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Damper spacer blocks - any ideas?
- wonkydonkey
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 9:35 pm
- Location: Somerset
Damper spacer blocks - any ideas?
Evening all. I picked up my E85 Z4 on Monday and am addressing issues one by one. It was taking pot holes/drain covers really harshly on the nearside front wheel, almost as though the damper was seized. Removing the front wheels has revealed an oddity.
Both dampers have a rubber bump stop fitted, but the nearside damper had these two hard plastic spacers fitted around the rod. They would explain the crashy ride, but I'm not sure why they were fitted. Has anyone else come across these?
I guess they're the kind of thing you'd normally sling in if you wanted to reduce your suspension travel (e.g. if you fit big wheels that tend to scrub in bumps). My car is on 17" BMW wheels (225/45/17 up front) so needs no special treatment.
Both dampers have a rubber bump stop fitted, but the nearside damper had these two hard plastic spacers fitted around the rod. They would explain the crashy ride, but I'm not sure why they were fitted. Has anyone else come across these?
I guess they're the kind of thing you'd normally sling in if you wanted to reduce your suspension travel (e.g. if you fit big wheels that tend to scrub in bumps). My car is on 17" BMW wheels (225/45/17 up front) so needs no special treatment.
Last edited by wonkydonkey on Fri May 11, 2018 10:19 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
- srhutch
- Moderator
- Posts: 26959
- Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:22 pm
- Location: East Sussex, UK
- Contact:
Damper spacer blocks - any ideas?
Think they are for transportation when new. Should have been removed at pdi inspection.
- wonkydonkey
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 9:35 pm
- Location: Somerset
Damper spacer blocks - any ideas?
Strong theory. Can they really have been left on for 15 years? Even more bizarre is that they were both fitted on one side...and it felt awful
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
- Stuartt
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1787
- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 10:21 pm
- Location: Southend Essex
Damper spacer blocks - any ideas?
They are used to block out the shock when a spring breaks so the car can be loaded / recovered to the garage, then they should be taken out when the spring is replaced by the garage.
If they slip inside the boot the garage may not of see them and left them in.
We use them on The AA , I usually take them out once at the garage.
Stuart
If they slip inside the boot the garage may not of see them and left them in.
We use them on The AA , I usually take them out once at the garage.
Stuart
2004 3.0i SE Roadster , GONE to a good home
2010 e89 35i Sdrive M sport. GONE for salvage but has been reborn
2014 e89 35is M-Sport Design Pure Traction
2010 e89 35i Sdrive M sport. GONE for salvage but has been reborn
2014 e89 35is M-Sport Design Pure Traction
- wonkydonkey
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 9:35 pm
- Location: Somerset
Damper spacer blocks - any ideas?
Well that's the final piece of the puzzle. Thanks Stuart. I cleaned one off and saw the moulded AA logo - that confused me, but you've just explained it. It'll feel like it actually has suspension now!Stuartt wrote: βFri May 11, 2018 9:36 pm They are used to block out the shock when a spring breaks so the car can be loaded / recovered to the garage, then they should be taken out when the spring is replaced by the garage.
If they slip inside the boot the garage may not of see them and left them in.
We use them on The AA , I usually take them out once at the garage.
Stuart
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
- srhutch
- Moderator
- Posts: 26959
- Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2007 1:22 pm
- Location: East Sussex, UK
- Contact:
Damper spacer blocks - any ideas?
As I said, transportation blockswonkydonkey wrote: βFri May 11, 2018 9:46 pmWell that's the final piece of the puzzle. Thanks Stuart. I cleaned one off and saw the moulded AA logo - that confused me, but you've just explained it. It'll feel like it actually has suspension now!Stuartt wrote: βFri May 11, 2018 9:36 pm They are used to block out the shock when a spring breaks so the car can be loaded / recovered to the garage, then they should be taken out when the spring is replaced by the garage.
If they slip inside the boot the garage may not of see them and left them in.
We use them on The AA , I usually take them out once at the garage.
Stuart
- wonkydonkey
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 9:35 pm
- Location: Somerset
Damper spacer blocks - any ideas?
I will award you 0.5 points
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
- Posts: 23852
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
Damper spacer blocks - any ideas?
Someone messed up there then!
Enjoy your new suspension travel OP!
Enjoy your new suspension travel OP!
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
- wonkydonkey
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 9:35 pm
- Location: Somerset
Damper spacer blocks - any ideas?
I fancy a spot of off-roading tomorrow to celebrate!
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
- Mr Tidy
- Legend
- Posts: 23852
- Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 12:18 pm
- Location: North West Surrey
Damper spacer blocks - any ideas?
Good luck with that!wonkydonkey wrote: βFri May 11, 2018 10:18 pm I fancy a spot of off-roading tomorrow to celebrate!
Coupes because stunning!
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
Current - Silver Grey MC, Imola Red heated Nappa & carbon trim. Aeros, H & R Coil-overs, 224s, OE Strut brace, Nav, cup-holders, DSP Hi-Fi, pdc, cruise, MFSW, no CDV! E90 330i daily
Gone - Montego Blue
Gone - Ruby Black
- Stuartt
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1787
- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 10:21 pm
- Location: Southend Essex
Damper spacer blocks - any ideas?
Did you not ask when you test drove it why it was so hard ? Iβve driven with these in a short distance before and itβs bloody awful, so Iβm surprised the previous owner hadnβt said something?wonkydonkey wrote: βFri May 11, 2018 9:46 pmWell that's the final piece of the puzzle. Thanks Stuart. I cleaned one off and saw the moulded AA logo - that confused me, but you've just explained it. It'll feel like it actually has suspension now!Stuartt wrote: βFri May 11, 2018 9:36 pm They are used to block out the shock when a spring breaks so the car can be loaded / recovered to the garage, then they should be taken out when the spring is replaced by the garage.
If they slip inside the boot the garage may not of see them and left them in.
We use them on The AA , I usually take them out once at the garage.
Stuart
Stuart
2004 3.0i SE Roadster , GONE to a good home
2010 e89 35i Sdrive M sport. GONE for salvage but has been reborn
2014 e89 35is M-Sport Design Pure Traction
2010 e89 35i Sdrive M sport. GONE for salvage but has been reborn
2014 e89 35is M-Sport Design Pure Traction
- wonkydonkey
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1391
- Joined: Sat May 05, 2018 9:35 pm
- Location: Somerset
Damper spacer blocks - any ideas?
I would've done had I felt it on the test drive It was only on the drive home at higher speeds and with sunken drain covers etc that it became apparent to me. I've only driven it four times in total so I'm glad to have diagnosed and removed the problem I've also discovered that the car has mismatched rear springs, resulting in a 20 mm ride height difference across the axle. I like dismantling and fixing, so this is all rewarding for me!
Previous:
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
~2006 Z4MR in Silver Grey
~2003 3.0i E85 in Sterling Grey
Click here for the Sticky Steering thread
<My name is James>
- Stuartt
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1787
- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 10:21 pm
- Location: Southend Essex
Damper spacer blocks - any ideas?
the main thing is your sorted now and happy.wonkydonkey wrote: βFri May 11, 2018 10:54 pmI would've done had I felt it on the test drive It was only on the drive home at higher speeds and with sunken drain covers etc that it became apparent to me. I've only driven it four times in total so I'm glad to have diagnosed and removed the problem I've also discovered that the car has mismatched rear springs, resulting in a 20 mm ride height difference across the axle. I like dismantling and fixing, so this is all rewarding for me!
Still canβt believe someone left them in, wonder how long theyβve been in for ?
Stuart
2004 3.0i SE Roadster , GONE to a good home
2010 e89 35i Sdrive M sport. GONE for salvage but has been reborn
2014 e89 35is M-Sport Design Pure Traction
2010 e89 35i Sdrive M sport. GONE for salvage but has been reborn
2014 e89 35is M-Sport Design Pure Traction