Lower suspension by using older older springs on newer 02

[MattyC]

I have a question about adjusting my 76's ride height. I've heard that you're able to put stock springs for a 68'-73' roundie onto a 74'-76' and it will drop the height a decent amount like over an inch or something due to the change in ride height required by the federal gov when they came to the states.

Can anyone tell me if this is true, any complications or even a good idea? any other suggestions?

thanks!

[jrhone]

not true....the ride height change was due to a spacer on top of the strut. you can adjust the height by removing the spacers. in the rear you can change the the spring pads for smaller ones to lower the rear.

[Guest Anonymous]

Never heard of that, there is a spacer you can take out between the top of the front struts and the inner fender that will drop the front end about 3/4 of an inch, maybe a little more.

[Mike_R]

I don't think you can expect to get an inch lower by removing the front spacers and for sure not by changing the spring perch pads. At best a half inch and you will have to take the springs off anyway. You may as well get the right ones on then.

[eastsidebimmer]

I think I know what post he is talking about...I remember one of our Grand Poobahs suggesting this a few years ago. I'll dig.

Edit: check this post from 2009: http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/option,com_forum/Itemid,57/page,viewtopic/t,318053/

-=Ben

[JohnW]

I thought the 73 and later cars had taller springs. A friend of mine used to have a 68 2002 on stock springs. That car was low -- noticeably lower than my 72 with Eibach springs.

[schwarz75]

The early cars may have had either softer springs or shorter springs. They are marked with different colored stripes. At least the early springs that I tried were marked differently than the stock springs in my car.

My experience: I changed to the one dot upper rubber pads in the rear of my '75 when I was first playing around with ride height. I then installed a pair of rear early springs. These appeared to be original and uncut, and I was told they were from an unmodified '72 2002.

Although these springs and the shorter pads didn't lower the car a whole inch, it was too low for my taste - at least relative to the front of the car without the spacers. I reinstalled the '75 springs in the rear with the one dot pads.

Your experience may be different than mine though, and it's possible that the used early springs I used were really tired - who knows.

[12XU]

You may want to consider cutting your stock springs. Doing so shouldn't raise the spring rate to the point that you'd need to change dampers.

[Guest Anonymous]

My 71 springs were about 1" shorter than later models. I still have them if you're interested in using them.

[Mike Self]

I have a compared a set of stock 73-76 springs to a set of 68-72 springs and in an unloaded condition, the earlier springs are lower. And with stock, original suspension and the same size wheels and tires on both cars, my '69 sat an inch lower than my '73, when measured from the ground to the top of the front and rear fender openings. And both cars had the US-only front spacers removed.

Thus the presumption is that the springs are in fact different lengths. This was how BMW met the revised bumper height requirements that began with the 2.5 mph bumpers in 1973. The impact requirement increased to 5 mph in 1974, and the height requirement increased, which accounts for the higher front bumpers on US squarelights.

Hope this helps clear up yet another little anamoly about our favorite cars.

cheers

mike

[c.d.iesel]

one could alter the ride height of a heavier square tail light car

by using really early round tail car springs.

Springs are designed for body weight and options,

like sunroof, emission controls, impact heavy bumpers,

larger battery....... so later(big bumper) USA heavy cars would have

different springs than the early stripped 1600/1602

trick is to find unmolested early springs-

the paint marks usually remain in addition to BMW part number

might be found stamped on a coil.

You measure the FREE LENGTH, COIL WIRE DIA. , AND HOW MANY WINDINGS

TO IDENTIFY 'STOCK' SPRINGS

some info from my past threads - all in the BMW Blue Binder Repair Manuals:

********************************************************

rear coil spring upper rubber 'damper ring' comes in 3 heights:

28 mm height = 1 dot and green color code

33 mm height = 2 dot and white color code

37 mm height = 3 dot and red color code

Note: always fit top spring damper with 1 dot for Touring models (of course for orig springs)

check availability with dealer, one was NLA reciently.

the bottom rear coil spring rubber damper ring comes only in one thickness = 24mm

ref. 33-0/8 specifations BMW Repair Manual Vol. 2

and from factory manual:

13.28" = Front std

13.58" = Front Heavy Duty

13.17" Rear std.

14.25" Rear for Baur Convertible

******************************************

subject: 02 springs , color code, free length, lb. rate ...

Message: ....here's what I added way back on 01/11/02 on the subject -

Message Title: 02 SUSPENSION SPRINGS rates / colors / wire dia.

Posted by: Creighton D. on 2002-11-01 at 04:59:47 (

stock 02 susp coil spring colour codes & MORE>

this is for oem / stock / BMW factory suspension coil springs !

not aftermarket

stock / oem 02 suspension coil spring colour codes and free length (not mounted length);

REAR SUSP SPRINGS

Green 776-803 lbs

White 750-776 lbs

Red 725-750 lbs

wire thickness 12.3mm (.049")free length unmounted 334.6 (13.17")

Heavy duty conversion ( for trailer towing )

grey/green 769-789 lbs

grey/white 730-769 lbs

grey/red 710-730 lbs

wire thickness 13.2mm (.052") free length of unmounted 324.2mm (12.76")

FOR touring - USE ONLY RED (in emergency WHITE is permissable

always use "1 Dot " rubber top cushion

FRONT SUSP SPRINGS

green/blue 635-656 lbs

white/blue 614-636 lbs

red/blue 595-614 lbs

wire thickness 11.8mm (0.465") free length unmounted 337.2mm (13.28")

Heavy duty conversion (only if rear is also converted)

green/grey/green 606/626 lbs

white/grey/white 584-606 lbs

red/grey/red 564-584 lbs

wire thickness 12mm (0.47") free length unmounted 345mm (13.58")

..........SO, AS YOU CAN SEE , WHEN INSPECTING UNKNOWN SPRINGS, THE FREE LENGTH CAN BE CLOSE, BUT IT'S THE WIRE THICKNESS THAT YOU NEED TO MEASURE CAREFULLY

THIS REF. FROM BMW REPAIR MANUAL (PRINTED) VOL.2

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> HAPPY SPRING HUNTING ! <<<<<<<<<<<<<<