Clunking from the rear

[kenwoir]

Hi People,
I'm new to this site and have only recently bought an e30 325i sport. I have a clunky/squeeking coming from the rear, i think it's the top shock mounts as its coming from that area, at times it sounds like metal on metal. Can anyone confirm my suspicions from their own experience? Also if it is the top shock mounts is it likely to contribute to the back end stepping out without effort?

Thanks

[rickk]

These cars eat shock mounts if you've installed stiffer suspension, so that's very likely (replace them with E46 cab mounts btw., much stiffer), but that wouldn't cause the back to step out.

That, together with the same kind of sounds would be caused by the rear subframe mounts going out.

To replace them, you'll need a special tool (sorry, don't know the details), otherwise you'll have to take the whole rear apart, about a days work. With the tool it's about 1, maybe 2 hours. (So if you're going to have the work done - bring it to a BMW specialist and ask them how they plan to replace them, save some $$$).

The good news is that, if they're bad, replacing them will make one hell of a difference and that they should be good for about another 100k miles.

[kenwoir]

Cheers.. If only had the car two weeks and it has koni shocks in it but is on standard springs. the car feels very wibbly wobbly but i've been driving lowered/stiffened cars for the last 9 years so a standard ride height is gonna feel a bit strange. I used to have an E36 328is which was geat and would only step out if you made it but this e30 just seems to let go especially in the rain at any moderate speed on roundabouts and bends.. I'm gonna lower it and i'll do the mounts then. Thanks again for the advice

[mrLEE30]

Mate start simple,

open yer boot, remove the stiff carpet that covers your top shock mounts, and take off the rubber cover so you can see the central bolt, then push the rear end up and down from the rear bumper, what you will probably see is the top of the shock absorber is loose in the rubber mounting as it has perished and the top nut is hitting the surrounding metal. Simple to fix 1. quick fix, take off the bolt (think it was 17mm) and stick an extra big metal washer in there. then drive to dealers and get the top shock absorber bushing.

if not that try the other suggestion above!

mrlee

ps my metal washer fix is now two years old with no problems for those who will be shocked at a bodge job!!

[dazleeds]

yep as above totally agree have just removed a pair of rear shocks and mounts as they were knocking like fook

[kenwoir]

Shock mounts it was... sorted now, stuck new ones in with the new lowering kit. Cheers