REAR SUSPENSION TOP MOUNT!!

[e30bmlover]

right..... got a mot on friday, i want to replace my suspension top mount on the rear passinger side. any help? iv been told to jack her up, undo the mounts from the top, undo the bit that holds the shock and drop it out, replace the mount and thats it. any hints before i start this epic crusaide?

[Geeman]

Nope... it's easy dude. Undo the top bolts inside the boot before you jack it up. Then jack it up and drop the bottom bolt off.

Simple.

[Widge]

It's so easy mate, it's probably adviseable to do both, and use the E46 Cab mounts as they are stronger.

[e30bmlover]

nice one chaps! i might make a mechanic after all!

[Widge]

13mm for the top nuts and 17mm with a long breaker bar on the bottom mounts, and I don't want to see you using an adustable spanner!!
Go Gedd'em Tiger, good luck

[e30bmlover]

you know what? @uck it i will! why pay someone else to do it!

[Widge]

Good man! Why pay someone to fuck it up?? My flatmates Saab came back from a timing belt change and out of 4 bolts on the crank pulley 2 were original and fucked up, and was completly the wrong size and cross threaded, and the other was too small and just pushed in for show!!!

PS I love those wheels.

[e30bmlover]

i love them too, shame i dont own one! iv got the 14''bbs on the 320 lol, got some new tyres put on for the mot, cost£72 fitted and balanced! cheap as chips. well what do u expect from enduro tyres.

[WerkdE30]

Saab came back from a timing belt change and out of 4 bolts on the crank pulley 2 were original and fucked up, and was completly the wrong size and cross threaded, and the other was too small and just pushed in for show!!!

sounds like standard saab to me ..

[Brianmoooore]

You don't even need to jack the car up or take the wheel off to do the driver's side. Exhaust gets in the way a bit on the passenger side.
Definitely use the E46 cab mounts (33 52 6 754 096, £10-47 + VAT at my dealer two months ago).
One more point. Don't fully tighten the bottom damper bolt intill the car is back on its wheels and at normal ride height. This avoids the rubber bush being permanently twisted.

[dav325i]

sorry to but in on your thread mate but just wondered if this is whats causing a knocking coming from my rear strut ive checked what i can and all looks well id say.struts dont seem to be leaking and feel ok and springs are reasonably new as far as i know.maybe im totally of mark but thought its worth a try the noise its making if its any help is like the boot aint shut properly but tightened up lock and deffo not that.any help would be great guys and maybe i should have started another thread

[Widge]

Sounds like you have hit the head right on the nail mate
Ummm could also be the rear beam bushes.

[dav325i]

thanks mate.well ill try get they mounts ordered for mine using the part number above as ive also got rear brakes to fit so will do them at same time
does anyone know a part number and price for the rear beam bushes of hand and are these easy to fit also? thanks again for any help

[Brianmoooore]

and are these easy to fit also?

I've seen people on this forum state that rear beam bushes are thr only job they won't do themselves

[Widge]

Easy yes................ in theory
Time consuming an possibly a complete b1tch to get to and do........yes
I would do it but only if I didn't need the car for a while, and whilst I was at it I wuold rebuild the entire back end.

[dav325i]

thanks guys not the best news obvously i wanted lol.ill just have to try persuade my old man then to do it and hope he agrees if not will just do the top ones and brakes and see how it goes.hopefully that will be fine.time will tell..thanks again tho

edited to ask is it really just a crap job as its difficult on your drive or sumthing or is it still a complete bitch with ramps and airtools etc? just doesnt look like it would take that long to strip the backend if on a ramp and i do know striping its easier than going back together

[Widge]

Try doing the top ones firet, that may solve the problem, and if you have a rear roll bay do the drop links on that too. Then see if the noise has gone.

[Brianmoooore]

and i do know striping its easier than going back together

Not in this case. The aluminium centres of the old bushes grow roots into the shell, and it can be blowlamp/large hammer/axe job to remove them.
New bushes have to be pressed into the subframe, but that's relatively easy using some threaded rod and large washers.

[e30bmlover]

done it! it took me an hour, i didnt even need to take the suspension leg off. undone the bolts, jacked the car up, took the wheel off, took the previouse mount off, put the new one on, jacked up the bit with the rear spring on, done the bolts up finger tight, done the middle bolt first, put the wheel on, let the car down, done the bolts up properly, i must say it was a pice of piss. even for me! fuck it im going to have the engine apart next!

[Geeman]

A quick head strip down next then.

Followed by the rear-subframe mounts.

[e30bmlover]

A quick head strip down next then.

Followed by the rear-subframe mounts.

yeah what ever you said mate, that means nothing to me lol, im just goting to strip the fucker down to nothing! lol

[dav325i]

well i attempted to do mine today but when i striped it down looks like they have gave me wrong part my mount that i took off did not have a metal collar type thind in middle of rubber where the strut comes through but the new one does therefor stoping strut coming back through so ive had to put it back together till tomorow when i can get proper part i hope.
at least i know that it was deffo that mount tho as bush is knackered completley i managed to twist the rubber in old mount and when tightened back up its took noise away.so least im on the right track lol.
does anyone know they correct part number from eurocar parts as thats where i got these one from,knew i should have went to bmw
the mounts did say the where for the e30 and z3 would it be any different for the sport
sorry again for all questions

[Widge]

Shoudl be the same part for the sport, that's why I call them eurocar pants, cos they are!!!!
probably yht wrong part, go to BM, at least then you will get piece of mind!

[Brianmoooore]

Think you'll find that the bush thats stopping the damper going through the new mount, is the one that should be in the middle of the old mount!
The metal bush has corroded onto the top of the damper, and will have to be removed before you can refit it.

[dav325i]

thats what i actually thought aswell but just couldnt see where it was joined will have a go after work tomorow and see if can get it off.just didnt wanna break anything today will try other side forst tomorow and see if its the same.thanks again mate.

Think you'll find that the bush thats stopping the damper going through the new mount, is the one that should be in the middle of the old mount!
The metal bush has corroded onto the top of the damper, and will have to be removed before you can refit it.

[Brianmoooore]

File/grind it off if neccessary. Don't clamp the damper centre rod in a vice.

[dav325i]

cheers mate no doubt thats first thing id have done lol

[dav325i]

thanks again brian that worked a treat youd never have thought that it was actually separate at all passenger side was still like a new bush what a massive difference its made to the drive off the car and handling didnt realise how bad the bush had actually got
apoligies to ECP who did give me the correct bit lol