Project BMW X5: Step 3 – Suspension

As Joe from Wetworks Garage is busy painting the body parts, I loaded the X5 onto trailer and hauled it up to Corona to see my friends at Eibach.

I would have liked to have just driven it up there but without bumpers, lights and whatnot, I would have been begging to get pulled over.

I met up with Todd, Dave, Phong at Eibach for a tour and installation. While Todd, the sales guru, took me on a tour of the factory, Dave and Phong from the R&D department began removing the old suspension to make way for the Eibach products.

Click more for the installation.

My goal was to lower the car just a tad and decrease body roll. I didn’t want this one slammed like some of my previous cars. I want this 100% driveable.

Todd and Phong decided that the best fit for the X5 was Eibach’s Pro Kit Plus featuring springs and sway bars.

The springs are meticulously created in Corona, CA. No joke. I was amazed by the whole process. They must have $40-$50 million in giant machinery inside their 300,000 square foot facility. They design, test, wind, cut, grind, powdercoat and test every single spring right . I felt like I was in an episode of the Science Channel’s How It’s Made.

I shot a ton of video inside the factory. If all goes well, I’ll have it posted soon.

I have a whole new appreciation for springs. Although they’re one of the most basic of all mechanical devices, the time and energy that goes into them is insane. If you’re in the area, stop by and request a tour.

Dave took measurements every step of the way. Since they’re the manufacturer, they document everything. Dave measured and inspected every part to gauge not only before and after but fit and finish.

He removed the wheels like a NASCAR pit crew member. All four were off in seconds.

With the wheels off, he was able to access the bolts that attach the hub assembly to the strut.

Then the bolts from the front struts were removed, allowing the wheel to drop down. This would allow him to remove the strut completely. Now, on most modern cars, the front springs are wrapped around the shock absorber. This is called a strut, or coil-over. 

He used a tie strap to suspend the front hub assembly while he took the strut to the workbench to remove the spring. He has a special spring compressor that he uses to remove the spring from the shock absorber. Most performance shops also have these contraptions.

Unfortunately, I’m missing a few photos from the spring installation because Todd and I went to Chronic Cantina for lunch while Dave was hard at work. (On a side note, I’ve discovered where strip club dancers work during the day… Holy sh*t! The girl behind the counter had an illegally large chest. You may want to stop by the one in Corona some time.)

Next, Dave installed the new sway or anti-roll bars.

Here’s the deal. Auto manufacturers have to please the masses. So, they design parts that have to please everyone. The stock anti roll bars, although pretty good, aren’t as stiff as I’d like. I like to take turns faster than the average person so body roll becomes dangerous.

By lowering the center of gravity with the springs and preventing body roll with the bars, you can near-sports car handling out of an SUV. Crazy but true. And, the beauty of this system is that it doesn’t affect the ride when you’re going in a straight line. The system is designed to only “spring” into action when cornering.

The way anti-roll bars work is by kinda prevening the left and right wheels from one going up and one going down at the same time, which is exactly what happens when cornering. Eibach makes them stiffer than stock ones by using thicker and stronger steel.

They also installed new polyurethane bushings for smooth operation.

Dave put the wheels back on and lowered the car from the lift.

Again, he took notes about the new ride height etc. He measured a drop of 1.2″ in the front and 1.1″ in the rear. Perfect!

Remember, Eibach sells offers their springs at hundreds of high-performance shops around the country. If you’re not sure where to find your local shop, call Eibach for a reference. Or, e-mail me. I have good references for shops in the Valley, OC, LA etc. 

Big thanks to Eibach! Now when we put the 22″ wheels and low profile tires on, the ride height will be perfect.

Next stop, European Auto Source for HID headlights and a new M5 steering wheel.

SOURCES

Eibach Springs, Inc.
264 Mariah Circle
Corona, CA 92879
800-507-2338
Eibach.com

Wet Works Garage
779 West 16th Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
949-646-1867
wetworksgarage.com