I've 4x4'd my car.... ouch. *Graphic Pics*

P

PieAndMash

Member
 London
*Warning, graphic pics below*

Folks I've clearly mucked up, can I please get some help sorting it?

I've changed the front shocks and springs on my recently bought zed because they were shot, so I went on autodoc, put my reg number in, assumed it was non M, bought Bilstein B4's (22-164568 and 575) and Kilen non M springs (11052). Look what that's done: :(

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I feel so bad for her, she must feel so embarrassed when going out, I must sort it. :?

I rang Sopers and they said the car did have M sport suspension, and the part numbers that came off it are M Sport bits, but I don't understand why even though they're the wrong springs, why it isn't just sitting 15mm higher, which I would like anyway. Can I keep these B4's and just get the right M springs to bring it back down to OEM height? I would prefer full non M height for the speed bumps where I live, and it rides great right now, it just looks hideous and like I'm a little special.

Thanks guys
 
That is sitting way higher then non Msport. The b4 dampers will be fine to use with M sport springs. It looks like something is off though as it shouldn’t be that high, have you moved it since fitting the new bits?

Are the shocks dropped fully into the knuckle?
 
synthedup said:
That is sitting way higher then non Msport. The b4 dampers will be fine to use with M sport springs. It looks like something is off though as it shouldn’t be that high, have you moved it since fitting the new bits?

Are the shocks dropped fully into the knuckle?
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Thanks synthedup, I've done 220 miles since I changed them. I'm really hoping it's my schoolboy error, these are the first dampers and springs I've changed since fiestas in the 80's. I did check both pins at the back slotted in but maybe I got it wrong? The only thing I noticed was after I fitted them, to get the top sway bar mount back in line with its hole in the damper, I had to jack up a few cm's. Does it look right?
 

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710 wow that’s way high. I assume you put everything together right, I don’t think you could even get it wrong. Wrong shock or spring I guess.
 
mr nurburgring said:
710 wow that’s way high. I assume you put everything together right, I don’t think you could even get it wrong. Wrong shock or spring I guess.
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It all went together ok?... It seems the same B4 for all of these, so unless you can see something obvious I've done wrong, my mistake was thinking I was clever to save a few quid, and in the end waste £75 on Kilen springs that don't fit.

buzyg said:
Call her Tiger for now. :wink:

Fun Fun Fun Fun Fun and she's the only one. :)
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I'm convinced she's running a lot quieter, because she doesn't want people looking at her. :|
 

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Difficult to see, but is there a rubber liner/ ring between the top of the upper spring seat and spring ? Is the spring seated properly on the lower spring seat recess ?
Guessing the springs are the main problem. Did you measure the spring heights between the old spring and new spring before fitting ? I would also us use a tape measure for measuring between bottom of the strut and the lower spring seat to see thats the same.
 
Looks ok to me, spring has good compression, looks the same as mine. Strut too long?
Out of interest was the spring hard to fit? When I did mine I had to use a floor standing hydraulic compressor to compress enough to get the top nut on, was yours easy and you did it with diy clamps?
 
Thrustyjust said:
Difficult to see, but is there a rubber liner/ ring between the top of the upper spring seat and spring ? Is the spring seated properly on the lower spring seat recess ?
Guessing the springs are the main problem. Did you measure the spring heights between the old spring and new spring before fitting ? I would also us use a tape measure for measuring between bottom of the strut and the lower spring seat to see thats the same.
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I reused the upper and lower rubbers and the 2 little washers, put in new top mounts, shocks and springs. I didn't measure the new springs but I could see on the ground they were way taller than the old ones. I just assumed the old ones were shot. I'll go down and measure the struts now. I have the old strut to compare. Thanks mate. :thumbsup:
mr nurburgring said:
Looks ok to me, spring has good compression, looks the same as mine. Strut too long?
Out of interest was the spring hard to fit? When I did mine I had to use a floor standing hydraulic compressor to compress enough to get the top nut on, was yours easy and you did it with diy clamps?
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The spring was pretty easy to get on, I noticed the piston on the B4's was longer than the old ones but they were truly shot. I used the compressor below.

Thanks guys.
 

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If the piston is longer and the spring taller then the distance between the lower spring cup and the top one will be greater making the car sit higher. My springs were longer but the piston was the same length as the old ones.
Measure distance between spring seats a I’ll compare mine to yours.
 
Good news, distance from the bottom of the strut to the lower spring seat are the same on the B4's and the old strut. Phew.

mr nurburgring said:
If the piston is longer and the spring taller then the distance between the lower spring cup and the top one will be greater making the car sit higher. My springs were longer but the piston was the same length as the old ones.
Measure distance between spring seats a I’ll compare mine to yours.
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I really appreciate your efforts helping me. Measuring between the spring seats near the sway bar mount it's 128mm. Please say yours is somewhere round 40mm less?

The spring looks seated nicely, the mounts seem flush...
 

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Timmyboybunter said:
294 alloys on a E85 - nice :thumbsup:
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Thanks bud. :thumbsup:

Was sold on getting them after seeing an old members pic after asking here:

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=119763
 
I’ll be changing my oil later I’ll take some more pics of my suspension later but the pics you have already uploaded seem to look right from memory.
Strange, so my car sits at 665 mm and I have 20mm more between spring seats, which only indicates the overall length from where it sits in the knuckle to where the top mount sits on the chassis must be 60mm longer.
Feel free to pm later or face time video while I’m under my car and I can show you my set up see if you can spot any difference.
 
Measure gap between tyre and lower spring mount, my wheels are 18” 225 with 40 profile if yours are the same then we can compare
 
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