I cannot for the life of me understand why my ride is so rough

miringrains · 08-31-2013, 08:46 AM

So I'm running megan racing springs on bilstein struts. When I just put in the struts (I was running stock struts) the ride improved on bumps (such as gas lines on highways). After a week it went right back to normal, and I'm so tired of it. Every single bump I hit on the highway sounds like I ran into a curb, I really have no idea why this happens. FYI my bilsteins do not run bumpstops.

Can anyone tell me why the ride was tolerable for a week, and then it defaulted to crappy again?

dubsesd · 08-31-2013, 06:55 PM

Do u have run flats? First thing to change for a smoother ride.

Bbox · 08-31-2013, 08:11 PM

I don't understand, did you have the Megan Racing springs before you installed the Bilsteins?

CJ421 · 08-31-2013, 10:17 PM

How much drop do the Megan's give (link please)?

Also which specific Bilsteins are you running?

idrift4wd · 09-01-2013, 12:22 AM

1.Could be because spring rate is high

2. bilsteins may not work with megans drop.

3. add some bumpstops? maybe it will help with major bumps.

unless it was installed improperly. not much you can do. try different springs.

ajsalida · 09-01-2013, 06:55 AM

One possibility (maybe remote in your case) with the bilstein sports is, due to the design in front (inverted monotube inside a McPherson strut housing), air can get trapped inside the lower part of the housing. This gives you 2 things, a little extra ride height and a somewhat softer effective spring rate. Until the air bleeds out over a few days or weeks of driving, then you are sitting on whatever your springs and bushings were before.

If you look at the "shaft" of the bilstein you will notice it is extremely thick, that is because even though it does slide up and down inside the housing, it is actually the shock body itself in there, the fluid, gas etc is inside that shaft. A smaller diameter ordinary shaft is bolted to the inside bottom part of the housing. The piston is attached to this one and it is the main body that slides up and down inside the housing around the piston. This is why you CANNOT add bump stops to front bilsteins, they have them inside already (at the bottom of the little shaft) and the exterior shaft is too thick.

So air gets trapped under there, this is one reason bilstein instructs you to fully compress new shocks before installing. It is a hassle though, as when new each time you jack up your car with front at full droop it sucks some air back in and needs to settle a bit afterwards. Goes a way as the seals break in.

Anyway the mystery here is not why they are harsh, I would expect Megan race + bilsteins to be harsh. The mystery is why they were ever soft, and the above is the only thing I can think of.

CALWATERBOY · 09-01-2013, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miringrains

So I'm running megan racing springs on bilstein struts. When I just put in the struts (I was running stock struts) the ride improved on bumps (such as gas lines on highways). After a week it went right back to normal, and I'm so tired of it. Every single bump I hit on the highway sounds like I ran into a curb, I really have no idea why this happens. FYI my bilsteins do not run bumpstops.

Can anyone tell me why the ride was tolerable for a week, and then it defaulted to crappy again?

What spring rates you runnin' and were the Bilstiens matched to your springs?

Inspect your suspension lately? Stock arms?

Need much more info....

edirtaynine · 09-06-2013, 01:39 PM

and did somebody tell you megan racing stuff is legit "performance" parts? cuz if they did, that person lied to you. lol

Nafy · 09-09-2013, 03:09 AM

It takes time for new springs to settle after installation so the intial feeling is not accurate.

HP Autosport · 09-09-2013, 02:00 PM

I say there are a lot of variables that go into a harsh ride quality. Quality of springs, or rates, or progressive/linear all play a part. As stated above, sometimes bump stops will help with harshness over bumps. Possibly you have your strut rebound to high? How many miles are on your car? Subframe bushings going out? I would just have it professionally inspected.

-Mike

08-31-2013, 08:46 AM	#1
miringrains Banned 72 Rep 702 Posts Drives: '11.5 M3 E93 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: New York iTrader: (2)	I cannot for the life of me understand why my ride is so rough So I'm running megan racing springs on bilstein struts. When I just put in the struts (I was running stock struts) the ride improved on bumps (such as gas lines on highways). After a week it went right back to normal, and I'm so tired of it. Every single bump I hit on the highway sounds like I ran into a curb, I really have no idea why this happens. FYI my bilsteins do not run bumpstops. Can anyone tell me why the ride was tolerable for a week, and then it defaulted to crappy again?
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08-31-2013, 06:55 PM	#2
dubsesd #dubspec 6337 Rep 5,201 Posts Drives: G05 X5/ 2016 F80 M3 INDVL Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (2)	Do u have run flats? First thing to change for a smoother ride. __________________ LCI ///F80 M3 Individual Atlantis Metallic / Black Full / Carbon Cermics / 6MT MPE / M Performance & Carbon package / KW v3 / 20" HRE R101LW / 20" HRE 527s / Michelin PSS / 20% tint / 3d Design / Streckenn splitters / OEM GTS hood / EAS Carbon seatbacks / Carbon RKP sideskirt / Bootmod3 / M Performance Tri color alcantara / AWE S Flow instagram: @ dubsesd
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08-31-2013, 08:11 PM	#3
Bbox Enlisted Member 4 Rep 48 Posts Drives: 06 330i sedan Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	I don't understand, did you have the Megan Racing springs before you installed the Bilsteins?
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08-31-2013, 10:17 PM	#4
CJ421 Brigadier General 1559 Rep 4,109 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Blue Bell, PA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2024 BMW M3 Sedan [9.50]	How much drop do the Megan's give (link please)? Also which specific Bilsteins are you running? __________________ 2024 BMW M3 Sedan Frozen Pure Grey II/Fjord Blue, 6MT Past: 2021 Z4 M40i Frozen Grey II/Black Alcantara \| 2017 F30 340i Mineral Gray/Coral Red, 6MT \| 2011 E92 335i Le Mans Blue/Black, 6MT
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09-01-2013, 12:22 AM	#5
idrift4wd Brigadier General 149 Rep 3,552 Posts Drives: Three Hundred and Thirty Five Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yonkers NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW [7.00]	1.Could be because spring rate is high 2. bilsteins may not work with megans drop. 3. add some bumpstops? maybe it will help with major bumps. unless it was installed improperly. not much you can do. try different springs. __________________ 12.0 @ 117
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09-01-2013, 06:55 AM	#6
ajsalida Colonel 226 Rep 2,387 Posts Drives: 95 M3, 02 R1150GSA, 09 335xi Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: SW USA iTrader: (2)	One possibility (maybe remote in your case) with the bilstein sports is, due to the design in front (inverted monotube inside a McPherson strut housing), air can get trapped inside the lower part of the housing. This gives you 2 things, a little extra ride height and a somewhat softer effective spring rate. Until the air bleeds out over a few days or weeks of driving, then you are sitting on whatever your springs and bushings were before. If you look at the "shaft" of the bilstein you will notice it is extremely thick, that is because even though it does slide up and down inside the housing, it is actually the shock body itself in there, the fluid, gas etc is inside that shaft. A smaller diameter ordinary shaft is bolted to the inside bottom part of the housing. The piston is attached to this one and it is the main body that slides up and down inside the housing around the piston. This is why you CANNOT add bump stops to front bilsteins, they have them inside already (at the bottom of the little shaft) and the exterior shaft is too thick. So air gets trapped under there, this is one reason bilstein instructs you to fully compress new shocks before installing. It is a hassle though, as when new each time you jack up your car with front at full droop it sucks some air back in and needs to settle a bit afterwards. Goes a way as the seals break in. Anyway the mystery here is not why they are harsh, I would expect Megan race + bilsteins to be harsh. The mystery is why they were ever soft, and the above is the only thing I can think of.
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09-06-2013, 01:39 PM	#8
edirtaynine Major General 81 Rep 6,092 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	and did somebody tell you megan racing stuff is legit "performance" parts? cuz if they did, that person lied to you. lol __________________ e90post killed plastidip Just say no to painted stock wheels jm3as hooks it up
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09-09-2013, 03:09 AM	#9
Nafy Lieutenant 49 Rep 431 Posts Drives: 11 328i sedan Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (0)	It takes time for new springs to settle after installation so the intial feeling is not accurate.
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09-09-2013, 02:00 PM	#10
HP Autosport Supreme Allied Commander 3847 Rep 54,376 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Santa Barbara, AP, Brembo, GIAC, Koni, Ohlins, Performance Friction, www.hpautosport.com iTrader: (36)	I say there are a lot of variables that go into a harsh ride quality. Quality of springs, or rates, or progressive/linear all play a part. As stated above, sometimes bump stops will help with harshness over bumps. Possibly you have your strut rebound to high? How many miles are on your car? Subframe bushings going out? I would just have it professionally inspected. -Mike
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