Whats this rubber thingy?

[oakey]

why was this loose inside one of my springs??

[ed325i]

Its the rear bump stop.

[oakey]

thanks mate but youll have to forgive me as i dont know much about this sort of stuff= where should it be attatched? whats it for? how do you think it came off?

[Jon_Bmw]

Sure its not a Butt plug?

[oakey]

oh shit.. yes! i was wondering where i'd put that

[smithy318i]

thanks mate but youll have to forgive me as i dont know much about this sort of stuff= where should it be attatched? whats it for? how do you think it came off?

Part 16 on this diagram

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=33&fg=45

[oakey]

seriously though.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . .?

[maxfield]

Goes at the top of the spring.

[Kos]

Its the rear bump stop.

i think no.14 on the digram is the bump stop, the part in querstion is just a cover for the top mount

[oakey]

thanks people. should i sort it immediately or is it not a crucial part?

[smithy318i]

Not crucial.

It's not the top damper cover (part 14) that would be in the boot.
its part 16, and has torn away from the disc which is mounted on the top of the suspension spring.

[Kos]

wouldnt say its vital, but it only cost a couple of quid, so you may as well replace it

[oakey]

thanks guys
youre a very helpfull lot.

[oakey]

i will replace it just not for a couple of days if it aint vital

[smithy318i]

you will need to borrow/buy/rent spring compressors too.

[berto]

no you dont, just push the arm down lower and pull the old one out, or just use a long bar and pop it out.

[Pedromac]

I have a full set here if you are stuck. £8 posted. Cheers, Pete.

[smithy318i]

no you dont, just push the arm down lower and pull the old one out, or just use a long bar and pop it out.

Which also damages the subframe bushes and the flexi brake pipes.

[oakey]

the cars goin for a good old check over tommorrow and im getting a few goodies fitted . so this will all get sorted aswell
i havent got time to get under the car myself + ive got a sloped driveway, so i cant do much at my place. proper pain in the arse.

[ed325i]

no you dont, just push the arm down lower and pull the old one out, or just use a long bar and pop it out.

Which also damages the subframe bushes and the flexi brake pipes.

You undo the shock lower bolt (number 3) and then just push the trailing arm down and the spring will just pull out.

[berto]

^^^^

Exactly!! not that damn hard!!

[oakey]

what about putting the spring back in? would a spring compressor be needed then? or are they just needed for the front

[berto]

just have the trailing arm held down with the strut detached and with some jiggery pokery it will go back in

[DRIFTBOY]

I find that it helps to also disconnect the anti roll bar links so the trailing arm drops down a little further.

I've had my springs out about 6 times now (don't ask!) and never damaged anything doing it that way.

Martin.