Re: How much is a new shocks/springs set up for a (archive)

: There is an article in the current Bimmer magazine which details a rebuild of the front suspension. They also install Bilstein front struts. Instead of using aftermarket springs, they simply cut a coil off the front spring--lowering the car 1" and increasing the spring rate by 20%; about the same as most aftermarket street/lowering springs. While most people will chastize you for cutting springs it is often not a bad solution when done properly. Great way to save a couple of bucks too.

FYI-I had some questions about the article as well and got in contact with Dan Erwin, the author of the article. Following is some helpful information that was passed on to me from Mr. Erwin.

Cutting a coil off the spring will, according to my experiment with
the spring rate machine (which, by the way, is a very cool item)
increase the spring rate by about 20%. There were three different
spring rates supplied on �02s according to the factory. They are
indicated by color coding thusly: green/blue/green is the stiffest,
white/blue/white is next, and red/blue/red was the softest. The codes
are observed as stripes painted on the spring coils. Each increase in
spring rate, again according to the factory, is about 4%. My
red/blue/red coded springs tested out at 110 lb/in. If you have a
white/blue/white color combo, the beginning rate should be about 114.5
lb/in, and if you see green/blue/green, the initial rate should be about
119 lb/in. Just add 20% to the above initial numbers to come up with
the final rate. To give you an idea of a fairly aggressive rate for an
�02, our IT cars run in excess of 400 lb/in at the front! Bottom line,
don�t worry about going up too much on the spring rate by cutting a coil
out. You�re still going to have a very compliant ride.

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