15 replies to this topic

[ChriSOL]

x3 wagon rear suspension looks old and tired, aside from the fact its solid axle on leaf springs. front suspension will be t3 coilovers, but rear needs some catching up. it feels like driving my dad's old toyota pickup, way bouncy with almost no road feel. doesn't need to be a champion handler but i'd like to avoid making things worse.

my options are:

- lowering blocks, cheap and dirty. shit will get fucked up faster. probably have to have custom made, not really a huge deal but temporary at best.

- call champion spring local to me and see what they can do about a custom leaf pack. dunno about price, downtime or anything else.

- custom air ride setup. quoted $4,500 for everything inc. labor. that is 22.5 times what i paid for the car.

- irs swap from a suitable donor. the parts may come cheap but this is definitely the most time-consuming idea, trying to decide the payoff...

any other ideas?

[7MX63]

Ladder bars, 3 link, 4 link.

What about just switching to coils in the rear? You can buy a spring perch from most hot rod builders.

I've never seen the underside of an X3 so I don't know how much room you have to work with.

[ChriSOL]

ill get you some pics this weekend. wheels and tires finally got here so i have an excuse to get under the car. warning: they will be iphone pics, only camera i have atm.

edit: i just found a couple x3 sedans within reasonable distance that i could rob the rear ends from, they are 4-link(?)... but not having them side by side to compare i can't tell how much work it would be so i don't know that it would be worth it...

[white_raven]

fuck it man do AIR bags!

[bradlee]

some beefy bumpstops and a budget air bag setup!

[Kyle]

A 3 link set up adjustable at each end of each link, and a panhard bar w/camaro coilovers from qa1 or something. Look at some latemodel camaro or mustang setups. I would think something similar to these would be easiest, but it all comes down to your skill,budget, and desired results. And there isn't really a budget airbag system for something like that, it'd probably cost about the same as a custom 3 link, then add all the air shit.

[toji004]

just trade me for the x6 !!!

[ChriSOL]

if i trade im looking for an s30 Z.

i dont have the stuff i need to fab it myself, i'd be taking it somewhere for the cutting and welding.

im calling champion spring this weekend to get a quote on a new leaf pack, if that fails im talking to my friend about machining a couple lowering blocks for me.

toji, can you do me a huge fav and send me a pic of your rear suspension as it is now on the x3? maybe whenever they get it up on a lift?

[toji004]

Absorutery
im planning on having a custom 5 link made up soon but if that falls through(no moneys) ill just jack it up and take pics for you asap

[7MX63]

This reinforces my idea of loading all my fab equipment into a truck and touring around the country like a band, sleeping on floors while doing fab work.

[ChriSOL]

youd have your own room if you stayed here bro lol

[toji004]

and you can stay in my room...sounds like a plan to me.

[bigpanda16]

slapper bars, add-a-coils(whatever inside diameter you bumpstop is) mabye 2 or 300 lb/in, and decent shocks would be the cheapest option for feel; leaf spring bushings if they ugly.
you'd have to get some almighty short springs and cut the hell out of the bumpstops, especially with blocks...
would a ladder bar setup be very good for drifting? My fabricator said i woudn't need a sway bar with one...
i am going the tried and true 5-link with rod ends all around, so tired of sloppy shit

[wes]

you could try flip leafs?

[slammedstang]

15x8 -12 fronts 195/50s 15x10 0 rears 205/50s.http://www.flickr.com/photos/brilliancephotography

[ChriSOL]

What's going to end up happening is custom front suspension, my friend compared his NRCA's for the corolla and thinks they'll bolt up, as well as the strut tube spacers and some other parts. Then all we need is springs and shock inserts.

The rear will get blocks until I can find a local shop that can handle the modifications to the rear leaf springs.