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Jamez

Lowering e36 front suspension- can it be done via the top hats?

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Maybe a stupid question but I was wondering....Can I take a bit of height out of the front top hats to lower the car 1cm or maybe 2cm?, Does anyone sell such a top hat? as I have seen something similar for rear shocks. Reason I ask is the e30 has already got the front shocks fully wound down and if I take any more out of the shock its going to lack travel.

Edited by Jamez

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I've heard of people using E90 top hats on E30's, supposedily lower another 15mm.

Mixed opinion as to whether its a good idea or not...

Unsure about E36 top hats? Are they all similar?

If you order some, I'll take a set too though :P

BMW PN: 31 33 6 764 093

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I've heard of people using E90 top hats on E30's, supposedily lower another 15mm.

Mixed opinion as to whether its a good idea or not...

Unsure about E36 top hats? Are they all similar?

If you order some, I'll take a set too though :P

BMW PN: 31 33 6 764 093

My e30 can fit either e30 or e36 tophats as I have had both type on it in the past. In terms of e90 top hats I am suspecting that they will lack the camber I am after.

edit - this is what I am after but for the front, also only looking for 1-2cm drop.

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Edited by Jamez

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Can you not just drill the bearing in the top hat so the

shaft can fit through then use a 20mm spacer/washer under the nut?

EDIT - has anyone got some more pics on those rear shock mounts?

I might have a go at making some.

EDIT AGAIN- just realised why you cant do what I said haha

Shock will come through top hat obviously.

If you have access to a lathe you could make the skinny bit by the thread lower

down the shaft and use a spacer maybe?

Edited by Ben

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Maybe a stupid question but I was wondering....Can I take a bit of height out of the front top hats to lower the car 1cm or maybe 2cm?, Does anyone sell such a top hat? as I have seen something similar for rear shocks. Reason I ask is the e30 has already got the front shocks fully wound down and if I take any more out of the shock its going to lack travel.

I gather you have coilovers then.

Seems odd you would even be running stock-ish top hats.

Vorshlag or GC camber plates will get you some more height at the top of the strut, as I imagine you are wanting more bump travel out of the front shocks?

The Vorshlag ones would be my pick:

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Those rear shock mounts are so you can run E36 rear dampers on an E30.

They do nothing for the ride height.

Edited by E30-323ti

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I gather you have coilovers then.

Seems odd you would even be running stock-ish top hats.

Vorshlag or GC camber plates will get you some more height at the top of the strut, as I imagine you are wanting more bump travel out of the front shocks?

The Vorshlag ones would be my pick:

Posted Image

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Those rear shock mounts are so you can run E36 rear dampers on an E30.

They do nothing for the ride height.

I have coilover with some already pretty skinny top hats similar to what you have posted. I was meerly posting the pic of the rear strut as thats the concept I am after.

I guess if I smashed the front top hats so that had a slight bow in the them instead of being dead flat I would achieve lowering the car slightly (or higher depending which way I smashed them) but I feel the structural integrity would somewhat be compromised.

Edited by Jamez

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If e30 strut towers are anything like e36 ones they are known to mushroom up with stiff suspension (same effect as bashing them i suppose). They eventually tear.

Cut up the strut tower and weld it higher.

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I have coilover with some already pretty skinny top hats similar to what you have posted. I was meerly posting the pic of the rear strut as thats the concept I am after.

I guess if I smashed the front top hats so that had a slight bow in the them instead of being dead flat I would achieve lowering the car slightly (or higher depending which way I smashed them) but I feel the structural integrity would somewhat be compromised.

*shakes head*

'smashing' things is what crashes are for, not a technical or engineering term :lol:

Have a look at some E30 DTM car pics, you will see they have the strut tops mounted above the strut tower.

Obviously the strut towers have some (ie a lot of) strengthening.

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