Rear Ride height adjustment

[wtmeyer]

I installed H&R Sport Springs and Bilstein shocks on my 1997 M3 Sedan. I am getting occasional tire rub on rear fender(s) under hard cornering with stock wheels. It looks like the sport springs lowered the rear too much. I believe this is a pretty standard modification for E36 M3. Has anyone else experienced the same issue with this change? Short of rolling the fenders, were you able to make an adjustment to resolve the rubbing?

[TheJordanWhitte]

You can get the 10mm or even 14.5mm spring pads.

[RRSperry]

And you can stack them within reason. Iirc, there are 3 sizes. 7.5, 10, and 14.5 mm.

[TostitoBandito]

Sounds like you're just too low. If it's only occasionally rubbing under heavy load, rolling the fenders may be enough. Other than that, the three variables you have control over are tire/wheel width and offset (if not using stock), camber (with aftermarket arms), and ride height (either using fixed thickness spring pads or a screw-type adjustable spring seat like many coilover kits have).

I know mine will very occasionally rub a tiny bit under heavy load when using my 17x9 wheels and track tires, but not on stock wheels and tires. One of these days I'll probably give the fenders a gentle roll but it hasn't been a priority so far. I'm on a fully adjustable Ground Control suspension, and I also have rear camber adjustment from the TMS arms. So I've deliberately put it as low as I can at the camber I desire (-2 degrees).

[NoLastName]

What wheels and tires are you running?

Yep. That's the biggest variable here. Hard to make any recommendations without that info.

[TheJordanWhitte]

What wheels and tires are you running?
Hoosiers do run big…

Rear Spring Pads
SPRING PAD LOWER 33531135420
UPR SPRING PAD 5MM 33531136385
UPR SPRING PAD 7,5MM 33531136386
UPR SPRING PAD 10MM 33531136387
UPR SPRING PAD 15MM 33531094754
UPR SPRING PAD 21,5MM 33531091599


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Dang, I’ve never seen the 21.5mm?!

Edit:
Poor road package... that’s awesome!

[das borgen]

OP, how much rear camber and tire size do you have? Also, how wide a wheel and offset?

the Sport Springs from H&R shouldn't have dropped you enough to be rubbing, unless you have a strange combo. I had 17x8.5 ET40 Kosei K1 and I did have rubbing on my rear axle with 2deg rear camber on H&R OE Sport (same spring rate as your H&R Sport springs, but less drop than the Sport) with 245-40-17 BF Goodrich Rival

[lcrain]

You can get the 10mm or even 14.5mm spring pads.

This. Replaced the pad with a 14.5 mm pad and it raised it up enough for no rubbing with sport springs. 17x8.5 ds2 with 245/40 sumitomo tires.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...33531094754kt/

[blckstrm]

This. Replaced the pad with a 14.5 mm pad and it raised it up enough for no rubbing with sport springs. 17x8.5 ds2 with 245/40 sumitomo tires.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...33531094754kt/

What's your camber in the rear? Stock wheels with normal (245/40) tires should tuck unless you're not running at least normal camber or have really - REALLY - worn ball joints.

I'm running the 15mm pad, but I have 17x9 et 30 wheels and I run about as much as you.

If you're rubbing with stock parts, your ball joints are toast or your camber is way off.

If they've never been done, your ball joints are definitely in need of replacement.

[wtmeyer]

Thanks for the feedback. I am going to give the 14.5mm upper spring pads a try. This should take care of the problem with either the stock wheels or my 245/40/17 x 8.5 square Fikse setup.

[bluptgm3]

Thanks for the feedback. I am going to give the 14.5mm upper spring pads a try. This should take care of the problem with either the stock wheels or my 245/40/17 x 8.5 square Fikse setup.

What offset are the Fikse wheels?


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[lcrain]

What's your camber in the rear? Stock wheels with normal (245/40) tires should tuck unless you're not running at least normal camber or have really - REALLY - worn ball joints.

I'm running the 15mm pad, but I have 17x9 et 30 wheels and I run about as much as you.

If you're rubbing with stock parts, your ball joints are toast or your camber is way off.

If they've never been done, your ball joints are definitely in need of replacement.

Thinking back, I don't own the car anymore, but I believe I replaced the shocks/springs before I did the full rear suspension rebuild. So I would have had the original 20+ year old ball joints. I was not aligning well in the rear at that time, so good point.

[notMpowered]

I tuck rear tires .25 of an inch and never rub, and that's with stock wheels/tires and 5mm spacers. Either your tires are too big, you have an alignment issue, or your fender lip has been damaged before, causing it to rub.

[wtmeyer]

Thanks to everyone who responded. I installed new 5mm lower and 14.5mm upper spring pads and it appears to have taken care of the rubbing issue. I got about an extra half inch of lift in the rear that provides the additional clearance I needed.

[bluptgm3]

I tuck rear tires .25 of an inch and never rub, and that's with stock wheels/tires and 5mm spacers. Either your tires are too big, you have an alignment issue, or your fender lip has been damaged before, causing it to rub.

What wheel diameter, wheel width, wheel offset, and tire brand/model/size are you running?


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[notMpowered]

stock
17x7.5/8.5 et 41 (before spacers)
225/45, 245/40 Michelin PS4
12mm spacers front, 5mm rear
KW coilovers
I'm not sure if that question was for me but I'll assume it was since you quoted me.

[TostitoBandito]

Yeah I can see that. I run 17x9 ET42 with 200TW 245/40's which run a bit wide, 12mm spacer in front and no spacer in the rear. My rears are nicely tucked like yours, and our overall width is probably similar with your 5mm spacer and my wider wheels and tires probably being a push. The only time I see any rubbing is on the infernal speed bumps in my neighborhood.