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Leafy
Leafy Reader
7/24/14 9:34 a.m.

playdough? no need. Literally, take the spring out, and put a jack under the tire and jack E36 M3 up and use your eyeballs and hands.

Jarod
Jarod Reader
7/24/14 9:58 a.m.

Any tips on spring compressors? I hate using them. Or which one to buy?

Mr_Clutch42
Mr_Clutch42 HalfDork
7/24/14 10:11 a.m.

Shops doing the spring compression is the best way because their compressors are waaayyyy more safe than the ones we buy at the stores. Also, you can get Eibach to make custom springs that can give you your desired ride height drop and get the same spring rate as the H&R springs if you didn't want to go with the Ground Control setup.

Leafy
Leafy Reader
7/24/14 10:25 a.m.

I'd be surprised if you need a spring compressor with lowering springs. And if you do. Just leave the top hat bolted to the car, jack lower control arm up a bit, undo the top nut on the shock and then drop the jack slowly. Boom you just used your car as a very safe spring compressor.

Jarod
Jarod Reader
7/24/14 10:38 a.m.

Good idea Leafy.

Matt B
Matt B SuperDork
7/24/14 10:50 a.m.
Leafy wrote: I'd be surprised if you need a spring compressor with lowering springs. And if you do. Just leave the top hat bolted to the car, jack lower control arm up a bit, undo the top nut on the shock and then drop the jack slowly. Boom you just used your car as a very safe spring compressor.

I'm totally doing that next time. I berking hate spring compressors.

I tip my hat to you sir.

dean1484
dean1484 UltimaDork
7/24/14 2:33 p.m.

I need to find the photos of me using zip ties to keep a spring compressed. LOL YA I am not always the sharpest tool in the shed but no one got hurt and I got the job done.

dankimber
dankimber New Reader
7/24/14 3:06 p.m.

Are you sure they mounted the spring perches on the top clip ring? I am at about that distance on my STC civic with really stiff springs and 15" rims. Doesnt seem you should get that much drop with sport springs unless they didnt put the perch in the right spot.

For the money I agree with a couple of other posters get some cheap coil over sleeves and then some used springs. Then you can control the ride height.

Memory is telling me the standard konis have three different mounting positions.

Jarod
Jarod Reader
7/24/14 3:43 p.m.

I'll check everything out this weekend including the perches.

Jarod
Jarod Reader
7/29/14 6:11 p.m.

Ok, sorry about the delay. I fixed everything today and took photos.

First photo. Ride height with H&R Sport springs. Tape measure indicates 12 inches from center of wheel to fender. Mechanic says he put in bump stops. I do not believe him. Fixed. Thanks Leafy for the tip on no spring compressor. Full droop. E36 M3ty picture, but tape measure indicates almost 19 inches. Given me 7 inches of droop it does not surprise me that when I jack my control arm up with no tire on to approximate ride height the bump stop is already beginning to compress. With the tire on and a jack under the tire until car begins to raise off of supporting jack stands I can feel clearance around all of the top of my tire. So the tire marks in the inner fender must be from turning.

Conclusion: Extended top hats will be ordered to give me some off bump stop suspension travel. Will investigate rear later. It has not been giving me any problems.

Leafy
Leafy Reader
7/29/14 6:19 p.m.

Did you remember to turn the wheel when it was fully compressed as if its the outside wheel in a turn? Thats when you'll normally run into problems.

Jarod
Jarod Reader
7/29/14 8:11 p.m.

Nope, sounds like another test for tomorrow.

beans
beans Dork
7/30/14 9:33 p.m.

What wheel and what size tire?

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