New Shocks and Springs

T

T2FFN

Senior member
 East Yorkshire
They've arrived. (later than intended so won't be fitted before wheel refurb and new tyres as I'd hoped, but very soon!)

So, the questions:

The Bilstein shocks did not come with rubbers for the bottom/top of the springs to sit against. Do the Eibach springs sit on the shock, or am I supposed to buy/swap the rubber pads from the OEM suspension?

aje8a3us.jpg

u3egu6et.jpg

The front springs look huge compared to the shock, like, far too wide! How wide is the top mount???

anemy6y6.jpg
 
Hi T2FFN,

Have a look at this video below, hopefully it will help you out:

http://youtu.be/X5WrBZ8Fto0
 
Thanks, thats a vid for the rear, i:m talking about the fronts. I checked out his other vid for the fronts, he shows the rubber spring pads but never mentions or shows them fitted. I'm going to fully build them up rather than swapping pieces frim the current set up, so will buy the lot and work it out.

Cheers

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
 
While a great, friendly forum, it does seem to be heading away from technical facts, knowledge and diys to general chit chat, as can be seen by the number and response to 'off topic' posts compared to informative ones. It does seem our across the pond friends on zpost seem to have more informative posts regarding the cars and working on them.

Considering many cars are nearing or at suspension refresh age, you'd think there would be more posts in a topic such as this one, which, when completed should culminate in a complete diy guide.

Not a bash at the forum, just an observation.
 
Slightly different position to yourself as I went for front coilovers and rear spring/dampers with an adjuster.

You'd probably be better off with new parts but when doing mine, I found most of my factory parts were sufficient enough to just simply swap over.
 
I'm just about to go outside and replace mine, springs not coilovers. From experience only on other cars, the coilovers I've fitted before also didn't come with top mounts etc and were designed to be used with OEM, obviously could upgrade to be serious. Didn't have any issues and the rubbers hadn't perished so revised them. I know what you mean ...

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
 
Just one comment about the rubber mounts & shock plastic sleeve.... when my rear B6's arrived, was expecting to have these new parts - were missing as well - so I had to reuse my old bits.

Was a Bit miffed really, coz the picture doesn't represent what u get
 
Posting on a forum and giving it less than a day for a response...? Personally I only comment on technical posts if I have something constructive to add - but as I haven't added coil overs, not something I have experience on.

Perhaps try pm'ing someone like beedub, or "project marmite"?
 
Hello,

I cannot comment on the lower rubber mounts, but when I installed my H&R coilovers I had to re-use the complete top mount configuration.

No issues all swapped over fine, unless worn I would just re-use what you have unless there is a specific reason you want to keep the oem setup complete.

Also iirc beedub is on kw clubsports so would be a complete set with new top mounts for camber castor adjustment and would not need any oem re-use...
 
Ah, some responses :-P

Due to mine hitting the big 100k, i'm happy to replace the top front and rear mounts as a matter of course. I'll also replace any washers and bolts that need removing to fit, just so they are new, fresh and clean.

The big question was regarding the need for fitting oem rubber pads for the springs on the front shocks, and the size/diameter of the front springs (huge) although havent seen the oem springs where they meet the top mounts so it may all come together.

I've read the front bilstein shocks dont need bump stops as they are internally stopped, but the rears do need bump stops and dust cover tubes.

My reasoning for replacing as much as I can with new is to have ready units that will be a bolt off bolt on job.

As for the 'only posted a day ago' comment, well yes, i was referring to my post but also as a general observation from my time here. The posts such as 'ban the person above you' gets more interest and responses than the more technical posts, and when a how to is needed, zpost seems to have more complete write ups. My 2 cents.
 
Right, just popped to the garage to check for you. Here are the photos of my oem fronts (minus top mounts)

19e34bdfe08500b264af20df988e2d78_zps83e6cc9e.jpg


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806ff79388d6679c6b284c2cc6f7f7a7_zpsd4ec836a.jpg


From the looks of it you will definitely need to use the lower oem rubber mounts on the new shocks. I cant comment on the bump stops on the bilsteins but the h&r setup uses internal bumpstops on the front. You have to re-use the oem ones on the rear.

I think the diameter of the springs also looks about the right...

I also agree that at that mileage you may as well refresh the whole lot. Will definately tighten the handling right up :-)
 
DONDP, that's what I'm talking about! :thumbsup:

The OEM seat on the strut looks a very similar profile so I guess the rubber pad should fit fine. Much appreciated.
 
No problem buddy,

Make sure you post a quick update for us all on this topic once you get them on and put them through their paces:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38918

EDIT: just seen you have a 3.0 - but still let us know what you think of the bilsteins :-)
 
Mine's neither an M nor a Coupe, but I will post as detailed a how to as I can, and post opinions on them when settled, however they cannot be worse than current that really doesn't drive well above 60mph, although no explanation why, so swapping everything out, new tyres the lot :thumbsup:
 
Yep just realised that after my last post... Doh...

Good luck with it all mate, For reference I used the instructions for fitting listed in my review here:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46088
 
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