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Ratemytopmountwobble.com
- MrPT
- Lifer
- Posts: 4745
- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:44 pm
- Location: Bucks/Oxon
Ratemytopmountwobble.com
I’m in the process of changing the front spring perch on one of my KWs. There is a lot of play between the top mount and the top of the piston rod:
Link, in case the embedded vid doesn’t work: https://vimeo.com/311074038
I’ve ordered a strut nut socket and will wait until I have it before I try and disassemble the strut.
The piston rod doesn’t move relative to the spring seat and the nut isn’t loose. Am I right in thinking that this is play due to wear in the top mount bearing and not just under-tightening of the nut?
It would make sense as the struts were upgraded at about 45k but the original top mounts were reused, which means that they are nearly 70k old now.
TIA.
Link, in case the embedded vid doesn’t work: https://vimeo.com/311074038
I’ve ordered a strut nut socket and will wait until I have it before I try and disassemble the strut.
The piston rod doesn’t move relative to the spring seat and the nut isn’t loose. Am I right in thinking that this is play due to wear in the top mount bearing and not just under-tightening of the nut?
It would make sense as the struts were upgraded at about 45k but the original top mounts were reused, which means that they are nearly 70k old now.
TIA.
2008 Z4MC: heavy wheels | crap suspension | skittish rear end | wobbly engine | not enough induction noise | underwhelming turn in | inconsistent braking | lardy battery | chubby steering wheel
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone
-
- Lifer
- Posts: 11024
- Joined: Tue Feb 10, 2015 10:27 pm
Ratemytopmountwobble.com
Looks like it doesn’t it. Once wear starts it quickly escalates as it’s allowed to move more and more. But you know that.
M roady...OEM CSL’s, strut brace, Remus back boxes, ZHP
MR2 MK 2
E89 35i project car...mapped 365bhp, M4 stoppers & wheels, KWV3’s, H&R front ARB, M3 front arms, strut brace Eisenmann cat back race exhaust, VRSF downpipes inbound
E89 35is
G29
MR2 MK 2
E89 35i project car...mapped 365bhp, M4 stoppers & wheels, KWV3’s, H&R front ARB, M3 front arms, strut brace Eisenmann cat back race exhaust, VRSF downpipes inbound
E89 35is
G29
- TomK
- Senior Member
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- Location: West London
Ratemytopmountwobble.com
That's as you suspect surely the bearing I'd say. £10 or so each I think so worth changing anyway at that mileage. It's the only part really of the top mount that wears at all I think.
31331090612
31331090612
MC[IB], CSL airbox, Schrick 288/280 cams, 4.44FD, UUC SSK, SS race cat back, AP CP9660[F]/5144[R] brakes, Apex ARC-8 with AR-1 or PS5, KW ClubSport 2-way, Turner spherical arms, PMC uniball rtab, VB engine mounts, Rogue pulleys & RSMs, Tillett B6, half cage
- MrPT
- Lifer
- Posts: 4745
- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:44 pm
- Location: Bucks/Oxon
Ratemytopmountwobble.com
Good stuff - have ordered a couple of replacement bearings.
Thanks both.
Thanks both.
2008 Z4MC: heavy wheels | crap suspension | skittish rear end | wobbly engine | not enough induction noise | underwhelming turn in | inconsistent braking | lardy battery | chubby steering wheel
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone
- MrPT
- Lifer
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- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:44 pm
- Location: Bucks/Oxon
Ratemytopmountwobble.com
This is a bit sad, but the process has led to the discovery of two favourite tools.
A diesel injector socket and a “rowing spanner”, which is a double-ended 10 and 13mm offset spanner with a nice, tactile shape. Very satisfying to use.
A diesel injector socket and a “rowing spanner”, which is a double-ended 10 and 13mm offset spanner with a nice, tactile shape. Very satisfying to use.
- Argenta
- Senior Member
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- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2015 7:49 pm
- Spaniarduk
- Member
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- Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2016 1:36 am
Ratemytopmountwobble.com
MrPT, ingenious!
Volando voy
Volando vengo
Volando voy
Volando vengo, -engo
Y por el camino
Yo me entretengo
Volando vengo
Volando voy
Volando vengo, -engo
Y por el camino
Yo me entretengo
- bradz
- Member
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- Location: Bedford
Ratemytopmountwobble.com
When you buy v3's new they come with top mounts.
Z4M Coupe, E92 M3, E46 M3 Track car
- MrPT
- Lifer
- Posts: 4745
- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:44 pm
- Location: Bucks/Oxon
Ratemytopmountwobble.com
I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve realised that now, cheers! Disassembled the top of the strut assembly and at first thought that someone had fitted non-M top mounts, but then looked up pics of the V3s and saw that they come with their own hats. I thought the OEM hats were re-used for some reason - perhaps because people have retrofitted the lower part so that they work with adjustable plates?
I’m struggling to find the right replacement part on the KW site, but even if I do I’ll torque up the 22mm nut properly and see if it is actually bearing play before ordering it.
It really isn’t, it’s just that the official BMW strut socket tool is about £25 and the injector socket is basically the same thing for a fraction of the price. Have seen people just hit these nuts with an impact gun and hope for the best.
2008 Z4MC: heavy wheels | crap suspension | skittish rear end | wobbly engine | not enough induction noise | underwhelming turn in | inconsistent braking | lardy battery | chubby steering wheel
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone
- Spaniarduk
- Member
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- Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2016 1:36 am
Ratemytopmountwobble.com
Any injector socket? Are they all the same size? Wjat size is the nut at the top of the strut?
Volando voy
Volando vengo
Volando voy
Volando vengo, -engo
Y por el camino
Yo me entretengo
Volando vengo
Volando voy
Volando vengo, -engo
Y por el camino
Yo me entretengo
- MrPT
- Lifer
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- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:44 pm
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Ratemytopmountwobble.com
It’s a Laser 3297 22mm diesel injector socket. £9-10 from eBay.Spaniarduk wrote: ↑Sun Jan 20, 2019 7:55 amAny injector socket? Are they all the same size? Wjat size is the nut at the top of the strut?
That’s for the KWs - I’m not sure what size the OEM nut is. RealOEM says M16 so maybe 24mm.
2008 Z4MC: heavy wheels | crap suspension | skittish rear end | wobbly engine | not enough induction noise | underwhelming turn in | inconsistent braking | lardy battery | chubby steering wheel
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone
- Spaniarduk
- Member
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- Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2016 1:36 am
Ratemytopmountwobble.com
MrPT,
Volando voy
Volando vengo
Volando voy
Volando vengo, -engo
Y por el camino
Yo me entretengo
Volando vengo
Volando voy
Volando vengo, -engo
Y por el camino
Yo me entretengo
- BMWZ4MC
- Lifer
- Posts: 6337
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- Location: Back in the sunshine
Ratemytopmountwobble.com
How did the problem manifest itself MrPT?
Z4MC - heavily fettled for track use
Lotus Exige - sensible daily driver on the mods slippery slope
Westfield SEiW - in hibernation
Modified RS4 Avant - back in Blighty
S2000 GT - gone
- MrPT
- Lifer
- Posts: 4745
- Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:44 pm
- Location: Bucks/Oxon
Ratemytopmountwobble.com
I have a bit of a front end rattle when going over speed bumps etc and I've been going through the process of checking everything. No noticeable play in any strut brace, suspension or ARB nuts/bolts/links/bushes, but it's all due a refresh anyway. I also found one, partially backed-out engine mount bolt but I don't think that this is contributing to the noise.
Unrelated to the above, I'm replacing the lower spring perch as a few of the plastic tabs had broken off (£30 for a new one!) and I noticed the top hat wobble during disassembly. The 22mm nut seemed tight when I first checked it, but since then I've obtained the proper tools for removing and torquing the nut properly so will re-assemble and check for play again. I suspect someone gave it a few blasts with an impact wrench during installation and it's never been properly tight.
I wonder whether these bearings are "lifetime", from KWs perspective, because it doesn't look as if you can buy replacements on their site. Either that or they only replace them during a refurb. They are properly crimped using proprietary means, so I don't know why I ever thought their replacement would be a DIY job!
2008 Z4MC: heavy wheels | crap suspension | skittish rear end | wobbly engine | not enough induction noise | underwhelming turn in | inconsistent braking | lardy battery | chubby steering wheel
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone
- tomscott
- Lifer
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