Rear Spring Pads

[zoner]

I'm starting to put together all of the parts for my eventual suspension upgrade and notice that for the ti, Pelican lists two different lower rear spring pads (5mm and 10mm). I am assuming that this is a way to dial-in ride height in the rear. Correct?

I'll be using the H&R sport springs and while I don't want my car to be totally slammed, I also don't want it looking jacked up in the rear. I want enough travel to be able to carry passengers in the rear seat, but not have the rear wheels lost in the well.

Is there really that much of a difference between these two pad thicknesses? Thanks for any help.


http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...3-1-135-420-M9

[spidertri]

Yeah, there is a difference between the two pads.

Due to the location of where the spring sits in relation to the wheel (spring is further forward) changing the length of the spring will have a larger effect on the ride height than it appears. I've seen the ratio posted as 1:1.7, meaning, a 1 inch change in the spring length would be a 1.7 inch change in ride height.

Doing the conversion, it works out to 5mm spring pad = 1/3" in ride height change and a 10mm spring pad = 2/3" ride height change.

The E46 Xi models came with 15mm spring pads that can also work on our cars, they would raise the rear by about an inch.

Edit- there is also a 7.5mm spring pad, which I believe is the stock pad, that would be a 1/2" change.

[mohaughn]

That is the way I do it on my car. No height adjuster for the rear springs and I have 5/10/15mm pads that we use when corner balancing the car to make small adjustments in the rear.

[familytruckster]

I went with new stock spring pads and I made 3/8" aluminum spacers on mine to get the backend where it wasn't tucked. I too am running H&R sports. Added benefit of the height increase is the alignment is closer to spec and the car turns much better.

[zoner]

so let me see if I understand this correctly...

Stock spring pads are 7.5mm.

A 5mm pad = ~1/3"; 10mm pad = ~2/3", and a stock (7.5mm) pad = ~1/2"

H&R Sport springs claim to lower the rear approx. 1.0" (assuming the stock spring pad).

If I used H&R Sports with the 5mm pad, the amount lowered would be about 1.16" (1/2 - 1/3= ~0.16); and if I used the 10mm pad, the amount lowered would be about 0.84" (1/2 - 2/3 = -0.16). Sound about right?

I want to lower the rear, I just don't want it to look ridiculous and/or scrape or ride like a tank.

[familytruckster]

Here's mine with and without the 3/8 spacers. The pic with the spacers the car has a near full tank of gas.

The first pic is without, the second is with.