Transverse Spring Vs. Coilover Lowering
I found your thread and i see the rear sleeve kit but also seen you switched to a diff company for front?
Also,Can shocks be ordered directly from bilstein?I see the shocks on there site but no price.It would be easier because i could just have them machine groove for snapring before shipping shocks.
Any of you guys think about ordering shocks for drm?They have revalved bilsteins to there specs after race testing but they a bit pricey, $750 for for shocks?
Naturally I don't have any parts yet to do the coilovers. However I was playing out in the garage and came up with an idea. I took a piece of PVC with an outside diameter of 2-3/8, which a 1-7/8 I.D spring should have an O.D of about 2-1/4. I made my pieces 11 inches long. Placed them over a KYB shock and bolted it up. Raised my lower control arm and came up with the following pics



I had plenty of room all the way around top to bottom. It didn't even appear to interfere with the sway bar joint. Of course the true test will be when installing the actual spring but I thought this is a positive result and if it does have to be flared it won't be by much.



I had plenty of room all the way around top to bottom. It didn't even appear to interfere with the sway bar joint. Of course the true test will be when installing the actual spring but I thought this is a positive result and if it does have to be flared it won't be by much.
36mm: 1.512” – 1.508” o.d. with 1.510” nominal
Width would be determined by snap ring. Bilstein uses a .059 thick snap ring.
Here are Bilstein's part numbers for the correct snap rings for the early factory Bilsteins.
46mm part number is 2522880 and the 36mm is 2522870
Call Wes at Bilstein in San Diego, he could probably make it all happen and ship you complete coil-overs.
You have to buy the shocks at one of there dealers and have them shipped in the the size groove that you want.
Mine are all set and ready to go on the car. Installation looks to be a breeze. I may have to very slightly bend out the shock towers.
Shock and spring fit in the tower fine but the edges of the spring do touch the sides of the tower.
Top bolt and bottom bolts all line up nicely, and I may be able to get away with not moving the sway bar.
All and all looks very good..
I should have some pics within the next day or two
Can you list links or part numbers where you bought your parts from,sleeve kit,snap ring,springs,and what springs you went with?
Also,who did you end up using to machine the snap rings?
Any pics with spring and sleeve off shock of the groove?
Thanks man!
Bilstein can also do the groove for $10 each.
Snapring is from them also.
1-7/8 I.d spring...hypercoil
Bilstein coilover kit
Will cost you about $525 for a pair. Vs. $600 thru em, which is exactly the same thing. If you don't want the hassle then just spend the extra.
Not just any machine shop. They need to be experienced and a have a lathe.
Bilstein can also do the groove for $10 each.
Snapring is from them also.
1-7/8 I.d spring...hypercoil
Bilstein coilover kit
Will cost you about $525 for a pair. Vs. $600 thru em, which is exactly the same thing. If you don't want the hassle then just spend the extra.
Bilstein can also do the groove for $10 each.
Snapring is from them also.
1-7/8 I.d spring...hypercoil
Bilstein coilover kit
Will cost you about $525 for a pair. Vs. $600 thru em, which is exactly the same thing. If you don't want the hassle then just spend the extra.
With springs,i meant to say what rates you went with? I kmow most people use hyperco.
The sleeve kits seem cheaper from the link i listed in begining from a1 and they have the springs for like $60 each.
Thanks again! Cool project! I was gonna do this a long time ago. I remember i posted a thread about it and almost had my head bit off and everyone said jst call drm or em! Lmao
QWS,also,did you have that alum looking bushing above the gold hat made or did that come with new shock?
The bilstein coilover kit on summit shows everything black but yours has gold hat and spring seat?
Wondering if im looking at wrong one,you have a part number?
And do you have any plans on getting rid of rubber bushing at the bottom of shock?
The bilstein coilover kit on summit shows everything black but yours has gold hat and spring seat?
Wondering if im looking at wrong one,you have a part number?
And do you have any plans on getting rid of rubber bushing at the bottom of shock?
Last edited by 87L98Z52; Feb 9, 2012 at 09:21 AM.
After my pre-fitment, I'm starting to get a little more into this today.
Remember my towers are 84's so 85-87 may be slightly different.
First I needed to enlarge the hole at the top of the tower so the bushing would push thru.


I'm also not to comfortable with how close the spring sits next to the bottom of the tower so I need to grind some metal away. Yes since this pic a new stone as been put on..
Remember my towers are 84's so 85-87 may be slightly different.
First I needed to enlarge the hole at the top of the tower so the bushing would push thru.


I'm also not to comfortable with how close the spring sits next to the bottom of the tower so I need to grind some metal away. Yes since this pic a new stone as been put on..






















