Ride Height

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Henry
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Ride Height

Post by Henry » Sun Oct 20, 2019 7:22 pm

Washed car today and it just caught my eye that the rear ride height was different, so measured and drivers side is 5mm lower. Put the car in the garage which I know has a level floor and yes 5mm difference. Not much but bound to be more when driver is in. Thoughts??
B3 1999 (090)
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32

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Charles
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Re: Ride Height

Post by Charles » Sun Oct 20, 2019 7:40 pm

The story goes that this is more a case of the left side being 5mm higher so that when the German driver sits in the car, it levels out...
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B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
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Henry
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Re: Ride Height

Post by Henry » Sun Oct 20, 2019 7:49 pm

Is there a solution. Now that I know it will bug me. Can’t believe they sided the springs, can you get different thickness of spring platforms ie the hard rubber bits?
B3 1999 (090)
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32

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Charles
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Re: Ride Height

Post by Charles » Sun Oct 20, 2019 8:23 pm

Never bothered to investigate as I've never noticed an issue with handling - despite my own OCDness.
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order ;)
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!

Henry
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Re: Ride Height

Post by Henry » Sun Oct 20, 2019 8:49 pm

Just looked up the parts catalogue and indeed you can get an extra 5mm spring seat. Learn something every day.
B3 1999 (090)
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32

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Charles
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Re: Ride Height

Post by Charles » Mon Oct 21, 2019 8:35 am

Henry wrote:
Sun Oct 20, 2019 8:49 pm
Just looked up the parts catalogue and indeed you can get an extra 5mm spring seat. Learn something every day.
Indeed!

Is this just for the OSR spring?
Charles
Teacher of Chemistry and driver of ALPINAs - not necessarily in that order ;)
B3S Touring (49/116) - been to the moon and now on the way back!
Renault Grand Espace - not mine but the wife's!

simon13
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Re: Ride Height

Post by simon13 » Mon Oct 21, 2019 9:16 pm

e36's do this also
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Henry
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Re: Ride Height

Post by Henry » Mon Oct 21, 2019 9:18 pm

I may have given some duff info, it appears that the upper pad is listed as "5mm" whilst the lower pad is not listed with a thickness.
B3 1999 (090)
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32

Henry
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Re: Ride Height

Post by Henry » Mon Oct 21, 2019 9:20 pm

Although I agree with Simon13 as my e30 m3 has different thickness of spring pads.
B3 1999 (090)
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32

Abanko
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Re: Ride Height

Post by Abanko » Mon Oct 21, 2019 10:54 pm

My B10 is the same - Just make sure your passenger is heavier than you to balance things up!!
B10 V8 #842

Bob
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Re: Ride Height

Post by Bob » Tue Oct 22, 2019 11:59 am

I think from memory the E30's used to have a selection of pad thickness’ available. It was something to do with different specs for different countries
Last edited by Bob on Thu Oct 24, 2019 1:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Arvi
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Re: Ride Height

Post by Arvi » Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:28 am

Is this because the fuel tank is on the drivers side?

Henry
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Re: Ride Height

Post by Henry » Thu Oct 24, 2019 7:57 pm

It was my intention to get the wife to take a measurement with me siting in the car, just to see how much more it dropped, but I forgot and now the car is on axle stands getting the bushes done (nightmare) after 20 years some are rusted to the mounting points. I have a 6 ton press and that won’t shift them. Stripped the threads on the bush removal tool. Replaced the 6 ton jack on the press for a 12 ton and that is working so far but starting to bow the press frame.
B3 1999 (090)
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32

simon13
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Re: Ride Height

Post by simon13 » Mon Oct 28, 2019 12:46 am

e36s had thicker spring pads, an eastern European roads option on suspension! which was a thicker pad. My old E36 B3 touring used to rub on the rear when giving it shit so I fitted these pads and the problem stopped. Is there nothing listed on realoem for e46s?
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Henry
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Re: Ride Height

Post by Henry » Tue Nov 05, 2019 9:59 pm

Well, the b3 is back on its feet again after being rebushed, I think I’ll have to start eating some more pies, got the wife to measure ride height with me in the seat. A disappointing 1mm drop. Pie eating training starts tomorrow :D
B3 1999 (090)
E30 M3 1990
X5 4.6is
VW Mk4 R32

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