E30 M3 minor rust repair (few finished pic's)

Doing a minor build / restoration or an epic one, post it here

Moderator: martauto

Jones
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 263
Joined: Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Gloucestershire/Bristol

Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:46 pm

well, one hell of a thread, should defo be a sticky!! And you should go back to the start and put, before reading this, grab your self a bru, or two or three, very interesting to read and thanks for taking the time to upload!!!!

Jonesy
User avatar
rybo
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2010 11:00 pm

Sun Jan 31, 2010 12:32 pm

wow, this is great.!! fantastic read an brilliantly explained with pictures to go with, and a FUCHING brilliant job on the car!! i take it u drink carlsberg... if they sorted out e30's itd b done like this!!! awesome :cool: :cool:
User avatar
boona
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Apr 06, 2007 11:00 pm

Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:55 pm

xpower.....well sure youve heard it alot but just want to say this is amazing!! The time, effort and skill put in will come off ten fold when the jobs done and she's fired up. As a layed off mech eng and huge bm fan. 1 e30/4 e36 later.lol. The last of which is sold due to no funds :evil: . This thread has been great inspiration for another e30 and keeping the brain cells ticking while out of work :cool:

Give yourself a big oily pat on the back and soldier on. Much respect,,,,hats off.

Top thread, top motor in the making.
User avatar
caneswell
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 151
Joined: Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:00 pm

Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:56 pm

I'm rather happy I've not noticed this thread until now! Nice not to have to wait for the updates!

Incredible stuff!!

Don't worry X-Works when you are done I don't mind you doing the same to mine??
kundiboy
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 177
Joined: Thu May 04, 2006 11:00 pm

Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:57 pm

I take my hat off to you mate, excellent write up on that gearbox. I haven't enjoyed reading a thread on the internet as much for years if ever.

I'm looking forward to the engine build thread, that will be awesome.

Thanks very much for sharing your experience and knowledge.
Image

1988 Diamond Schwartz E30 M3
Baz666
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3516
Joined: Fri Feb 29, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk

Wed Feb 24, 2010 12:28 pm

What a read 8O you are a top man, just spent the last 40 minutes reading all 13 pages some bits over again. have a :beer: on me fella you deserve it.
Image
E46 328ci, sport bumpers, 19" style 95`s
User avatar
LagunaE30
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 635
Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:00 pm

Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:34 pm

i love the way this thread is titled '' minor rust repair'' and then goes on for 13 pages, this is really amazing stuff, i think youve spent more time putting pics up and writing this thread then ive actually spent working on my car.
this thread is priceless, if only everyone could write up threads like this.
Nay
Channel Island Crew
Channel Island Crew
Posts: 3988
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:00 pm

Mon Mar 01, 2010 1:35 am

LagunaE30 wrote:i love the way this thread is titled '' minor rust repair'' and then goes on for 13 pages, this is really amazing stuff, i think youve spent more time putting pics up and writing this thread then ive actually spent working on my car.
this thread is priceless, if only everyone could write up threads like this.
So true. Even if I had a camera handy, I wouldn't take photo's of ever step!
Image

Uni is killing the project.
DaveyB
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 399
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:00 pm

Mon Mar 15, 2010 12:44 am

ive just read this whole thread

word for word

pic by pic


its taken near 3 hours!


o m f g

you sir are a legend!
Image
Wanted Nothing atm :)!
//Rocky
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 850
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:00 pm

Mon Mar 15, 2010 1:06 am

DaveyB wrote:ive just read this whole thread

word for word

pic by pic


its taken near 3 hours!


o m f g

you sir are a legend!
+1, its taken me half that time thats because I scan read. :cool:
"x-works" hats of to you mate :cool:
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:26 pm

Evenin all,
Some big news to start off this update, you won't believe this!
I still can't believe my luck myself. I've sold the car!! Its not even
finished yet and I've had an offer I just can't refuse. A prince, no less,
has seen the build thread and contacted me by e-mail to say he wants
to buy the car immediately. I know, I know, unreal isn't it? And best
of all is the price he's offered, two hundred and fifty thousand
Ugandan Dollars. All I have to do is send him my bank account details,
credit card details, full name and address so he can forward the cash
and have his staff call to collect it.

F*cking spam mail scamming vermin, if there was any justice in the world they'd
all be rounded up and shot with a ball of their own shite!

Anywho, back at the ranch, the worlds longest car restoration was continuing
at it's usual hectic pace and next on the list of things to do was brakes,
starting with the beautifully aged rear calipers.....

Image

pads out, sliding brackets slid off....

Image

circlip off the dust boot....

Image

and then pop the boot off the piston...

Image

and then I use a special method to remove the piston from the
caliper. A burst of compressed air is pumped into the brake fluid
inlet port on the caliper and the procedure goes like this.
Little burst of air, piston comes out a tiny bit and springs back in,
little bit more air, piston comes out a little further and springs
straight back in again. You get pissed off with the lack of progress
and give it a proper wack of air, piston hurtles out at warp speed
and mashes your fingers between it and the caliper.....

Image


when the pain subsides, the piston and caliper bore are inspected.
What you see below is the reason why bake fluid is recommended
to be changed every couple of years. Brake fluid you see is hygroscopic,
yep I've no idea either, however Wikipedia reckons that means
"a substance which attracts and absorbs moisture". So brake fluid
absorbs water and if it hasn't been changed in donkeys years the
water content builds up enough to the level where it starts to rust
the inside of the brake system, like so.....

Image

the last thing to come out of the caliper is the bleed nipple....

Image

front calipers although being a bit bigger come appart exactly the same....

Image

Image

with everything asunder, the first port of call was to check and clean up
the pistons.....

Image

the two smaller rear caliper pistons on the left and front pistons on the right.
The area marked red is checked for any heavy scratches, pitting, scoring
blah, blah, blah.... They were reasonably smooth so they were given a polishing
up with 1500 grit wet and dry sandpaper. The condition of the area above
the red mark doesn't really matter as much, all it has to do is press
against the pad whereas the bit marked red has to slide in and out
through the caliper seal. Any marks on it and it's probably going to
make shite of the seal sooner or later and leak fluid.....

Image

after that, threads in the bleed nipple hole take a clean up (M7x1).....

Image

and then the threads where the brake pipe screws in (M10x1),

Image

then the inside of the caliper bore is checked for markings and then
also given a polish up with 1500 wet and dry.....

Image

next up for a clean is the sliding pins, with the aid of a 7mm allen
key they screw out of the bracket.....


Image

Image
Last edited by x-works on Fri Jan 27, 2012 9:41 pm, edited 3 times in total.
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:37 pm

The last thing to clean up was the calipers and brackets themselves
and give them a coat of this stuff....

Image

Image

With everything clean, the rebuild could begin with the help of
some oe seal kits, 2 for the front (p/n 34111153202) and two
for the rear (p/n 34211157042)....

Image

A front kit consists of a square sectioned O ring and a dust boot,
like so....

Image

the O ring sits into it's recess in the caliper (red arrow) and then
the inside lip of the dust boot sits into the narrower recess (green arrow).....

Image

which ends up looking like this.....

Image

then the tricky bit, the seal and the caliper bore (NOT THE DUST BOOT)
are given a smear of brake fluid to get them slippery before offering
the piston back up for re-entry. The tricky part here is trying to get
the piston through the front of the dust boot and started into the caliper
bore. The new boot is very tight around the piston and easy to rip while
trying to stretch on. So. A bit of compressed air again while the piston is
held against the dust boot and "hey presto" the boot inflates and pops
up onto the piston allowing it to be slid back in easily.....

Image

You can use your fingers to hold the piston instead of the piece of steel
used above if you wish, everybody should build up a good tolerance of
pain, it's good for you.

Image

The rear pistons are no where near as dramatic. Dust boot on piston.....

Image

new O ring in caliper bore, piston slid in, and when in, dust boot
is popped over its lip (blue arrow)....

Image

Image

and then the circlip is popped on to secure the boot.....

Image

Image

Image

bleed nipples are cleaned up and refitted with a tiny dab of anti-seize
grease on the threads.....

Image

And finally the caliper bushes. The original ones had little hard nylon
inserts inside them.....

Image

whereas the newer ones haven't. I guess the rubber is just a little
harder now and they're not needed.....

Image

anywho, they push into the caliper like so.....

Image
Last edited by x-works on Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:47 pm

Brakes done, onto the driveshafts. The inner and outer joints on both
shafts felt slightly knotchy, so.......

Image

Image

Image

Image

with most of the grease cleaned off you could see the circlip that
holds the joint onto the shaft. If your taking these apart for
inspection it's recommended that you mark the 3 pieces like shown
below so they can go back together in exactly the same place.....

Image

when cleaned up you could see where 22 years of hard driving had
led to the balls wearing a groove into the outer piece of the joint, which
explained the slight knotchiness. But of more concern was the pitting
that was found, the surface of the outer joint where the balls run on
was starting to give way......

Image

The outer joint (the one that slips into the hub) can't be dismantled
like the inner one because the cap is crimped onto the cv joint. (red arrow)
To get if off you have to burst it off, damaging it in the process....

Image

after seeing the condition of the inside joints and deciding I wasn't going
to reuse these shafts I had nothing to loose bursting off the caps and having
a look at the condition of the outer joints.....

Image

and they were a hell of a lot worse than the inside ones

Image

the balls themselves were also fairly pitted, but your going to have to
use your imagination cause I'm still to thick to figure out how the
f*cking zoom works on this camera.....

Image

The shafts were replaced with a pair of GKN Lobro one's which are
exactly what the original one's are and what you'll buy at the main dealer.
Only they're half the price at the motor factors....

Image
Last edited by x-works on Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:58 pm

Up next was the rear beam and trailing arms. Over the years I'd been
reading various methods used by some people to re-enforce the trailing
arms and also seen pictures of the Z3 rear trailing arms and had decided
I'd give it a go. This is probably way overkill on whats going to be a road
car but sure the metal and welder are just sitting there, all it costs is a little
time and effort. So, piece of tubing.....

Image

knotched out.....

Image

Image

hammered on (making sure distance X 120mm is the maximum, otherwise the
tube hits off the exhaust bracket on the beam whilst the arm is rotating
on the car,
tack them on and dummy build to check before fully welding).....

Image

Image

and then the next modification, which I think is to stop camber changes
by re-enforcing the hub carrier part of the arm.
Cardboard template first....

Image

bit of 3mm angle iron....

Image

chop, chop, file, file, measure, measure, offer up, f*ck, f*ck,
chop, cho.....

Image

Image

the one thing to be careful of with these is to make sure they won't
foul the driveshafts when fitted. Even though the hubs aren't fitted you
can hold the driveshaft up roughly in place and check the clearance
before final welding.....

Image

Image

Then the old bushes had to come out with the aid of a few sockets
and some threaded bar....

Image

Image

Image

and with the arms totally bare, off they went for sand blasting and powder coat,
which left them looking like this upon return.....

Image

Image
Last edited by x-works on Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:10 pm

Image

mmmmmmm, shiny parts........

Image

first job on the re-coated arms was to re-insert some bushes.
Originally they were fitted with oe offset bushes, which were a disaster
to fit last time around. They pop in just as easily as normal ones but
trying to get the offset right so you end up with the desired geometry
changes can be a real pig. This time around we're going to try a
different approach to altering the rear geometry. So, old offset bushes
get binned (2 on top) to be replaced by standard bushes (4 in bottom).....

Image

the bushes are again pushed in with the help of some sockets and
threaded bar. Looking at the bush in the pic below, they are pushed
in tapered end first (right hand side in pic)......

Image

and they push in from the outer side inwards as this side of each
eye on the wishbone is slightly tapered at the edge to help start them
on their way.....

Image

as is always the case when trying to push something into a tight hole
lubrication helps greatly.....

Image

Image

with them all back in you should end up with the fat bits of the bushes
sticking out towards the outside......

Image

Next up, wheel bearings.
A little of the powder coating had found it's way onto the inside of
the hub so this took a little sanding up first....

Image

then the new wheel bearings (aftermarket SKF) get battered into their
hole until you feel them butt up solid against the back lip in the hub.....

Image

followed by fresh circlips.....

Image

Image

and then the brake backing plate, secured by two little m6 bolts....

Image


and finally the handbrakes shoes anchor bracket, which is secured
by two little m8 bolts....

Image

then with all that crap fitted the hub can be pressed back in.....

Image

Image

remembering to support the inner race of the wheel bearing whilst doing
so or else it shit's itself. Which is nice.....

Image
Last edited by x-works on Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:20 pm

After that we moved on to the brake pipes while waiting for other parts
to arrive (or more accurately waiting for the cash to pay for them to
magically appear from somewhere). To no ones surprise the
"rust jihad" had also launched an attack on the rear steel brake pipes
and fittings at some stage and they weren't looking in their first flush
of youth....

Image

Image

Image

So, a roll of 1/4 inch copper brake pipe and some fittings.....

Image

mark out and cut the length needed to make each pipe (www.realoem.com
really helps here, they list the length of each pipe, although it helps to always add
30mm to be safe)....

Image

after rolling the pipe off the roll and cutting it, it can look a little
crap with kinks all over the place so a large hardback book or
piece of timber rolled on top of it a few times usually gets it nice
and flat.....

Image

next up is making a flare on one end of it. The end of the pipe needs a
little filing or sanding to round it off, from this.....

Image

to this.....

Image

then we break out the brake flaring tool.....

Image

pop the clamp in the vise and pop the pipe through the correct size
hole......

Image

then using one of the....one of the.....f*ck, what are they called again,
I think i'm getting alzheimer's, I'm going to have to start writing me name
and address on the inside of me jocks soon. PIPE FLARES. using
one of the pipe flares you pop the pipe through the clamp till it's
level with the shoulder on the matching size flare, like so......

Image

tighten up the screws on the clamp to grip the pipe tightly and drop some
oil on the top of the pipe and on the inside face of the flare before dropping
it on to the pipe.....

Image

apply the press and mushy, mushy.....

Image

Image

and this is the result, the top face is good to go but underneath is
tapered because the clamp hole was tapered this side......

Image

and for the fitting being used the underneath needs to be flat,
so, turn the clamp over to the non countersunk holes side.....

Image
Last edited by x-works on Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:32 pm

position the pipe again.....

Image

some more oil and mushy, mushy, again......

Image

Image

which usually gives you a nice fat flare on the end of the pipe (apart
from the times it goes arseways which I've chosen not to mention).....

Image

Image

then spends hours of enjoyment trying to replicate the original pipes
bends and kinks.....

Image

before offering it up to the wishbone to see just how much of a balls
you've made of it....

Image


when happy with the shape of it (or ran out of patience trying) it's
time to mark and cut it for the flare the other end.....

Image


it's not possible to accurately describe in words the level of frustration
thats felt when you make the final flare on a pipe only to discover
you forgot to put the fitting on first.

Image

with the fitting on, the second flare can be done...

Image

and before final fitment some fresh clips cause the old ones were.....

Image


the other thing thats handy to have around at this stage of the build is a
little tub of grease. Everything that gets fitted to the exterior of the shell
gets a smear of grease first to stop water/dampness collecting between it
and the shell down the line and causing rust to reoccur.....

Image

Image

with the solid pipes done some stainless braided pipes replaced the
standard rubber flexi ones....

Image

Image

before finishing with the flaring tool the rest of the brake pipes were
copied.....

Image

and fitted.....

Image

Pipes done, onto the rear handbrake shoes setup which is
made up of all this crap.....

Image

the shoes themselves were only fitted a little while before the car came
off the road so they're barley used.....

Image

a good rub of 60 grit sandpaper brings the linings up like new again.....

Image

and then theres this little collection of stuff that likes to fall off the edge of
the workbench and never be seen again.....

Image

starting with the row of 4 little bits on top in the last picture which
make up the manual adjuster for adjusting up the handbrake shoes.
This bit screws into that bit.....

Image

they then pop into this bit....

Image
Last edited by x-works on Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:44 pm

and finally this bit slides on over the lot, oh and copper grease everywhere
this stuff just lives for the opportunity to seize up ......

Image

Get it? Got it! Good.

When fitted in place this little setup sits between the top of the two shoes.
When everythings back together and you line up the brake disc so that
you can poke a flat screwdriver in though one of the wheel stud holes
and adjust the knurled nut (red arrow) to spread the shoes out towards the
drum.

Image

and at the other end of the shoes is the actual handbrake mechanism,
made up of this delightful pile of stuff.....


Image

fat pin drops in here.....

Image

and that slots in to here.....

Image

and the end of the handbrake cable.....

Image

connects in here with the aid of the smaller pin....

Image

like so......

Image

so that when your out playing in the winter snow you
can pull the handbrake in the direction of the red arrow
and spread the two little levers out in the green arrow directions,
which pushes the shoes out against the drum, locking the rear wheels
and spinning the car around like a pro, right up until you wack the kerb
and f*ck up your brand new alloys.....

Image

none of which will happen until this stuff moves from the bench onto
the wishbone.....

Image

Image

again plenty of copper grease.....

Image

the other little collection of springs the sit on the brake shoes were
fairly rusted, so Bmw sell the whole lot under one part number
(p/n 34419064267).......

Image

and they sit on like so......

Image

anti rattle clips screw through the brake shoes and into the back plate.....

Image

the return springs can be a little awkward to stretch on in place

Image

Image

So, a little bit of twine and a spanner makes it a little easier to pull them
into their slots.....

Image

followed by brake disc back on and grub screw greased and refitted.....

Image

and align the disc to pop the flat screwdriver in to adjust up the shoes.....

Image

when thats done the brake caliper anchor bracket went back on.....

Image

Image

a set of fresh oe spec Jurid 547 rear pads .....

Image

were fitted....

Image
Last edited by x-works on Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:55 pm

along with the caliper.....

Image

Image

caliper in place, sliding pins go back in. Copper grease on the pins and
a dab of locktite on the threads.....

Image

Image

with the pins tightened up, the caps go back on the rubber bushes
to keep it weather tight.....

Image

and finally the anti rattle clips pop on.......

Image

The last parts needed to finish off the rear wishbones were the abs
sensors. Unfortunately the old sensors had become quite emotionally
and physically attached to the wishbones, so attached in fact that it
took a large selection of hammers and some colourful language to
separate them. Unfortunately the sensors didn't take kindly to this and
in revenge bent into shite rendering them scrap......

Image

Not the end of the world however as the wiring on the sensors was well
past it's sell by date anyway......

Image

Image

what very nearly did bring about the end of my world, by heart attack,
was the price i got quoted for 4 new sensors. Obviously these are also
made from moon minerals. Thankfully a member on E30owners.com came
to the rescue with 4 sensors that looked as good as new.....

Image

just for the record the rear sensors are interchangeable.....

Image

while the fronts are sided left and right as denoted by the little "L" and
"R" on them.....

Image

a good smear of grease on the sensors before fitting should mean future
hammer massages are not necessary for removal down the line.....

Image

Image

Which brings us up neatly to the end of the first half of this
update, join us tomorrow evening for the concluding
episode..........
Nay
Channel Island Crew
Channel Island Crew
Posts: 3988
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:00 pm

Tue Mar 16, 2010 5:15 am

Again. Loving the work mate!
Image

Uni is killing the project.
Dezzy
CR24v it's a lifestyle
Posts: 11974
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Middlesbrough

Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:39 am

That is about the sexiest looking rear brake and beam overhaul I have seen. It's NEW.
Again my hat is off sir.
I hope to see this at a few shows this year?
:cool:
Image
Co Founder of CR24vTM By Invitation Only. Absolutely no riff raff!!!
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:13 pm

And now we return to the conclusion of this years
update.

With the wishbones complete it was on to the rear beam.......

Image

As mentioned a
little earlier the car used to be fitted with eccentric wishbone bushes to
try and dial out some of the excessive camber that comes with lowering the car.
However these were a pain in the arse to get right and needed to come in
and out 3 times to get them exactly right, which is a lot of ballache. So this
time around we're going to try one of the other options, which involves
welding these little brackets on.....
(kindly provided by DanThe, thanks Dan)

Image

and using these 5 series eccentric bolts and washers.....

Image

I've only got two crappy phone pics of the welding on of the brackets
as it was done in work in the day job, and as this beam doesn't look remotely
like anything fitted to a double decker bus, I thought it might be better not to
draw attention to it by doing a photo shoot . The pair of brackets welded to the outside
wishbone pickup point are placed with the original bolt hole
smack bang in the middle and the slot in the bracket is placed horizontal.
The idea behind these two is to be
able to adjust rear toe in/out. As the rear toe isn't to greatly
affected you don't generally have to move the wishbone
forward or backward a great deal to get the ideal setting.....

Image

The inside pick up points are a different story though.
The main reason for doing all this is to be able to correct the
negative camber gained by lowering the suspension and as such the
brackets fitted to the inner pick up point have the slot vertical and place the original
bolt hole right at the bottom like shown which gives you maximum
scope for raising the inner pickup point and getting rid of some of that
excessive negative camber ......

Image

and with everything welded up and the original bolt holes filed
out to match the new elongated slots this is roughly how it all
should work (red arrows adjusting camber, blue for toe)......

Image

which looked like this after returning from powder coating......

Image

Image

Image

next up, the eccentric bolts that move the wishbone pick up points
up or down. The bolts have little indents on the top face of them
so as you rotate the bolts you can see how many indents it takes
to add/subtract a certain amount of camber/toe.......

Image

however when all this lot is fitted back in the car you'd need a neck
like a giraffe to see these markings, so, marks are traced out to the edge
of the bolt head.....

Image

and over the edge where they're enlarged with a hacksaw blade
which should make them a little easier to see back on the car.....

Image
Last edited by x-works on Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:20 pm

The other thing that can be helpful is a reference point on the actual
beam, so with the aid of the dremel.....

Image

a few little groves are etched and filled in with white paint......

Image

Image

Image

Image

all of which should make adjustment down the line a little easier, or,
I've just waisted a load of time for nothing, we'll see.
Before fitting up the wishbones to the rear beam the inner faces of
the bolts and washers are given a coating of grease to help them
rotate when adjusting......

Image

a fresh set of beam bushes are fitted and the washers fitted on top
with grease everywhere as these bit love to seize....

Image

Image

Image

some fresh anti roll bar links and handbrake cable brackets are fitted
to the wishbones......

Image

Image

The other little bits needed at this stage is the spring pads, the
two arrowed are for the bottom of the springs and the other two with
the bump stops in the middle of them are for the top.

Image

The whole lot is built up on a sheet of ply wood so it can be slid under
the car when complete and jacked up into place.....

Image

Image

before that can happen however the beam mount bolts have got to be
refitted to the shell, before they are dropped in they're plastered with
anti-seize grease.....

Image

and then they're dropped down into place in these holes at the edges
of the floorpan under where the rear seat goes.....

Image

Image

The other bits needing refitting before the axle can be lifted back up in to place
is the rear shocks......

Image
Last edited by x-works on Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:27 pm

First up gotta assemble them. These "gigantic" bump stops slide on.....

Image

followed by the dust boots......

Image

and then a fresh set of top mounts.....

Image

followed by a bevelled washer and nut......

Image

The other little bits that were to be fitted was the little plates fitted to Z3
rear shocks, pictured number 9 below......

Image

When the shock is refitted to the shell the top plate on the shock mount does
a nice job of spreading out the load when the body is pushing down on
them. However when the situation is reversed and the shock is pulling
down on the shell all thats spreading the load on top of the turret is
two little m8 nuts, which sometimes can lead to stress cracks around the
nuts. These 2 little steel plates which were used on the Z3 can be fitted
under the nuts to help spread out the load better.
Which is all marvellous but I'd forgot to order them from the dealer and
was now ready to refit everything and was in no mood to have to wait
another few days for them to arrive. So, the tight arse's guide to top
mount plates......

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Unfortunately the only flat steel I had lying around was 5mm thick and
took forever to cut and file to shape, on the bright side should I ever
decide to drive off a cliff the rear shock mounts should be well up to it......

Image

and then at long last fire it all back into the shell.....

Image

Image
Last edited by x-works on Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:34 pm

And then there was the front end.
One nasty front subframe.....

Image

one freshly powder coated front subframe......

Image

done one mod to the subframe back when I first got the car and this was
down to the fact it had started to crack across the red line in the pic below
(red circle is where the engine mount bolts down to and the reason why
this bit started to crack off).......

Image

the subframe was given a fresh weld across the red line both sides and
plates fabricated up and welded on underneath to strengthen the whole
piece. Only thing to watch out for is to cut a hole in the plate so you
can still get a socket through it to tighten the engine mounting bolt.....

Image

First thing to go back on the subframe is the front antiroll bar, which is
bolted on by these two little lads....

Image

I've yet to remove one of these that wasn't caked in rust on the inside
so a little smear of grease should slow down the antiroll bar bushing
rubbing the powder coating off the inside so quickly......

Image

And then the only polybushes to get fitted to this whole car. As you've
probably seen by now I've replaced more or less every bush with standard
rubber ones and the reason is I don't want to feel every pebble on the road.
I don't want to involuntarily brace myself every time I see a pothole coming.
I had cars when I was younger that the springs and shocks were probably
just ornaments on, there was that little movement in the suspension, and
although polybushes and stiffer this and that make for a faster car around a
track, this car was a bloody good drive on the road when it left the factory on standard
bushes according to any press releases from back in the day.
I'm probably just gettin old (I'll probably be fuckin geriatric by the time this thread gets
finished).
Anywho, bushes came with the car when I bought it and there perfectly
good to go again.....

Image

Image

A heavy smear of grease where the subframe mounts up to the chassis
legs should keep the moisture(rust) out.....

Image

Image

Rear antiroll bar was back from powder coating to so it got bolted
back to the floor pan.....

Image

Image

And then the front struts which made the most dramatic transformation
of all the powder coated bits.....

Image

Image
Last edited by x-works on Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:05 pm

The front spindle gets a rub of 1200 grit to polish it up.....

Image

then the rear dust cap gets popped on.....

Image

Image

followed by the backing plate......

Image

Image

and next up is the wheel bearing. As is well documented around the
interweb by now the E28 wheel bearings and e30 M3 bearing are the one
and the same unit, only difference being different ABS rings and a big
difference in price. So, pair of E28 bearings.......

Image

pull the Abs rings off.....

Image

and then pull the rings off the old M3 bearings.......

Image

These were seriously tight and I had to rely on the age old
3 stage method to remove them.
Step 1......

Image

Step 2......

Image

Step 3.....

Image

bingo.....

Image

Rings get a clean up and a little loctite on the inside lip for refitment....

Image

Image

and when securely back in place a lick of silver paint to protect the
bare metal.....

Image

And then drop the whole lot back on to the spindle. Unlike the rear bearings
the front ones aren't usually tight going back on and don't require a press.
A few gentle tips with something soft and they should slide down into place.....

Image

Image
Last edited by x-works on Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Kedge
Old Skooler
Old Skooler
Posts: 7702
Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Leicestershire

Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:11 pm

:drool: , can't do much else to be honest!
Image
'86 Polaris 316 M20B28 Rebuild
Instagram - Kedge85
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:16 pm

When there back on, the nut is screwed up and torqued with a size
46mm socket.....

Image

after which the little rim on top of the nut is clenched into the cut out
on the spindle (which is probably the most long winded way of saying,
bend this)............

Image

and then the the front dust caps are fitted with a little smear of grease
on the inner rim to help keep them water tight......

Image

Image

Next up the shock absorber. Threads at the top of the strut tube get a
little clean....

Image

and then the front insert is dropped in. The shocks by the way are
Bilstein gas shocks and I remember reading somewhere that unlike
the normal procedure of filling the gap between the shock and the
inside of the strut tube with oil, with gas shocks its recommended to
leave this space empty. So I just gave it a few squirts of the oil can
to keep it from rusting in there.......

Image

Image

This little dude screws down on top of the shock into the tube
and keeps it secure. I used to have the special tool for screwing these
in, but I lent it to a person(bastard) a long time ago,
and that person(bastard) forgot to bring it back and
I've forgotten who that person(bastard) is. But one day I'll remember
who the person(bastard) was and that Bastard is in for a surprise.

Image

Image

The little item arrowed below is for securing the shock dust boot and
it's very important to remember to fit it before screwing down
the shock collar....

Image

F*****************************k...........

Image

Image

Next on is the springs which also paid a visit to the powder coater.....

Image

Springs by the way are Eibach and are listed by them for the 318is
I think. They're practically the same poundage as the original M3 springs
but just sit lower and I was happy with the ride and handling before the
car came off the road so there didn't seem to be much point in changing them.
Before the springs can be fitted they need to be compressed with the
aid of spring compressors and a few bits of rubber tube so as not to
scratch the powder coating back off again.......

Image

Image

on either side of the springs go these rubber seats so they don't squeak
as your driving along......

Image
Last edited by x-works on Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:25 pm

one goes below the spring like so........

Image

and one sits onto the top spring platform like so......

Image

Image

Image

after that the strut top mounts go on. These are offset ones (p/n 31331139484)
which as you can see in the pic the hole in the centre is offset to one
side a little. And if fitted the right way around they will move the top
of the strut in towards the engine a little (half a degree) and give you
a little more camber at the front wheels, which should improve road holding.
In reality the change (half a degree) is so little any effect they have is
going to be small but if your changing the top mounts anyway they
aren't a great deal more expensive then the standard ones......

Image

the new mounts don't come with the three little studs needed for fitment.....

Image

So, nuts on to protect the threads.....

Image

pop them up loosely in the vise.....

Image

and batter the living shite out of them......

Image

and now the reason I said they can help "if" fitted the right way. Theres
6 holes on the mounts and you've 3 studs to fit, so which holes to use?
On the underside of the mounts 3 of the holes are marked with a +
and 3 with a - . As we're trying to subtract camber (add negative camber)
the studs are fitted to the 3 minus holes......

Image

Image

with that sorted it's on to actually fitting the mounts to the strut.
5 items in total
Strut mount
1) small washer
2) large washer
3) bevelled washer
4) nut

Image

on the underside of the mount you can see the strut top bearing which
comes pre greased......

Image

the bevelled washer(3) is topped up with a little grease on the inside.....

Image

Image

and popped down on top of the bearing.....

Image
Last edited by x-works on Tue Mar 16, 2010 8:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
x-works
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 332
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:36 pm

and then the large flat washer(2) is slid onto the strut followed by the mount......

Image

which is then followed by the small washer(1) and nut(4)......

Image

after the nut is tightened down the spring compressors can be removed
and the little dust cap popped back into the centre of the mount.....

Image

after which the ABS sensors were refitted....

Image

and the final bits to go back on the struts are the brakes, a fresh set of disc's......

Image

Image

and then the calipers bolt back on just like the rears, which leaves them
looking like so......

Image

The other bits needed before the struts could be bolted back
into the car was wishbones and "lollipop" bushes.
These are M3 bushes the differences being over standard e30 bushes
the hole in the centre is off to one side and there more solidly packed
out with rubber......

Image

theres a little arrow on them to help you press them into the lollipops
in the right place......

Image

Image

To go with them is a fresh set of Lemforder wishbones....

Image

and anti roll bar drop links......

Image

After which, everything is rebolted back onto the car and when I could
see which bolts were needed to reconnect everything I could order
them all in stainless steel to replace all the manky rusted old ones.....

Image

Which leaves her looking like this......

Image

Image

Image

One giant leap for man, one small leap forward for this project........

Image

And that brings this update to a close which is perfect
timing as tomorrows Saint Paddy's day and I'm
away to get very drunk.
Till next time........
E30Gheko
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 3789
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Wirral

Tue Mar 16, 2010 8:10 pm

You have no idea just how useful that last section is!

Fantastic write up. Lovin it!

Enjoy St Paddy's day. I think you've earned a few pints of Guiness! :beer:
User avatar
gooner1
Out humping Reindeer
Posts: 13280
Joined: Fri Apr 14, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Northampton.For my sins.

Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:37 pm

X-Works, have a jar or three on me mate.
Just love this thread, and not just for the way it explains things in a way
that even a Numbty like myself can half follow, or even the explanatory pics.
Its because of the humour and humilty it contains.
Fair play to Ye. :cool:
Image
User avatar
Royalratch
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 4921
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: London

Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:27 pm

Magical stuff as always and I'm already itching for the next post.

You know it's all about the engine build...!
Nay
Channel Island Crew
Channel Island Crew
Posts: 3988
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:00 pm

Wed Mar 17, 2010 4:30 am

****! 8O
Image

Uni is killing the project.
johnt0709
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2291
Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: West of Scotland

Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:25 am

Always amazed at the quality of work and effort put into the write ups.
Phase I - Bodywork Complete
http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... by+restore
Phase II - 2.8 stroker- Complete
Project II - 325 Motorsport Cabriolet Restoration.
Post Reply