Ignorant weekend warrior needs suspension overhaul.

[NeoMishMoo]

Ok so pretty much every suspension component on my car is shot and I've been driving my poor car too long under such terrible conditions.

I need some advice on what parts to buy and in what order I should be replacing all of the parts. I've got 3 days off in a row each week and need to have the car down only for those 3 days.

How much can I do myself and what should I just pay a mechanic to do? Seems like the only special tool I need is a spring compressor, I should be able to rent one though.

So I need springs shocks struts control arms bushing sway links, not sure what else. Just about everything, and the stuff I might not need I might as well replace it while I'm doing everything else.

My biggest concern is that I want a smooth ride, I like being able to go over speed bumps at 15-20mph. Most cars jar you to death but my car always goes over them smoothly.

I've been reading through the forums but its late and I'm getting lazy, if you want to link up a few threads I'll read them, but i was hoping to just get some straightforward answers here.

I've got $300ish dollars credit at Bavauto that I'd like to use.

Not sure how much performance I need, for example are these control arm bushing more than I need?

http://www.treehouseracing.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1&category_id=1&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=31

A parts list and build order are my biggest priorities, I just need to know what to buy and what all I can accomplish in 3 day periods.

[MaxBell]

My 1987 325i was BONE stock when I got it. I'm the second owner and nothing was done to it.

THe ride was spine rattling to say the least. I replaced the springs, shocks, control arms (which came with bushings) and strut mounts. That livened up the ride considerably. The strut mounts took the vibrating away.

I basically did it all in 2 days straight. A lot of stuff was seized on (to be expected on a 24 yr old car) but it all came off eventually.

[NeoMishMoo]

So as far as a parts list goes should I just buy the suspension rebuild kit off blunttech for $500 and the bavauto spring and shock kit for $650. I need all the parts in the kits and seems like I'll get the best discount by buying the kits as opposed to the individual parts.

[NeoMishMoo]

OK self bump can anyone give me an easy part list? Blunt sells a pretty good all in one kit, unless you think I should buy the parts individually and get some upgraded stuff like really good lollipops or something.

I was thinking blunt suspension rebuild kit, looks like a fair price at $500. And then bilstein shocks and H&R springs? Probably go Race springs even though its a DD, but I don't think the ride could get more uncomfortable than the broken down shit under me right now.

[jlevie]

For the front suspension you will need control arms, bushings, tie rods, sway links and sway bushings. Along with the strut cartridges & springs you will probably also need spring pads and upper strut bearings. For the rear you need subframe, differential, and trailing arm bushings, sway links and sway bushings. Like the front you'll probably need spring pads and upper shock mounts.

To change the control arm bushings, a press is needed. The subframe bushings can be changed with a press or a Sir tools subframe bushing kit. There are field expedient ways of changing those, but that usually takes longer.

If you have access to the special tools or a press you can do either end of the car in 1-2 days.

[NeoMishMoo]

Or just buy control arms with the bushings already on them right? Much easier that way. So what do I need in addition to blunt's kit? How is that price too? I'm talking about the 500 buck kit on blunttech.com