frame?
I`m intrigued

[redcar]

Sorry, no link.

Only raised by 12mm, estimate that it brings camber closer to 0 by about 0.5 degrees.

I think that's as much as the subframe can be raised without doing any modifications to the shell, as lots of stuff like fuel filler neck, and diff etc. get in the way. handles a treat though.

[e30den]

Sorry guys is that 60 in the front and 40 in the rear?

Yep