Rear suspension KAPUT
 

Well a quick £££ spent on the cesil today.
Broke a spring last weekend when out on a jolly up over Speyside. No surprise really given they have the strength of warm chocolate but things got a whole load worse during the week.
My 77000 mile dampers decided to call it a day as well so the car quickly had the handling of a balloon in a bath :banghead:

About a week ago I contemplated going down the Bilstein route but decided standard is probably best for the car due to the fact I have the race car for all that sort of stuff.

So a quick call to the local dealers on Tues and ordered up all I needed. Call came in yesterday to say it was here so today I spent a couple of hrs and freshened the rear up.


Not a lot there for the money really but at least it looks nice.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...508_130357.jpg


The culprit, sickening really that it still has the paper label attached :bigcry:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...508_133616.jpg


So everything off and ready for the skip

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...508_135249.jpg

New stuff on so all quiet in the rear now. Picking up backing plates from BMW tomorrow as the front O/S has decided to detach from the bolts so its rattling around.
Sitting in garages really does not do these things any good.

Very nice. It's better to refresh the lot all together. What's that little lot worth ? £650 ?

Yes just shy of £700 then another £150 today on various other bits and bobs :bigcry: :bigcry: :bigcry: :hahaha:
Needs must :whistle:

Nice work, bet it feels much better now!

Paul, how much were the struts only?

I'm going to take the AST off and go standard, I don't track it so don't see the need to have a race setup.

Another one bites the dust :whistle:

Alex since it had a new engine and all the other bits it doesn't seem worth tracking it :bigcry: I know it's not right but I would rather thrash a cheaper car round a track

Steve I think they were around £150 each. Cant really remember but I'll pull the invoice tomorrow and check.

I've got a price Paul :)

The part number has changed from 31.52 to 33.52.2.282.507

Did you have to order top mounts as well?

My old struts look a whole lot better than yours, no rust, but one recoils a bit faster than the other so best change both. I'm sure the top mounts would be fine though, how do you take them off?

And any ideas where 2 x rubber tow bar like covers go? Found in the box with suspension bits

You might as well buy a New set of these Steve as they are known to wear out and take but a minute to change :thumbs:
I used these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2009095603...301%26_rdc%3D1 ... with my recent New OEM rear dampers as they are stronger then OEM and about 1/3 of the cost of the BMW supplied ones + come with 4 year warranty as oppose to BMWs 2 year warranty. Win, Win, Win ! :beer:

Show as some pix mate ;)

These

Cheers Matt, ordered

Matt do the paper gaskets go inside the boot or underneath?

And I still need to know how to strip down to get the bump stop off :)

Those go on top of rear damper struts in the boot. Where you put the e36 strengthening plates when using a full rear coilover.

Cheers Barry, yep I've got the plate and will be leaving it in for the standard set up :)

The composite gasket lives on the outside between the top mount and the outside of the rear wheel arch to keep the outside elements out :thumbs:
To strip down all you do is remove the top nut and everything will just slide out in order... pay careful attention to where certain washers go. The rubber boots go over the top of the rear shock assembly once it's all back together and bolted up. Don't be tempted to put them on before mounting the rear dumper onto the chassis as it'll be a bastard to fit. Spray a bit of silicone spray onto the rubber boot for easy of installation :smokin:

Thanks Matt :thumbs:

Easy peasy.
All questions answered.
I changed out the top mounts due to the spring and the damper going on the same side. I thought I might have damaged it.

Everything was original so was needing refreshed anyway.
Front getting attacked next!!!!

:smt023

How good is OEM :smt055

It all seems fine apart from the brakes. I guess they ran out of budget.

MC

Gaute/fuchsrohre was right, nowt wrong with the brakes.

As a road car I agree. But as a car aimed at track use they are not up to scratch.

MC

That's your opinion, have you had the standard brakes fail on track?

I still have the squealing APs on :bigcry: apart the :smokin: lookinG factor I have to agree with O'Neill. I will be keeping the brakes on but changing the pads.

The ride is so much better with new OEM suspension :)

Gayer :gayfight:

Funny how opinion swings

OEM is the new black

:hahaha: :thumbs: :supz:

Rob I agree that on track and ring trips you are better off with after market stuff but the mileage I do it was a noticeable difference on the way home from the garage. However I didn't have mine ser quite hard