Proper Ride Height, track setup and understeer issues.

[jetbill]

After some searching I found that I believe my ride height may be too low, potentially causing some unwanted understeer.

On 19's my ride heigh measures 25 inches from ground to fender or about 13 inches from rim center to fender front and rear.

KW SC settings are 6 open front and 9 rear with Michelem PSS.

Anyone have any insight on this? Much appreciated.

[sleepless]

Front camber at least -2.2?

Front tires same width as the rear?

[M3SQRD]

Is this on an M3 or non-M3 e9x?

[jetbill]

E90 non M, stock camber - non square setup, no LSD.

I posted here because there seems to be just a bit better advice on setup.

I do understand a square setup and camber plates are (or remove the pins) more appropriate for a track setting, my main concern is first the proper ride height.

Thanks

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by jetbill

E90 non M, stock camber - non square setup, no LSD.

I posted here because there seems to be just a bit better advice on setup.

I do understand a square setup and camber plates are (or remove the pins) more appropriate for a track setting, my main concern is first the proper ride height.

Thanks

My question wasn't really about whether you had a M or non-M...I know what M3 non-ZCP and ZCP stock heights are but I have no idea what non-M stock heights are so I'm not sure how to compare your current lowered ride height to a lowered M3 ride height.

[jetbill]

Would you mind posting the ride height of the M?

[M3SQRD]

Stock heights measured from wheel centerline to fender...

'09 M3 e92 non-ZCP
-F 14.6"
-R 14.4"

'12 M3 e92 ZCP
-F 14.2"
-R 14.0"

The '09 F is ~1" lower than non-ZCP stock height with a R 0.25" rake (measured on chassis next to the jack pads).

The '12 has a F height ~0.5" below ZCP stock height with a R 0.25" rake.

[jetbill]

Much appreciated, exactly what I was looking for. Clearly I'm riding on bump stops and need to go up by .75 to 1 inch to maintain proper handling.

Anyone aware of what the ride height might be for the M3 GTS or is it the same as the ZCP?

[Porschefile]

I doubt you're riding bumpstops on the CS, they allow you to go lower and still have more available travel than stock. Try playing with the rebound and compression settings, it only takes a few seconds to adjust. There are a lot of good posts online about setting up a D/A suspension.

[Car54]

Jetbill,

I'm in Tampa too. Where are you taking your car to experience the understeer?

Any pictures of the car?

[jetbill]

Originally Posted by Porschefile

I doubt you're riding bumpstops on the CS, they allow you to go lower and still have more available travel than stock. Try playing with the rebound and compression settings, it only takes a few seconds to adjust. There are a lot of good posts online about setting up a D/A suspension.

It's KW street comfort kit, which have there own bump stops with the kit and aren't OE.

Its hard to tell the actual travel. I guess I could go up about half inch just in case.

[M3SQRD]

I agree with Porshcefile - with the CS I doubt you're hitting the bumpstops at your F and R ride heights unless non-M stock ride heights >> M3 stock ride heights (basically you've had to lower your car more than an M3 to get to your ride heights).

Also, are you using adjustable-length sway bar links? As you lower the ride height you want to keep the ends of the sway bar (where the links attach) parallel to the ground. With fixed-length links, on a lowered car, either your sway bar is not working as it should or there's the possibility of sway-bar binding.