e46 M3 suspension setup, or how to not downgrade your car with suspension mods

[terra]

If you go bigger sway bars, may I suggest you reinforce the sway bar mounting area with Bimmerworld's reinforcement kit (https://www.bimmerworld.com/BimmerWo...i-330i-M3.html). Just a thought after last weekend.

Feff

For what it's worth, the CSL does use steel brackets instead of aluminum for the front sway. Perhaps a mitigation for that failure mode?

31356754336

[Obioban]

Obioban knows nothing about this

Nothing at all

Ha.

Yep.

[Epsilon]

I haven't heard of anyone doing this, but can the front sway bar reinforcement plates be glued on with structural adhesive?

[repoman89]

For what it's worth, the CSL does use steel brackets instead of aluminum for the front sway. Perhaps a mitigation for that failure mode?

31356754336

I chose to use these with my CSL front sway, but don’t really get how it would stop the bolts from ripping the chassis apart. If anything I’d think aluminum brackets would want to break before steel ones, and be more likely to save the chassis (steel rear sway bar brackets are a popular upgrade on the E39 M5 which tends to break OE alu ones frequently)

I am EE, not materials/structural engineer though.

[terra]

I chose to use these with my CSL front sway, but don’t really get how it would stop the bolts from ripping the chassis apart. If anything I’d think aluminum brackets would want to break before steel ones, and be more likely to save the chassis (steel rear sway bar brackets are a popular upgrade on the E39 M5 which tends to break OE alu ones frequently)

I am EE, not materials/structural engineer though.

I'm not an engineer of any sort - my thought is if the bracket begins to deform, that could exert stresses on the mount in directions it is not designed to handle?

[Obioban]

I chose to use these with my CSL front sway, but don’t really get how it would stop the bolts from ripping the chassis apart. If anything I’d think aluminum brackets would want to break before steel ones, and be more likely to save the chassis (steel rear sway bar brackets are a popular upgrade on the E39 M5 which tends to break OE alu ones frequently)

I am EE, not materials/structural engineer though.

I know nothing about that, either.

[heinzboehmer]

Superfastmatt just published another thread relevant video that I thought was pretty interesting: https://youtu.be/Af6eYn3HOjw

[cobra]

Superfastmatt just published another thread relevant video that I thought was pretty interesting: https://youtu.be/Af6eYn3HOjw

Great video thanks for sharing!

[Drewrivera]

Anyone try the Koni set up by Dinan? Just seen them as i was putting the regular koni with stock springs on my cart. They say it lowers with same geometry and same feel has out the factory with the Dinan springs.. but not sure. I personally deal with all weather conditions so it's probably best not to drop at all for me.

[Tbonem3]

They're just yellow konis.

The Dinan dampers you want, if you even can find a set, and they're not too used up, are the JRZs that look like stock.

[cobra]

Anyone try the Koni set up by Dinan? Just seen them as i was putting the regular koni with stock springs on my cart. They say it lowers with same geometry and same feel has out the factory with the Dinan springs.. but not sure. I personally deal with all weather conditions so it's probably best not to drop at all for me.

I have the "Dinan" Konis. No way to tell if they're actually different other than hearsay on the forums, without testing them side-by-side on a shock dyno.

When I asked Dinan directly 10 years ago, they told me they were different. So that's either ignorance or a lie.

[Obioban]

I have the "Dinan" Konis. No way to tell if they're actually different other than hearsay on the forums, without testing them side-by-side on a shock dyno.

When I asked Dinan directly 10 years ago, they told me they were different. So that's either ignorance or a lie.

Pretty sure it's a lie. Someone stuck them on a shock dyno, and they were the same. Seems like the only thing that is dinan specific is the setting (which you can recreate for free).

[cobra]

Pretty sure it's a lie. Someone stuck them on a shock dyno, and they were the same. Seems like the only thing that is dinan specific is the setting (which you can recreate for free).

The funniest part is they come with a label that says they are pre-set to Dinan custom specifications (I think it was something like 1/4 turn in front and 1.5 turns in rear) when you order them, but when I checked they were at full soft.

[gaiakai]

So what would be a good option if I'm trying to keep it relatively close to stock? I'm just looking for a slightly lower ride height (less than 1") and less body roll. I only track a handful of times a year so I'm not ready to commit to a 5k MCS/JRZ setup, and it is a daily and canyon car as well. TCK S/A or koni yellows paired with dinan springs (I think this is ez flat ride?) are what currently what I've narrowed it down to from my research, but open to suggestions.

[IamFODI]

So what would be a good option if I'm trying to keep it relatively close to stock? I'm just looking for a slightly lower ride height (less than 1") and less body roll. I only track a handful of times a year so I'm not ready to commit to a 5k MCS/JRZ setup, and it is a daily and canyon car as well. TCK S/A or koni yellows paired with dinan springs (I think this is ez flat ride?) are what currently what I've narrowed it down to from my research, but open to suggestions.

Öhlins.