Will these Shocks work with other springs...

[SwirlyE30]

Ive got a quick qeustion about using a Bilstein Streetline kit i can get my hands on. It used to be on my brothers old 316 and its the basic Ԛ£200 kit comprising of shocks and 40mm springs all round.

Now, i can probably use the kit for free,which will save me a lot of money at the moment until i can afford somthing a bit better. But ive go a couple of queries.

a)The shocks were on the car when it had an accident. It was hit in the nearside rear and the wheel buckled round. Ive been told that the shocks all work fine and there seems to be no exterior damage at all,so i imagen that if there was anything wrong they would show up yeah?

(One need to be re threaded but i can get that done for a few quid-This was only due to over tightening when puting them on)

b)Im after a 60/40 drop so would it be ok to use some differnt springs on these shocks? Ive heard a lot of people mix and match stuff so i dont imagen that it would be a problem.That way i only have to pay a hundred or so to get some cheap springs (Or second hand)


Cheers

[SwirlyE30]

bttt

[scintaar]

From my limited experience.... you shouldn't mix and match springs and struts. That's because of the length of the pistons inside the strut. If they're long and you use short springs, they'll bottom out and damage the struts.
You should be able to use standard height struts with 40mm Drop springs ( I have) without too much of a problem.
As for using the struts from the accident car... check the pistons carefully to see they're not bent. Then check that the valves still work by pushing the piston all the way in and trying to pull it back out quickly. it may be a bit difficult pushing them in but it should be damn near impossible to pull the piston out yerself. If it pulls out too easy then get new ones.
hope this helps.

[SwirlyE30]

Cheers. Ill check the condition of them. I would of thought that seeing as these shocks were made to use with 40mm springs, that seeing as im going for a 40mm back and 60mm front, it shouldnt be a porblem. Its only the front springs that are being changed, and i didnt think that there would be much differnt to 40mm and 60mm springs.

If so this will mean more cash lol , cheers for the advice mate. Any other help form ppl would be great

[charlE30]

Be carefull when fitting -60mm springs cause if you don't use shocks that are shorter than standard, when it comes to MOT time and they lift the front of the car up the springs will become loose in their mounting (as the strut reaches full extension) and it'll fail.

[SwirlyE30]

Oh right. I would of thought that Shocks provided with 40mm springs will be a lot shorter than standard ones anyway? Im not going to be using the standard shocks,so thats why im hoping the front shocks (that were meant for a 40mm drop) will be ok for a 60mm. (The rear is staying the same, 40mm)

[charlE30]

They might well be short enough. As long as the spring is seated properly (no movement) when the front is raised you will be fine, I know this cause when I bought my 325 the guy before had dropped it 60mm on standard shocks . The MOT man was not best pleased and I had to fit new shocks to pass. Hope all goes well

[SwirlyE30]

Oh right, yeh i see what your saying. Cheers for your help and advice mate,much apprieciated. If anyone else has any info it would be great.

Cheers