Racing Dynamic rear springs sits low

[aziankingz]

Hi all,

I installed a set of RD springs and bilstein sport shocks a couple of weeks ago on my 97 TI.. as soon as it was lowered, i notice the rear kind of lower than the front.. any reason why this would happen? It is really scaring me..the rear is so low i can see like an inch of tire on top..


any ideas why?

[tiFreak]

it's actually lower in the front if you look at it, the rear fender arch comes down lower than the front which makes it look like it has a reverse-rake

[cooljess76]

Did you replace shocks and struts as well? If not, there's a chance your rears might be worn.

[aziankingz]

i put brand new bilstein sport shocks from an e30

[cooljess76]

Well that's probably the problem then.

[aziankingz]

arent e30s compatible to our rear suspension?

[tiFreak]

I think the shocks are the same, at least I remember reading "E30" on the packaging for my rear shocks

[aziankingz]

yeah same here.. i am running on 225-45 17x8s.. might cause it to drop a bit..especially with some camber..

[cooljess76]

VROOMCP bought a set of Bilstein Sports and I think Rogue Engineering or e46 RSM's when he had his Ti. The day of the install, he blew a rear shock mount. I gave him a spare that had from my M3 and the next day that one blew! So he contacted the vendor that he bought the shocks from and found out they mistakenly sent him e30 shocks. They replaced the e30 shocks for Ti shocks and it's been good ever since. He sold the car to youngnikolai and Nick hasn't reported any problems with the suspension.

[aziankingz]

i hope that is not the case.. i bought it from someone on this board who got it from bavauto.. looking at the receipt it was bought more than a year ago.

[cooljess76]

Originally Posted by aziankingz

arent e30s compatible to our rear suspension?

No. Why would they be? Yeah, they might bolt on because we have a similar setup, but e30's were designed to run e30 suspension and 318ti's were designed to run 318ti suspension. Spring rates are different, the cars weight is dispersed differently. Totally different geometry. Just because cars share a similar design doesn't mean parts are interchangable.

[Jean H.318TI]

they r the same part numbers and mine says e30 4 cyl and 6 cyl and 318ti so idk

[cooljess76]

Bilstein's website is all messed up right now. I searched for sport shocks/struts for the Ti and they don't even have any listed. They had HD's and touring class, but no sports. Then I checked out their tuned suspension kit which includes sport shocks/struts, and they had the Ti listed as compatable with all other e36 models which we know is wrong. I remember I researched all of this a couple years ago when i was in the market for shocks/struts and specifically remember the Ti having different part numbers for the rear shocks. They even had separate models for sport and non sport models listed. As for the rears being the same for e30's, sure they'll fit, but that's just a substitute. Ask David aka VROOMCP, he knows first hand. The e30 rear shocks blew two of his brand new RSM's in 2 days and after numerous calls, they finally admitted to sending him the wrong shocks. Who knows, maybe things have changed since then. Maybe they're trying to cut down on production since these cars are so old, but it just doesn't make sense that two totally different cars with different dynamics and weight distribution would use the same shocks with the same valving.

[Jean H.318TI]

I know what ur saying Jess and they should be different because they r totally different cars but I'm just saying that my last shocks that I got 2 weeks ago they r for e30s and 318ti and they r working just fine for now, but I remember 3 years ago when I got the first set they were TI specific so idk what's up now

[aziankingz]

Originally Posted by Jean H.318TI

I know what ur saying Jess and they should be different because they r totally different cars but I'm just saying that my last shocks that I got 2 weeks ago they r for e30s and 318ti and they r working just fine for now, but I remember 3 years ago when I got the first set they were TI specific so idk what's up now

how does your rear sit? is it low with the top of your tire hiding in the wheel well? also, if you press the rear down with your hands, is it bouncy? mine has some bounce to it when im pressing down the back, but the front are stiff.