Swapping to 51mm struts

[ollie_]

Morning all.

For the suspension i want to use on my 318i i need to swap to 51mm struts.

now... do i need to swap all the brake bits, bearings, and gubbins off my struts onto the new struts,
or can i just disconnect the lines and swap over the whole hub assembly, brakes and everything?

The latter would obviously make life a bit easier, but just want to make sure it'll work, with regards to brake system coping etc...

Also, is it something i'm gonna be able to do in a couple of hours on the pavement? pretty handy with a spanner when i want to be, so it'll just be bolt off bolt on i presume?

Any other hints or tips, hit me up

Ta! Ollie

[Brianmoooore]

Hubs don't come off without damage, so you're stuck with either new ones or the ones that are on the strut now.
Everything just swaps over complete - everything fits exactly the same. You obviously can't fit your existing calipers onto the new discs if they are vented ones, as they're not wide enough, but the complete assembly can be swapped over.

[ollie_]

sorry when i said hub assembly i meant the whole strut and everything lol,so the units will just swap no problem?excellent

[magpie]

if you go 51 mm i'd fit the vented discs and the suited callipers.two birds with one stone


the difference between 45mm and 51mm is the girth of the insert damper.

the bigger the better!

[ollie_]

will the master cylinder and servo thats in at the moment cope with the bigger calipers if i do decided to uprate discs etc?

[magpie]

the master cyl and servo are all the same gutswise.

these are 51mm legs.all tourings have them as do cabs,325i's and the humble 318is.

only the is has the correct springs for a 4-pot on 51mm legs.you coul use your springs but i'd buy the set of is springs that are in the for sale section atm

[magpie]

these are what i'd buy unless you want to spend coinage.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... c&t=161308

[ollie_]

fantastic, cheers man like i say i'm changing the shocks and springs already, getting adjustable top mounts for camber, and now just need the whole strut setup which i have access to a set of!!

thanks for the advice man, very helpful

[jmc330i]

all tourings have them

Not all.

The 318i touring had 45mm struts up to Sept 89, after that they were 51mm.

[magpie]

BRIAN ??????????????????????

this is news to me.

[jmc330i]

100% - confirmed by the VIN of my touring by BMW.

I had hassle getting shocks for it cause I ordered by the reg number. 45mms turned up, I sent them back as I thought they should of been 51mms.
51mms turned up, I tired to fit them and thought some bugger had swapped the struts for 45s. A phone call later to BMW with the VIN confirmed it had 45mm from factory.

Check the ETK/Realoem, Click Me....

If the link works, just hit the browse parts button and go find the shocks.

[magpie]

100% - confirmed by the VIN of my touring by BMW.

I had hassle getting shocks for it cause I ordered by the reg number. 45mms turned up, I sent them back as I thought they should of been 51mms.
51mms turned up, I tired to fit them and thought some bugger had swapped the struts for 45s. A phone call later to BMW with the VIN confirmed it had 45mm from factory.

Check the ETK/Realoem, Click Me....

If the link works, just hit the browse parts button and go find the shocks.

dude this info is valued.

i don't want to sell 47mm as 51mm.
did yours have vented discs?

[jmc330i]

Yup, vented discs up front.
I actually used the calipers on my Sport when one of them decided to seize up (I swapped both as the touring had Girlings and the Sport ATE).

[magpie]

another lesson in e30 world learned

[Brianmoooore]

Yes, very early 318 tourings had the smaller front legs, but I've never come across one. Diesel tourings alledgedly have them as well.

[Vinevo]

I have a 318 Touring, first registration 01 10 89, according to GSF and BMW using reg. and Realoem using VIN I should have 51mm struts-so that is what I ordered. But yesterday when I went to fit them at a mates garage we discover that I have 45mm struts! Am in the process of sourcing 51mm legs to fit but now think after reading this that they are currently correct at 45mm. Not sure what to do now, get 51 legs or return shocks for smaller 45 ones!?

[jmc330i]

I have a 318 Touring, first registration 01 10 89, according to GSF and BMW using reg. and Realoem using VIN I should have 51mm struts

It should be on the build date and as yours was registered 1/10/89 it could of been built as an 'early' one.

after reading this that they are currently correct at 45mm. Not sure what to do now, get 51 legs or return shocks for smaller 45 ones!?

Well a 51mm strut will be an upgrade and as you already have the shocks, if you can find the struts it wont do any harm changing to them.

[leeparkes]

Are 'all' 318 IS fitted with 51mm struts?

Im about to purchase some fully rebuilt one's and im hoping there 51mm

[jmc330i]

Im sure all 318iS's had 51mm struts - I havent seen any info to suggest otherwise.

[Brianmoooore]

Are 'all' 318 IS fitted with 51mm struts?

No, I have one with the smaller legs, although I'm certain it left the factory with 51mm ones!

[leeparkes]

To check is it the outer diameter of the strut housing you measure or is it the shocks that are 51mm?

[jmc330i]

Thats the problem, the info is out there to find out what it should have fitted etc, but you dont know whats been changed in the last 20 odd years.

[Brianmoooore]

To check is it the outer diameter of the strut housing you measure or is it the shocks that are 51mm?

Outer diameter of the strut tube.

[leeparkes]

To check is it the outer diameter of the strut housing you measure or is it the shocks that are 51mm?

Outer diameter of the strut tube.

Thank you.

[bigredbmw]

i am changing mine to 51mm struts tomorrow with all the 325 brakes as am changing rear beam next month as well

[magpie]

Are 'all' 318 IS fitted with 51mm struts?

No, I have one with the smaller legs, although I'm certain it left the factory with 51mm ones!

what yr is yours Brian 90 or 91.?

[Brianmoooore]

On an 'H' plate, but it has 'aquired' the 42mm legs somewhere along the way.

[magpie]

On an 'H' plate, but it has 'aquired' the 42mm legs somewhere along the way.

you kept that one quiet.

i bet you only bought it to look at the harness.

light chuckle to myself

[Brianmoooore]

Main reason I bought it, other than to have one example of a (baby) M3 in my collection, was that it had absolutely immaculate (as in 'must be new replacements') front seats.

[magpie]

dark check?

[Brianmoooore]

Haven't got them in front of me, but they're check of some description.

[magpie]

Haven't got them in front of me, but they're check of some description.

black vynal<? sides on the seats or black head liner go together.

what colour is the car.sorry to nit pic.

[Brianmoooore]

Car is red, head liner is (was) white. No idea if the sides are black vinyl.