Struts and springs

H

Hebrewdiver

Member
Took my 2004 z4 to a Tire plus to have an alignment and was told I needed brakes, rotors, speed sensors and brake wear sensors, sway bar links. Asked if I could just change struts and was told that springs needed to be changed because bad due to the struts being bad. Is this correct or can I just change the struts. How difficult is it to do?
 
At the front, you can’t change the shock absorbers without also removing the springs, as they are assembled together as a “strut”. You can reuse the springs, but it should be obvious from a visual inspection whether they are in good condition or not. A garage is likely to charge you more for supplying new springs than if you bought them yourself, but there shouldn’t be any additional charge for fitting them, as the garage will be disassembling/assembling the strut in any case.

At the rear, the spring and shock absorber are not connected, therefore you can change one without the other much more easily. Again, it’s easy to undertake a visual inspection of the rear springs. If they are heavily corroded in places and the black paint is flaking off, it’s time for a change or they will be liable to fail (snap).

Changing the front and rear suspension is within reach of most DIY home mechanics. The only piece of “specialist” equipment you need is a set of spring compressors for disassembling/assembling the front struts. But CAUTION: this is a higher risk activity.
 
Hebrewdiver said:
Took my 2004 z4 to a Tire plus to have an alignment and was told I needed brakes, rotors, speed sensors and brake wear sensors, sway bar links. Asked if I could just change struts and was told that springs needed to be changed because bad due to the struts being bad. Is this correct or can I just change the struts. How difficult is it to do?
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If you only took it in for an alignment, why would they say you need new speed sensors? Unless you had a code? Even then it is likely to only be one corner.
Even the brake wear sensors can be re-used if they haven't been triggered.
 
I'm not sure your location, USA/UK. However, in the USA, most managers of NTW's and many other tire replacement stores get a percentage of the repairs their stores do. So, the more problems the manager allegedly finds with your car and has done by the customer, the more money the store manager takes home each week in his paycheck.
 
enuff_zed said:
Hebrewdiver said:
Took my 2004 z4 to a Tire plus to have an alignment and was told I needed brakes, rotors, speed sensors and brake wear sensors, sway bar links. Asked if I could just change struts and was told that springs needed to be changed because bad due to the struts being bad. Is this correct or can I just change the struts. How difficult is it to do?
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If you only took it in for an alignment, why would they say you need new speed sensors? Unless you had a code? Even then it is likely to only be one corner.
Even the brake wear sensors can be re-used if they haven't been triggered.
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I’m not sure why they said wheel speed sensors especially since there were no light on the dash stating an error code present. They said that they do an inspection before to determine if an alignment can be preformed. The really sad part is after they did the inspection and I paid for it and them telling me that couldn’t do the alignment they never gave me a list of their finding. I’m gonna have to take it somewhere else. They also told me that I should not drive the car before I get the struts replaced. Tire Plus Mall Pkwy Stonecrest Ga FYI
 
Sounds like a ME (middle east) kinda thing.. Id find a different alignment shop. though i have to say, Tire+ here arent too bad for run off the mill stuff.
 
Nope. Some of the components are the same, but the top mount, spring plate and shock absorber itself are all different. RealOEM is your friend for looking up part numbers and compatibility.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BT52-EUR---E85-BMW-Z4%203.0i&diagId=31_0648
 
In my view its a false economy to not change the front springs when you are doing the struts (unless they are obviously in great condition). Like many modern cars they are prone to breaking, and for the extra £100 or so its worth doing them now - do the top mounts as well.
 
Hi OP:

Check out the How-To subforum (https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=24) and look over the threads on replacing the suspension components. That'll give you an idea of how much work it is, and then you can decide what you feel comfortable doing yourself and what you'd rather have a good shop do for you. The shop recommendation to replace everything including the ABS sensors would certainly send me to a different shop.

Best of luck !
 
Z4Mariner said:
Hi OP:

Check out the How-To subforum (https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=24) and look over the threads on replacing the suspension components. That'll give you an idea of how much work it is, and then you can decide what you feel comfortable doing yourself and what you'd rather have a good shop do for you. The shop recommendation to replace everything including the ABS sensors would certainly send me to a different shop.

Best of luck !
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Thank you for the reply and the information. Today I did exactly that. Went to a new shop Mavis and they said all the things that the other shop told me that was bad was actually good, brakes, struts and they were able to do the alignment. They did say the sensor were bad and the rotors were glazed, whatever that means…lol. I’m going to take it to another shop and see what they have to say. It’s seems that it’s hard to trust the repair shop. I’m ordering the sensor abs and brake wear sensor
 
When replacing struts and springs, how important is it to replace rear upper spring plates (33 52 6 788 999) and strut bolts (07 11 9 900 402)? They seem to be unreasonably expensive to get. While 1 piece is rather cheap, BMW only allows you to buy at least 10 or 5 pieces of each. Making it 54€ for 10 bolts and 5 plates.
Do these plates ever really fail?
 
x-driver said:
Don't the bolts get rusty and deformed? So no need to replace both items I was asking about?
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I always change the front knuckle bolts as they do get pretty bad, but I'll be honest I've never found a bad rear one.
 
enuff_zed said:
x-driver said:
Don't the bolts get rusty and deformed? So no need to replace both items I was asking about?
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I always change the front knuckle bolts as they do get pretty bad, but I'll be honest I've never found a bad rear one.
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Second that.
 
You mean No.4 here?
http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E85/Europe/Z4_3.0i-M54/L-N/mar2003/browse/front_axle/front_spring_strut_shock_absorber/
 
x-driver said:
You mean No.4 here?
http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E85/Europe/Z4_3.0i-M54/L-N/mar2003/browse/front_axle/front_spring_strut_shock_absorber/
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For the front. Yes. Always fit new
 
x-driver said:
Good to know, I'd have left these out, thanks :thumbsup:
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These bolts are usually corroded and seized. If they shear off it’s a real pita to drill them out. Almost easier to change the hub.
So soak them in a release agent first and even then be prepared to have to use heat on them too.
Then go very careful
 
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