In desperate need of a suspension overhaul

[Atreus]

Hello,

First off, this will be my first time doing the suspension on my car, and it is long overdue. I bought it from the PO with blown shocks/struts, bad bushings, it was a real piece. Well, i have to get this taken care of, because the shits dangerous, it started shaking on me when i hit 85 mph on the freeway last week, and i need to get off my ass about it. So, i need some help, i don't know whats "good/bad" i was looking at FCP groton, and i noticed this for the front end:

http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exec/product_id/16551/nm/BMW+E30+7-Piece+Control+Arms+Adjustable+Poly+Bushings+Kit+1984-1992

Do i need poly bushings? why? i don't plan to track this car....yet. just bring it to a clean, clean DD status for now. but how does that look so far?

on to springs/shocks, it appears that the general consensus is that bilstein sports shocks + h&r sport springs are a really good combo. here is what i found so far

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=E30SPSET

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=29664

Would i need a "suspension mount kit"? as seen here: http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html...ID=E30MOUNTKIT


That is what i have so far, and it covers the front suspension, and rear, but not my bushing situation. I'll still have to do the subframe bushings, as i can jack up the car off the subframe, and it'll move 1-2" before the car starts to lift. Is there anything else i'm missing here? are there better deals elsewhere?

On to the tools, i understand i'll need a spring compressor, and a pickle fork (?) for sure.... anything else? Keep in mind this is being done in my carport in this evil apt. complex...

any help/advice/pointers is appreciated..

[Click]

I had some shaking in the 60-80 range, turned out to be a nice clod of mud dried in the inside of my one wheel throwing it out of balance. Make sure its not something simple like that.

[Atreus]

bump, found a cheaper set of billies:

http://eshocks.com/bil_Ind.asp?VC=0Q24&SubChar=Q

419 for all four. bilstein sports

---------

Just realized this is in the brakes section, if a mod could move this, it'll be greatly appreciated. lol

[FredK]

In my experience, Karlyn tie rods and sway bar links suck. They do not last long. FCP has a great warranty, but really, you ought to do a job once, and do it right. OE / OES control arms are expensive, but think about how long they've lasted. For a car that isn't tracked, they can last upwards of 60K++ miles.

I've also found that Meyle tie rods aren't that great, and their sway bar links also suck. The rubber dust boot material is made out of Swiss cheese, and disintegrates after a year or less of use.

That suspension mount kit is basically what you'll need to mount up your new suspension. It's a good time as any to replace the upper strut bearings and rear shock mounts. It's not a huge deal to replace both items later on if they start making noise or whatever, so if money is tight, you can reuse the stock items. These parts are a lot cheaper elsewhere. For example, at AutohausAZ,

Strut bearings (2) $57.12
Rear shock mounts (2) $24.60
Rear shock mount gaskets (2) $0.92
You'll need eight M8 locknuts from somewhere. They're like 50 cents each.
So, in total, it'd be $86.64 shipped for the same exact stuff that Turner charges $159 for (no idea why Meyle HDs cost more than JT-D lifetime mounts)

The following items I would not skimp on, and I'd gladly pay extra for them.
Lemforder control arms (2) $197
Lemforder tie rods, inner and outer (2) $112
Pair of tie rod lock plates (2) $2

A pickle fork would come in handy. A spring compressor could come in handy. You can borrow both tools for free from Autozone or Advance Auto Parts. You just need to put a deposit on the items, and when you return them in good shape, you get your money back.

For the removal of the tie rods, a large pipe wrench would be great. You can reinstall them with a 27mm or 32mm wrench depending upon brand. Also, to remove the strut insert, you will probably want/need a large pipe wrench to loosen the gland nut, and a can of PB Blaster. You'll need a small chisel or screwdriver to remove the tie rod lockplate.

[Atreus]

Thanks Fred! With your advice, i did some more browsing this morning, and you're right. this seems like a better deal, quality brand name stuff, only thing i'm missing is the bushings.....and it appears to have a higher savings than earlier..

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/cart.aspx?sid=wylksz45p4pbe1553hyykl55

31121127725LEM
Lemfoerder
Control Arm & Ball Joint Assembly; Front Lower Left
1989 BMW 325I
$98.47

31121127726LEM
Lemfoerder
Control Arm & Ball Joint Assembly; Front Lower Right
1989 BMW 325I
$98.47

32111124540
BMW (OE)
Lock Plate for Tie Rod to Steering Rack (pair)
$0.46

87137A
Sachs-Boge/Lemfoerder
Shock/Strut Mount; Front Left/Right (pair)
1989 BMW 325I
$28.56

33521128734
ElringKlinger
Shock/Strut Mount; Gasket for Rear Left/Right Shock Mount (pair)
1989 BMW 325I
$0.46

33521128819MY
Meyle HD
Shock/Strut Mount; Rear Upper Left/Right (both of them)
1989 BMW 325I
$12.30

31311139453
BMW (OE)
Strut/Shock Dust Boot; Upper Left/Right Dust Cap on Strut Mount; 32mm (pair)
$1.61

31351127263
BMW (OE)
Sway Bar Bracket; Sway Bar End Link to Control Arm; Left/Right
1989 BMW 325I
$7.54

32111125186LEM
Lemfoerder (OES)
Tie Rod Assembly; Outer Left/Right with Ball Joint (quantity:2)
1989 BMW 325I
$56.02 (apiece)
***********

that tie rod assembly, the last one.... does it include inner/outer? or outer pieces only? i couldn't find the inner piece, so i think its packed together? the picture looked like it...

[McGyver]

it should. i bought the outer for $17 each, so $50 sounds like the assembly.

[dvck]

great information guys, i'll soon be doing the suspension on the car and was thinking of going
through every part of it so that the whole system will be brand new, its taking a bit longer to
save, but the comfort and piece of mind afterwards should compensate.

could i leave sway bars and strut braces to a job/project afterwards or would you guys hit it at the same time?

[iamsam]

Atreus, if you need any subframe removal tech support, let me know!

[325IDD]

Nice thread, my e30 needs a suspension overhaul as well, will be looking at this for ideas. What do you suspension gurus think is the most important thing to replace first? I will need to do it part by part since I am still in College. My car pulls to the left sometimes, nothing major but noticable. Also, i seem to get a slight vibration on the freeway with the steering wheel. Thanks!

[Danny]

I have some brand new OE CABs for sale if anyone is looking.

[jlevie]

Nice thread, my e30 needs a suspension overhaul as well, will be looking at this for ideas. What do you suspension gurus think is the most important thing to replace first? I will need to do it part by part since I am still in College. My car pulls to the left sometimes, nothing major but noticable. Also, i seem to get a slight vibration on the freeway with the steering wheel. Thanks!

While you can replace the front suspension piece-by-piece, you be at least doubling the work. The front struts have to be removed to change the shocks and/or upper strut bearing, which means separating the strut from the tie rod and control car. So it make no sense not to replace the struts, upper strut bearings, control arms and tie rods at the same time.

With budget being a constraint, I'd recommend front struts, strut bearings, control arms & bushings, front sway links & bushings, tie rods and rear shock as one effort. Then do the subframe bushings, rear trailing arm bushings, sway links & bushings as a second effort.

[Atreus]

thanks levie that is similar to what i was thinking. this thread is a great resource for me now, lol.

also, if it could be moved to the proper forum, that'll be, great.....

[caliGreen]

i will be doing the same.. need to get under ther and replace everything!... all i need is money , your brains, and the bmw lingo.. is ther a stickey for the bmw lingo? ive been using google search to find out what it all means

[Atreus]

caliGreen, what do you mean?

like

CAB
TAB
offset CAB

or wha? :D

[caliGreen]

Hahhaha, Yeah Atreus.. ill google up thoes terms..lol