e90 drop hats - are they to blame?

[e30mclow]

Looking for some experienced feedback here..

Last week I installed a H&R Cup Kit in my 325, and decided to compliment the front with a pair of e90 drop hats.

This got the car looking spot on height wise.

I soon started to notice what I initially suspected was the front shocks bottoming out, but I've sice dismissed this based upon the stiffness of the setup, and the fact that the bumps I'm hitting wouldn't technically cause bottoming out (even on a chopped spring 316).

I'm wondering if the underside of the drop hats (due to the redused clearance compared to standard) is now slapping the top of the strut tops when I hit sharp undulations in the road (tarmac patches etc).

Can anyone confirm/disregard my suspicions?

And since every thread should have pics...
My new wheels awaiting tires

[kangman]

Those wheels are sweet, how much and where from??

I have heard about e90 top hats causing springs to bind

[e30mclow]

What do you mean by the springs "binding"?

The wheels are Varrstoen 16x9s, et15.
Worked out at around $830.

[hammoj28]

I've read they rub on the inside of the strut tower. not sure that sounds like your problem though.

Whole thread on them here:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthr ... 95&page=16

[HairyScreech]

by coil bound he means that all of the available motion in the spring has been taken up and coils of the spring are touching each other, hence the spring binds and feels solid.
doubt that is the issue here though as the drop hats would effectively lengthen the spring for the same ride height by making the spring plates further apart.

if they are hitting the bottoms of the turrets then they should have left marks by now that would be pretty obvious with a wheel off.

one thing to remember is you will have 10mm less damper travel with the drop hats, so it could be the damper running out of travel.

best thing to do would be get the thing up in the air, check everything for signs of contact, if possible clamp the spring up with some compressors and move the sus through its range of motion.