How bad is this? Topmounts

M

Matty_Z4

Member
Howdy,

I have a slight knocking noise from the suspension, I have had a quick look under the bonnet and had a look at the top mounts and there appears to be a crack most of the way around the rubber.

How bad is this and how urgent would this need repairing. Bearing in mind I have just spent out for a new Torque converter and gearbox oil change so would rather not have to spend any money at the moment. What are the safety implications and am I likely to find that the top of my shocks are through my bonnet at some point.

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Personally i wouldn't wait to get it sorted. It's not that expensive to sort iirc £40-£50 for a pair of top mounts and 1-2 hrs labour at a decent garage.
Eventually if they totally fail could cause some serious damage, there is quite a lot of energy in the front springs
 
Is it DIYable how difficult would you think it would be. Ive got a trolly jack a pair of axle stands a really basic socket and spanner set + long ass breaker bar and spring compressors.

What else is worth looking at while in there, I have to goto London next week and don't fancy a suspension strut through my bonnet!

No idea if the jack is any good hasn't been used for about 10 years.
 
It is possible, I did mine the hardest bit I found was removing the nut holding the strut to the top mount and then replacing the new one. It is doable but really you need a special tool
 
This video shows you what to do, it's for an E46 but basically the same. The bit I mean is at 4minutes in, they make it look easy though. Took me and my bro all day to change front and rear shocks and springs.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Sow1oEFF9d0
 
I think this video is a better one as it's a random guy actually working on a Z4 in his garage without any fancy tools.

https://youtu.be/DZLgRNgdznU
 
Matty_Z4 said:
Is it DIYable how difficult would you think it would be. Ive got a trolly jack a pair of axle stands a really basic socket and spanner set + long ass breaker bar and spring compressors.

What else is worth looking at while in there, I have to goto London next week and don't fancy a suspension strut through my bonnet!

No idea if the jack is any good hasn't been used for about 10 years.
Click to expand...

It's totally a DIY job. You'll need a decent Jack, a few basic spanners but top of the list is Spring compressors. No way you're doing this safely without them ..

I did mine earlier this year, half a day tops for the pair.
 
I’ve bought a new pair of these, for two for £25 from GSF. I need to change my spring and shocks so it makes sense doing it at the same time
 
adam1985 said:
It is possible, I did mine the hardest bit I found was removing the nut holding the strut to the top mount and then replacing the new one. It is doable but really you need a special tool
Click to expand...

If you find a diesel injector socket of the right size it should be much cheaper than the special tool. You also don’t need really need an extended hex driver - it’s faster but a long-armed allen key is enough to hold the rod in place while you torque up the nut.
 
Thanks guys doesn't look like too much trouble to do, haven't managed to get parts this weekend so I'm going to give my garage a call tomorrow see if he can do them for me. Hopefully he can fit me in before Wednesday.

It needs at least one new shock as the nearside one got a warning on the MOT so may as well get those done at the same time as he has to take both side apart anyway (both mounts are dead).
Does that mean new springs as well? I've heard old springs wear new dampers faster. Am i going to get an imbalance if I only do the front?

Thanks again!
 
I used a spark plug socket to undo mine to swap the springs as it had flats on the side of it, so you can fit the allen key in the centre and undo with a spanner on the socket. Its an easy enough job do , just be careful of compressing springs and make sure the 'washer ' is back in the same place or the top mount doesnt spin and then you had to strip it all back down again to move it . Its something I recently learnt :D
 
Hurrah got it sorted today!!

Both top mounts the rubber was perished and split most of the way around and the bearings on the bottom were full of crud. The shocks were well shocking, you can compress them with just you little finger and they take a good couple of seconds to bounce back.

Now my baby Zed has pretty much a whole new front suspension setup since I bought her last year there wont be much on her left to replace soon.

Shocks, Topmounts, Lollypops, tie rod ends.
 
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