Replacing front suspension

[FlashBastd]

Ok, so I am so delighted by the improvement in the car having replaced my rear dampers and top mounts, that I am considering replacing the front springs and shocks.

How complicated is this by comparison, and do I assume that I just replace the inserts?

Thanks for your help!

[fuzzy]

your right, just inserts. its not to difficult with the only problems usually being a rusted collar that holds the insert in and possibly getting the lower balljoints out. a vice and a large set of stilson grips should take car of the top collar nut.i reckon about 3 hours to do both sides for a competent home mechanic with limited tools. the rears would probably take between 1 - 2 hours in total.

[Brianmoooore]

The fronts are an order of magnitude more difficult than the rears, but still not difficult.
Fuzzy's three hours total is a bit optimistic, IMHO. Allow yourself a full day for both fronts.

[fuzzy]

The fronts are an order of magnitude more difficult than the rears, but still not difficult.
Fuzzy's three hours total is a bit optimistic, IMHO. Allow yourself a full day for both fronts.

i suppose brians right. although im only a competent diy home mechanic myself its one of these jobs that because ive done it so many times i manage it quicker each time. once i was beaten by a very stubborn insert cap and had to admit defeat and take it to my local kwik fit for them to get it off.took them a couple of minutes with the proper tools
i just noticed that the haynes manual rates both front and rears as a difficulty level of 3 out of 5 spanner although id agree with brian that the rears are much easier.

[snoops]

here's a guide, theres also one on rears as well

http://www.e30tech.com/articles/suspension/front/

[FlashBastd]

Brilliant, thanks.

[FlashBastd]

I have read through the guide, and it would appear that the only additional tools I should need are spring compressors. Is this right? In the following guide http://ee1394.com/bmw/docs/factory/repair/en/index1.htm it mentions loads of special tools?

Secondly, are there any bushes / mounts that should be replaced at the same time, like I did with the rear top mounts when I did the rear dampers?

I replaced the rears with Sachs gas dampers, any recommendations for the front, the following seem like sensible options, anyone got an opinion?

ECP - BILSTEIN 625110305 FRONT SHK ABSO- B4 GAS BMW E30 51mmBMW E30 51MM DIAMETER
SHOCK INSERT (51mm) @ £46.27

or GSF - B44048 SHOCK INSERT BQ GAS FR E30 318i 88>90 M-TECH SUSP @ £59.00

or B44046 SHOCK INSERT BQ GAS FR E30 318i 89>94 Touring @ £43.50

Finally, what about springs? I am not especially concerned about lowering the car, but it would seem like a good opportunity to sharpen things up a bit. I would love to fit a set of Eibach springs, but they seem a little expensive given the cost of OE replacements. Has anyone tried the lowering kit from GSF, it seems really cheap, but is that reflected in the quality? The car has done 86k, so probably just replacing the current springs with OE items will make a significant improvement, again, what do you lot think?

Thanks for your time.

[FlashBastd]

What about the KW springs from the Zone shop, anyone tried them?