Spring Perch Install, no diffrence - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

SG335i123 · 11-05-2011, 06:35 PM

After installing the front spring perches on my e90 (sports OEM suspension) that I purchased from a forum vendor, I noticed that there was no increase to the drop I was hoping for. Replaced everything onto the new perch set up just as it was originally.

After reading some posts it appears that perhaps I need to leave out the rubber gasket ring that sits inside the perch? This doesn't appear to be very thick so I am not sure it will help much, but I am willing to give it a try. Anyone else remove this gasket when doing install? I am assuming the metal/perch on metal/spring will not cause any noise, problems, etc.

Did you remove anything while installing new perch?

Thank-you...

hipnotic · 11-05-2011, 06:37 PM

i believe the perch only gives .5 on a drop which is very noticeable

SG335i123 · 11-06-2011, 03:39 PM

Correct, that's how it is advertised, about 1/2", however what I am noticing is no change when replacing just the spring perch.

junkie90 · 11-06-2011, 08:11 PM

I'm not sure how keen your eyes are but I didn't notice my 1.5 inch drop until later when everything settles. If you're not happy, I'm willing to pick those perches off of you!

SG335i123 · 11-07-2011, 02:57 PM

I was told that there is no settling that happens, what you see is what you are going to get. I want to keep them, I am not done with them yet, I think that perhaps removing the perch ring rubber gasket might get me where I need to be, just wanted to see what others have experienced, thanks.

mike-y · 11-07-2011, 04:13 PM

remove the rubber isolator, the springs fit the perch better without it. And yes, with the factory springs, it can take a couple of days to settle.

SG335i123 · 11-07-2011, 08:11 PM

ok, I will give it a try.

luckyu · 11-07-2011, 08:52 PM

I have to say I disagree with the idea that these suspensions settle. There is nothing that can settle.*

If the OP is not seeing a drop then it's most likely it was installed wrong. The rubber seat is not supposed to be used with the lowering perch, according to the guys at SupremePower who sell the thing, and it's difficult to fit the spring on the perch. My guess is the installer messed up.

*Over a long period of time, like months, some springs will sag. I suppose improper tightening before lowering the car could cause settling... and, suspension damage...

mike-y · 11-07-2011, 10:27 PM

I've removed and installed 2 sets of factory springs. Each time it took the car a few days to settle to it's final ride height.

luckyu · 11-07-2011, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike-y

I've removed and installed 2 sets of factory springs. Each time it took the car a few days to settle to it's final ride height.

You are right. If they are brand new factory springs, they may be taking a set. The OE springs are not likely to be sterling quality...

mike-y · 11-08-2011, 12:34 PM

They were used oem springs in both cases. it seems that if you take them off the car for a couple of days (or longer), they require some settling time after the reinstall.

if you are just changing out the perches, and never actually remove the springs (keep the compressors on them), there probably won't be any settling.

SG335i123 · 11-08-2011, 04:24 PM

The spring was completely removed from the car, compressed and then placed back into the perch, it has been two weeks, no difference. I am going to have the installer tackle it again and this time remove the rubber seal. There were no directions that came with the perches. From what I understood it was a simple remove OEM perch and then install new perch. The vendor is going to start to include a brief write up when they send these out.

Unfortunatly I am going to have to pay for some more labor to get back inside the perch and remove the rubber seal. This seal isn't very think, so I sure hope I get at least a little more drop, not expecting much, but it has to more then what I had with the original install which was nothing.

supremepower · 11-08-2011, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckyu

I have to say I disagree with the idea that these suspensions settle. There is nothing that can settle.*

If the OP is not seeing a drop then it's most likely it was installed wrong. The rubber seat is not supposed to be used with the lowering perch, according to the guys at SupremePower who sell the thing, and it's difficult to fit the spring on the perch. My guess is the installer messed up.

*Over a long period of time, like months, some springs will sag. I suppose improper tightening before lowering the car could cause settling... and, suspension damage...

Luckyu is correct. There is no settling that happens since the springs are already settled. We do recommend installing it without the rubber pad. You do need to really push on the new spring perch and it snaps into place.

Please let me know if you guys need assistance.

Thank you

luckyu · 11-08-2011, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SG335i123

The spring was completely removed from the car, compressed and then placed back into the perch, it has been two weeks, no difference. I am going to have the installer tackle it again and this time remove the rubber seal. There were no directions that came with the perches. From what I understood it was a simple remove OEM perch and then install new perch. The vendor is going to start to include a brief write up when they send these out.

Unfortunatly I am going to have to pay for some more labor to get back inside the perch and remove the rubber seal. This seal isn't very think, so I sure hope I get at least a little more drop, not expecting much, but it has to more then what I had with the original install which was nothing.

Sorry to be blunt but I would recommend using any installer but the one you used before...

I believe the installer messed up big time. I have the SP lowering perch and there's no way the rubber seat fits on the lowering perch without being cut. I think your seat & spring are sitting partly on the metal guide that is welded onto the perch. If that's true it's absolutely incredible & completely wrong and you probably want to use some urgency to get it fixed as soon as possible.

luckyu · 11-08-2011, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supremepower

Luckyu is correct. There is no settling that happens since the springs are already settled. We do recommend installing it without the rubber pad. You do need to really push on the new spring perch and it snaps into place.

Please let me know if you guys need assistance.

Thank you

Thanks for clarifying. If someone wants the isolation the rubber gives, it seems like the rubber seat could be snipped, and then it might fit around the perch. I haven't tried it though, and most people would probably prefer to get the extra tenth of an inch of lowering!

SG335i123 · 11-09-2011, 10:17 AM

Luckyu, so u have left out the rubber ring completely on your set up, correct? It's really not that thick, but as discussed, if I have it removed that spring will set properly into the new spring perch metal guide giving me the drop I was looking for originally.

luckyu · 11-10-2011, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SG335i123

Luckyu, so u have left out the rubber ring completely on your set up, correct? It's really not that thick, but as discussed, if I have it removed that spring will set properly into the new spring perch metal guide giving me the drop I was looking for originally.

I haven't installed it yet. I'm keeping the perch as a backup plan in case my car sits too high with the new front spring.

I don't know anyone who's used the rubber seat with the perch, and I just don't see how it could work. So I take back what I said before about snipping it.

You have to understand the spring is a very tight fit around the perch, you have to open up the last coil a tiny tad to fit it in. I believe the rubber piece simply will not fit. IllLojik has installed the perch, maybe look him up.

samchoi604 · 11-10-2011, 03:18 AM

Yep, you're supposed to ditch the rubber isolator when installing spring perches. However, I noticed that the ride is harsher without that rubber.. That rubber does a lot of work in absorbing little bumps on the road. If I could go back in time, I might add the rubber isolater back assuming I still can get about 1/4" drop, instead of 1/2"

Are you sure your car didn't see any difference in drop, not even 1/4" ? Mine dropped about 1/2" exactly.

335iSSA · 11-10-2011, 08:00 AM

I installed the rubber seat with BMW performance springs and had no issues with fitment and did not have to force the perch on the spring. I figured that if BMW engineered it to be there then it should stay. There is simply no way that there is not a drop even with the rubber seat. The perch depth is significantly deeper. The rubber seat should compress slightly over tome and there may be q slight settle over time, but I would expect this to be so small that it is not noticeable to the eye, an 1/8 or1/16 of an inch.

Good luck.

SG335i123 · 11-11-2011, 10:56 AM

samchoi604, it interesting that you mention that your ride quality was "harsher" after removing the rubber isolater. The vendor claims they have installed hundreds of these and there have been no complaints about ride quality. Also noticed the other posts in this thread where ride quality wasn't a factor after installing without rubber isolater. Are u installed on after market springs?

supremepower · 11-11-2011, 10:59 AM

The ride is NOT harsher at all if all you change is the upper spring perch from factory to ours.

SG335i123 · 11-11-2011, 11:21 AM

That was my understanding as well, at least what I am being told, that is why I am looking for samchoi604's input.

11-05-2011, 06:35 PM	#1
SG335i123 Private First Class Drives: E90 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 152 iTrader: (1)	Spring Perch Install, no diffrence After installing the front spring perches on my e90 (sports OEM suspension) that I purchased from a forum vendor, I noticed that there was no increase to the drop I was hoping for. Replaced everything onto the new perch set up just as it was originally. After reading some posts it appears that perhaps I need to leave out the rubber gasket ring that sits inside the perch? This doesn't appear to be very thick so I am not sure it will help much, but I am willing to give it a try. Anyone else remove this gasket when doing install? I am assuming the metal/perch on metal/spring will not cause any noise, problems, etc. Did you remove anything while installing new perch? Thank-you...
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11-05-2011, 06:37 PM	#2
hipnotic Major General Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: So. Cal Posts: 6,543 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 335i coupe [3.50]	i believe the perch only gives .5 on a drop which is very noticeable __________________

11-06-2011, 08:11 PM	#4
junkie90 Lieutenant Colonel Drives: daily Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,701 iTrader: (8)	I'm not sure how keen your eyes are but I didn't notice my 1.5 inch drop until later when everything settles. If you're not happy, I'm willing to pick those perches off of you! __________________ Betty For sale:PM me! H&R sport springs and VMR v710

11-07-2011, 08:52 PM	#8
luckyu Lieutenant Drives: 2007 328i, 1998 328i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California Posts: 416 iTrader: (1)	I have to say I disagree with the idea that these suspensions settle. There is nothing that can settle.* If the OP is not seeing a drop then it's most likely it was installed wrong. The rubber seat is not supposed to be used with the lowering perch, according to the guys at SupremePower who sell the thing, and it's difficult to fit the spring on the perch. My guess is the installer messed up. *Over a long period of time, like months, some springs will sag. I suppose improper tightening before lowering the car could cause settling... and, suspension damage... __________________ 2007 328i ZSP. M3 suspension: custom valved Bilstein shocks, Hyperco race springs, M3 lower control arms front and rear, M3 sway bars, and M3 subframe bushings. E46 front guide supports. Euro tail lights.

11-11-2011, 10:59 AM	#21
supremepower BimmerPost Supporting Vendor Drives: 991 Carrera S, M6, Noble M12 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: so cal Posts: 1,762 iTrader: (11)	The ride is NOT harsher at all if all you change is the upper spring perch from factory to ours. __________________ SupremePOWER 1025-B Ortega Way - Placentia CA 92870 714 632 1951 x225 eric@supremepower.com Eric Nareshni

11-06-2011, 03:39 PM	#3
SG335i123 Private First Class Drives: E90 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 152 iTrader: (1)	Correct, that's how it is advertised, about 1/2", however what I am noticing is no change when replacing just the spring perch.

11-07-2011, 02:57 PM	#5
SG335i123 Private First Class Drives: E90 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 152 iTrader: (1)	I was told that there is no settling that happens, what you see is what you are going to get. I want to keep them, I am not done with them yet, I think that perhaps removing the perch ring rubber gasket might get me where I need to be, just wanted to see what others have experienced, thanks.

11-07-2011, 04:13 PM	#6
mike-y just another bmw douche bag Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,790 iTrader: (4)	remove the rubber isolator, the springs fit the perch better without it. And yes, with the factory springs, it can take a couple of days to settle.

11-07-2011, 08:11 PM	#7
SG335i123 Private First Class Drives: E90 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 152 iTrader: (1)	ok, I will give it a try.

11-07-2011, 10:27 PM	#9
mike-y just another bmw douche bag Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,790 iTrader: (4)	I've removed and installed 2 sets of factory springs. Each time it took the car a few days to settle to it's final ride height.

11-08-2011, 12:34 PM	#11
mike-y just another bmw douche bag Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 2,790 iTrader: (4)	They were used oem springs in both cases. it seems that if you take them off the car for a couple of days (or longer), they require some settling time after the reinstall. if you are just changing out the perches, and never actually remove the springs (keep the compressors on them), there probably won't be any settling.

11-08-2011, 04:24 PM	#12
SG335i123 Private First Class Drives: E90 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 152 iTrader: (1)	The spring was completely removed from the car, compressed and then placed back into the perch, it has been two weeks, no difference. I am going to have the installer tackle it again and this time remove the rubber seal. There were no directions that came with the perches. From what I understood it was a simple remove OEM perch and then install new perch. The vendor is going to start to include a brief write up when they send these out. Unfortunatly I am going to have to pay for some more labor to get back inside the perch and remove the rubber seal. This seal isn't very think, so I sure hope I get at least a little more drop, not expecting much, but it has to more then what I had with the original install which was nothing.

11-09-2011, 10:17 AM	#16
SG335i123 Private First Class Drives: E90 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 152 iTrader: (1)	Luckyu, so u have left out the rubber ring completely on your set up, correct? It's really not that thick, but as discussed, if I have it removed that spring will set properly into the new spring perch metal guide giving me the drop I was looking for originally.

11-10-2011, 03:18 AM	#18
samchoi604 Colonel Drives: black on black Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Burnaby, BC Posts: 2,296 iTrader: (3)	Yep, you're supposed to ditch the rubber isolator when installing spring perches. However, I noticed that the ride is harsher without that rubber.. That rubber does a lot of work in absorbing little bumps on the road. If I could go back in time, I might add the rubber isolater back assuming I still can get about 1/4" drop, instead of 1/2" Are you sure your car didn't see any difference in drop, not even 1/4" ? Mine dropped about 1/2" exactly.

11-10-2011, 08:00 AM	#19
335iSSA Lieutenant Drives: 07' E92 335i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Frederick, MD Posts: 581 iTrader: (10)	I installed the rubber seat with BMW performance springs and had no issues with fitment and did not have to force the perch on the spring. I figured that if BMW engineered it to be there then it should stay. There is simply no way that there is not a drop even with the rubber seat. The perch depth is significantly deeper. The rubber seat should compress slightly over tome and there may be q slight settle over time, but I would expect this to be so small that it is not noticeable to the eye, an 1/8 or1/16 of an inch. Good luck.

11-11-2011, 10:56 AM	#20
SG335i123 Private First Class Drives: E90 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 152 iTrader: (1)	samchoi604, it interesting that you mention that your ride quality was "harsher" after removing the rubber isolater. The vendor claims they have installed hundreds of these and there have been no complaints about ride quality. Also noticed the other posts in this thread where ride quality wasn't a factor after installing without rubber isolater. Are u installed on after market springs?

11-11-2011, 11:21 AM	#22
SG335i123 Private First Class Drives: E90 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 152 iTrader: (1)	That was my understanding as well, at least what I am being told, that is why I am looking for samchoi604's input.

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