Help me with my new suspension please....

[chanlon1]

Love an Autodoc Xmas delivery

Have to know trawl amazon and eBay for a few of rge extras pieces. Annoyingly, the BMW store won’t post to NI, so I’ll have to look at getting some stuff delivered to family in England and have them post it over.

What’s the recommendation on spring compressors?
I’ve heard that you need to be careful as sometimes they don’t compress the spring enough etc.
Anyone advise?

 

[enuff_zed]

It is a fiddly operation but using good quality ones and taking your time it’s fine.
Removing is easy.
When refitting have the top nut to hand. Compress the spring until you can get the top spring plate on and quickly nip the nut on then relax.
Then you have to swap the compressors so they are hooked over that spring plate and into the spring. Pull everything tighter until you can get the top mount on.
Take care to pull it down straight. Don’t twist the spring to one side.
ALWAYS keep the top facing away from you just in case.
Be sure to fit the bump stop and dust cover before you start. A real pisser to forget that. I know!!!

 

[chanlon1]

It is a fiddly operation but using good quality ones and taking your time it’s fine.
Removing is easy.
When refitting have the top nut to hand. Compress the spring until you can get the top spring plate on and quickly nip the nut on then relax.
Then you have to swap the compressors so they are hooked over that spring plate and into the spring. Pull everything tighter until you can get the top mount on.
Take care to pull it down straight. Don’t twist the spring to one side.
ALWAYS keep the top facing away from you just in case.
Be sure to fit the bump stop and dust cover before you start. A real pisser to forget that. I know!!!

Thanks for the suggestions and things to look out for.
Any pointers as to the actual compressors? I’ve no idea what to look for :?

 

[chanlon1]

Currently sitting in my local dealership after handing over a decent amount of money for all the remaining pieces. They should be here this week.
Just need to look at compressors and this will allow me to build up all 4 corners completely whilst still driving the car.
The winter to-do list is building up. New suspension, new pads and discs, refurb the calipers, gearbox oil, fix battery drain……

 

[pvr]

Part of owning these cars, my list is the same. I will sorn the car and put it on the lift in the garage so I can dip in and out when I like over the winter.

Missed out on the 49% deal as I ordered my starter motor last week, about £20 more. C’est la vie

Just ticked over the £11k on spending including the car purchase at 6, so it certainly is not an investment.

 

[Zedebee]

Any pointers as to the actual compressors? I’ve no idea what to look for

Bigwinn recommended this type to me and I’ve successfully rebuilt several front spring assemblies with it. Loads available on eBay.
Heed Enuff’s warning though, there is a massive amount of energy stored in those springs until they are FULLY unwound.

 

[chanlon1]

Missed out on the 49% deal as I ordered my starter motor last week, about £20 more.

I almost pulled the trigger with AutoDoc at 41% but then forgot to. When I came back to it, it was at 49%.
I think what I got came to about £470.
Today with BMW, the total was £320.
I could have probably saved a few pennies here and there by getting from eBay etc, but at least I know it’s official BMW parts.
I could also have saved a few quid by just transferring old parts over from the existing struts, but I decided to go all out and refresh everything.

Bigwinn recommended this type to me and I’ve successfully rebuilt several front spring assemblies with it. Loads available on eBay.
Heed Enuff’s warning though, there is a massive amount of energy stored in those springs until they are FULLY unwound.

Thanks. Will look into these. I’m aware of how lethal these things are. I’ll make sure to point them in the opposite direction

 

[enuff_zed]

Missed out on the 49% deal as I ordered my starter motor last week, about £20 more.

I almost pulled the trigger with AutoDoc at 41% but then forgot to. When I came back to it, it was at 49%.
I think what I got came to about £470.
Today with BMW, the total was £320.
I could have probably saved a few pennies here and there by getting from eBay etc, but at least I know it’s official BMW parts.
I could also have saved a few quid by just transferring old parts over from the existing struts, but I decided to go all out and refresh everything.

Bigwinn recommended this type to me and I’ve successfully rebuilt several front spring assemblies with it. Loads available on eBay.
Heed Enuff’s warning though, there is a massive amount of energy stored in those springs until they are FULLY unwound.

Thanks. Will look into these. I’m aware of how lethal these things are. I’ll make sure to point them in the opposite direction

If you don't like the neighbour's cat, now is your opportunity. :evil:

 

[chanlon1]

If you don't like the neighbour's cat, now is your opportunity. :evil:

What….compress a cat…..that’s cruel :roll:

 

[enuff_zed]

If you don't like the neighbour's cat, now is your opportunity. :evil:

What….compress a cat…..that’s cruel :roll:

Believe me, if you have the space to try it, you can get that top nut to go a fair distance.

Joking aside, when you undo it obviously the springs are already compressed so you are only really holding them in that position.
Invariably the top nut will still be under a little pressure.
I use a socket and ratchet handle to undo it the last few turns, kneeling on the base of the strut and reaching forward. I do not grip the handle, just push it across with fingertips. Don't wrap your thumb around it.
You'll think it was all overkill when you do it, but why risk it.

 

[Zedebee]

you can get that top nut to go a fair distance.

Or in my case top nut, spring plate, spring and compressors all at once , so glad they did not hit the car.

 

[enuff_zed]

you can get that top nut to go a fair distance.

Or in my case top nut, spring plate, spring and compressors all at once , so glad they did not hit the car.

If [ref]PVR[/ref] is reading this he'll be glad I'm building his new front struts here and taking them down there ready assembled.

 

[chanlon1]

Joking aside, when you undo it obviously the springs are already compressed so you are only really holding them in that position.
Invariably the top nut will still be under a little pressure.
I use a socket and ratchet handle to undo it the last few turns, kneeling on the base of the strut and reaching forward. I do not grip the handle, just push it across with fingertips. Don't wrap your thumb around it.
You'll think it was all overkill when you do it, but why risk it.

You know I’ve read the above, re-read it, closed my eyes and tried to picture what you are describing and still can’t
Maybe when I attempt it, it will make sense…..

 

[pvr]

you can get that top nut to go a fair distance.

Or in my case top nut, spring plate, spring and compressors all at once , so glad they did not hit the car.

If [ref]PVR[/ref] is reading this he'll be glad I'm building his new front struts here and taking them down there ready assembled.

I am not insuring your teeth :lol:

 

[chanlon1]

My box of parts arrived in from BMW today. The Autodoc delivery is enroute and should be here this week.
Once I get al the bits, I'll look at getting some photo and lists/prices etc.

 

[chanlon1]

Autodoc arrived early
Should be everything here I need to build all four corners

 

[TOMGREEN413]

Looking forward to seeing your build progress, it's lucky there are so many helpful and knowledgeable chaps on this forum to help guide you through. Big Thumbsup to them

 

[chanlon1]

A couple of months ago I signed up to a weekly night class at my local tech to do car mechanics. We have full use of a large workshop with all the tools and about 4 ramps. Makes life a bit easier
I was going to try to compress the springs at home, but we have a proper wall mounted machine, so I’ll use it instead.

 

[TOMGREEN413]

Epic

 

[McSwerve]

Just in the process of doing mine, instigated by a broken front spring.
I had planned on re using my front spring plates but look at the state of them!

Good luck with it!