Rear springs change

[jmec]

How do I change the rear suspension springs on my e30 convertible. It looks to me that a spring compression tool would do the job easier than; as mentioned in my Bentley (publisher no the car!) service manual. Lowering, first the exhaust then the final drive and disconnecting the shock absorber and lifting out the spring fully expanded! Any thoughts please? JJ

[Grrrmachine]

Rear springs aren't very tall, so you don't have much length to compress them to start with; three spirals, effectively. And that's when trying to compress them even further than the tension they're already under. So you'd need some pretty heavy duty compressors to get them out.

There's a rear suspension guide in the Wiki:

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... %28Rear%29

[Jos]

if you want a good workout, use a spring compressor.
If not, follow the Bentley instructions.

Rear springs are very tough to compress, there is also very little room to get them in or out with the spring in place.

[greg124]

I think what I did was to put the spring compressors on while the vehicle was on the ground, but tighten up just enough to stop the springs from expanding; then jacked the car up, removed the lower bolt in the shock absorber thus allowing the training arm to drop (watching you don't over-extend the flexible brake lines), giving just about enough space to safely lever out the springs.

It was a couple of years ago, mind...

[Andy325i]

As said, the newer ones will of course be easier to fit as they are shorter

[steve_k]

spring compressors on the rear springs???

to remove the rear springs first jack the car up & place on axle stands,

then reove the wheel,

the undo the 19mm bolt on the bottom of the shock & tie it up out of the way,
place a jack/axle stand under the trailing arm.

undo the bolt for the anti roll bar drop link.

slowly let the jack down.

you should know be able to remove the ols spring,
once it's out give the spring pad a clean.

insert the new spring onto the spring pad & slowly raise the jack (make sure the top of the spring is in place).
if it all lines up ok (& it should do) replace the bolt for the drop link.

raise the jack till the bolt hole on the end of the trailing arm lines up with the shock (untied by now)
insert & tighten up the bolt.

replace wheel. remmove axle stand & lower the car back down.

job done.

thats how i did mine a few week's ago.

[jmec]

Great feedback thanks. Next problem; the rear view mirror's dropped off the windscreen. Any good glue out there? Cheers again, JJ

[e30den]

Great feedback thanks. Next problem; the rear view mirror's dropped off the windscreen. Any good glue out there? Cheers again, JJ

The rear view mirror is not attached to the windscreen.

[Brianmoooore]

The rear view mirror is not attached to the windscreen.

It is in a ragtop! Get the correct adhesive pads from a motor factors, and make sure both surfaces are absolutely clean.
Using anything other than the correct stuff (especially 'superglue') risks cracking the glass.

[Brianmoooore]

spring compressors on the rear springs???

to remove the rear springs first jack the car up & place on axle stands,

then reove the wheel,

the undo the 19mm bolt on the bottom of the shock & tie it up out of the way,
place a jack/axle stand under the trailing arm.

undo the bolt for the anti roll bar drop link.

slowly let the jack down.

you should know be able to remove the ols spring,
once it's out give the spring pad a clean.

insert the new spring onto the spring pad & slowly raise the jack (make sure the top of the spring is in place).
if it all lines up ok (& it should do) replace the bolt for the drop link.

raise the jack till the bolt hole on the end of the trailing arm lines up with the shock (untied by now)
insert & tighten up the bolt.

replace wheel. remmove axle stand & lower the car back down.

job done.

thats how i did mine a few week's ago.

THIS, apart from one error. You should not fully tighten the lower damper bolt until the car is back on the ground at normal ride height. If the bolt is tightened at full droop, the bush in the damper eye is permanently twisted.
If the springs won't quite come out when you lower the jack under the hub, raise the jack slightly again and put three or four heavy duty cable ties around the coils of the spring.

[jmec]

Thanks again, JJ