Changing shocks and springs. Few pics added.

Post Sat Aug 27, 2005 7:22 pm

In the process of changing rear shocks with standard bilstein one. Right, inside the boot you have a nut which needs loosening. I have sucessfully done this on both sides and swapped over the old shocks with the new. The left side seems fine but when i brought the car back off the axle stands the right shock just shot straight through from inside the boot!?!?!

WHY?

Help needed ASAP as light is fading and time is running out.

Thanks

A PIC OF HOW THE SHOCK LOOKS WHEN WE LOWER THE CAR

Post Sat Aug 27, 2005 7:36 pm

Presumibly when you say boat you mean boot?
That looks like a fucked shock / buggered turret?
I can't really tell from that photo.

Post Sat Aug 27, 2005 8:07 pm

Yeah sorry bout the spelling the spelling!

Whats a turret?

Is it in under the wheel arch?

A rubber thing?

If its the shock why and how is it faulty...its a gas shock by the way.

Post Sun Aug 28, 2005 7:46 am

rear top mounts gone get new ones

not sure but i read somewhere saying e46 cab ones are better and a direct fit

Post Sun Aug 28, 2005 10:05 am

yep, rear top mount gone, easy to replace - first catch your new top mount, remove the shock as you did before, undo two bolts inside the boot to remove old top mount - installation is reverse of removal.

Post Sun Aug 28, 2005 11:01 am

Sorry to highjack the thread but i have a question that may be relevant.
If you lower a car by putting shorter springs on, Should you fit shorter shock absorbers on as well?
The reason i'm asking is that if you launch the car over a speed bump and the rear suspension is allowed to fully unload, the swing arm will drop as far as possible and if you use the original long shocks the spring has the potential to fall out.

Maybe a dumb question but i've never lowered a car

(due to all the speed bumps in my area

)

Post Sun Aug 28, 2005 7:45 pm

In general yes - when you buy shorter springs with dampers as a kit, the I believe that the dampers are shorter. This is not necessarily to stop the springs falling out, which is also important, but to prevent the valve at the bottom of the damper rod getting knackered when it hits the bottom of the damper cylinder on full bump - as opposed to your case on full droop.
Having said that if the shorter springs were also stiffer then in theory the travel to full bump might be the same but these things are never simple. Best to buy springs and dampers as sets if possible.

Post Sun Aug 28, 2005 7:49 pm

Richy325iTouring wrote:rear top mounts gone get new ones

not sure but i read somewhere saying e46 cab ones are better and a direct fit

Yep, E46 M3 cab.

(Not sure if they're any different to E46 M3 coupe mounts, but they're stronger than standard ones.)

Post Sun Aug 28, 2005 8:33 pm

Brilliant guys!

Thanks for the advise.

Going to run as it is for a while...i thought it would not be an issue with stabdard bilstein and lower springs but i will raise some cash and set a set instead. Probably H & R cups?

Post Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:25 am

I have been advised by a fellow zoner to replace my rear top mounts with E46 cab ones.But the guy at Euro Car Parts strongly reccommended that i stick to original ones.

Whats your opinion guys?

Post Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:40 am

i`ve never had any problems with the original ones, and i`ve had 3 e30`s now

Post Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:43 am

Probably best to just stick to originals then i guess.Not that i am questioning that E46 mounts are just as good or even better for that matter,but just for peace of minds sake.

Post Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:49 am

i always use original bushes etc on mine

Post Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:51 am

Cool,i will do the same.

Post Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:53 am

I've got E46 cab mounts, just for the hell of it when they needed changing. Visually they are identical to the E30 mounts, but supposed to be tought wearing. Upgrade now!

Post Tue Aug 30, 2005 10:57 am

OH CRAP WHAT SHALL I DO!?!?!?

If its a definate SAFE upgrade then it will be done.

If you say they are identical visually but tougher then its a good upgrade right???

I will see both examples when i pick them up today...will get picks for anyone interested.

Upgrade it is...no going back!!

Post Tue Aug 30, 2005 11:42 pm

I once put short springs (60mm) on with standard shocks, cable tied the springs to the bottom part that supports the spring, lasted about a week, the spring was floating around on the strut.

If you lower your car 60mm, CHANGE THE DAM SHOCKS., 35mm not so much of a problem but i would do it anyway.

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:59 am

Yeah i think it would be silly to continue riding around on standard shocks with a 60mm drop. I will upgrade my shocks as soon as i get some cash together an invest in a set.

I changed the mounts yesterday(will post some pics) and drove to work this morning and it seemed ok over minor bumps. Such a lovely difference though.

Fooking love it!

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:04 am

Question for everyone...

I lowered my car 60mm on standard shocks and it was crap, my 17"s didnt even fit and 15s rubbed.
If i had used uprated shocks, would it have rubbed? I'm at 35mm and if i have a loaded car i get some light rubbing on the rear. It seems like everyone who lowers their car 60mm has no problems.

I've been wondering about that for ages.

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:17 am

I am sitting on 15" with 205/50 tyres but have not drove with a load yet.

At the moment i have not experienced any rubbing.

Looking at how its sitting with no load i am sure it will rub with one person in the back.

Would tyre size or even rear mounts make a difference?

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:44 am

Giggz wrote:
Would tyre size or even rear mounts make a difference?

Tyre size - wider tyres are going to make a diff. low profile tyres would help to reduce the overal wheel size
offset - you need to get the correct wheels otherwise they are going to be too close to the car and rub or be too far out and hit the front arhes.

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:11 pm

A few pics of the change over of rear shocks and springs. Hope the pics help...

This a pic of the old spring and new 60mm spax spring

This a pic of the old shock and new bilstein

Car jacked up and sitting on axle stands with wheel off and old shock and spring still in

This is the lovely nut behind the disc. We had a bit of trouble getting this off...probably coz we aint got no strength in us...so we resorted to using our feet! Got the blighter off though!

This is the awkward nut in the back of the boot. My bro held the top of shock and i got INSIDE the boot undoing the nut with a size 17 spanner i think.

Yours truely in boot! My bro insisted on me putting this up as he found it very funny. Dont take alot to make him laugh!

Shock now off and pic of inside the boot where the mount is without shock.

Pic of the lovely shock where the nut just would not come off. The nut inside the boot. We had to get a hacksaw to chop off the top of the shock as the blooming nut seized!

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:25 pm

Great info here on changing suspension.

Dont know what the rules are on posting random links but if its not ok someone pm me

http://www.bmwe30.net/cgi-bin/datacgi/d ... &Section=0

Post Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:29 pm

Glad you find it useful sir

Wicked doing the job though.