Suspension Setup E36

[DTM_325]

thanks guys suspension was too hard on back

[nondescript]

Originally Posted by DTM_325

Hey guys im a little confused about how suspension works.
I have a e36 325 coupe and just installed FK coilovers on front and Koni yellows on back. I have the Konis on hardest setting cos the FK's are to hard to have them on medium. I also just put on new tyres Hankook k107 s1 evo.

The problem is I generally drive though mountains and the car seems slower than standard now. It bounces on bumps so much i think im losing traction at 140kmph. Its glued to road on flat surfaces but i cant figure out limits on bumpy mountain roads. Is the hard suspension bad for this or do i just need to be braver and go harder.

Also would sway bars make this situation worse?

Thanks a lot for any advice.

If you don't have enough rebound, you're going to skip on rough surfaces.. think of it like driving over a washboard road too fast, you only hit the tops of the bumps, leaving lots of time inbetween where you aren't touching the road at all... this is bad for vehicle control.

sounds like you could be experiencing that...

swaybars allow your suspension to be softer but still have more resistance to body roll... so this means the car can be more compliant (softer) if it hits a rough section evenly (a bump that spans the entire lane) - but really won't be that much different if it's a bump that only one tire hits... because you've effectively increased the spring rate by quite a bit when trying to move one tire independent of the other that the sway bar connects to.

Sounds like the FK's might be too highly sprung for the roads you deal with.

[caracas_e30]

Sounds like you need to work on your rebound and set the car up less stiff. Then adjust a bit with your sways if need be.

[AsiAnVenOm]

what spring rate are you runing to set your koni all the way stiff? I think you over damped your springs.

edit: I would turn your koni all the way soft and see what happen..?