E28 Coilover suspension DIY (in progress)

[latinobimmer]

Check Realoem.com

[iamsam]

Is it an upgrade or something? Are you sure it even fits?

I'm pretty sure the E34 hub is 83mm, and E28 is 82mm.

I have never heard that, I always thought that the hub diameters were the same.

[latinobimmer]

Is it an upgrade or something? Are you sure it even fits?

I'm pretty sure the E34 hub is 83mm, and E28 is 82mm.

[iamsam]

Why are you swapping the hubs?

I'll be swapping as much as I can.

[latinobimmer]

Why are you swapping the hubs?

[iamsam]

Yes, they do

Here's even a set for sale: http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=100332

I don't need to buy any, I have a whole E34 540i donor car! ;)

It will donate the brakes/hubs, remote brake booster, wheels, and M60B40 to my '85 520i.

[latinobimmer]

Yes, they do

Here's even a set for sale: http://www.mye28.com/viewtopic.php?t=100332

[iamsam]

AFAIK, only the rear shocks are interchangeable, but the E34 ones are longer so they will make the E28 sit higher.

Brakes from a plethora of cars are interchangeable to the E28, including the E31 and E32. The most common upgrade is to take E32 750iL front brakes with E34 540i rear brakes. They all bolt right up, as long as you have the carriers and all other associated hardware.

Some people put in the E32 master cylinder for better feel, but I didn't find it necessary when I swapped in the aforementioned brakes.

Here's a good FAQ about what will fit the E34/E28/E24, brake-wise:

http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Upgrade/Brakes.htm

That's good info right there.

I assume also that E34 540i front brakes will fit on an E28?

[latinobimmer]

also: Do E28s and E34s share the same suspension components? As in are the shocks interchangeable? Is the suspension interchangeable between chassies? (wtf is the plural of "chassis"?)

I have heard of the E34 540i brake upgrade to an E28, so obviously something swaps over...

AFAIK, only the rear shocks are interchangeable, but the E34 ones are longer so they will make the E28 sit higher.

Brakes from a plethora of cars are interchangeable to the E28, including the E31 and E32. The most common upgrade is to take E32 750iL front brakes with E34 540i rear brakes. They all bolt right up, as long as you have the carriers and all other associated hardware.

Some people put in the E32 master cylinder for better feel, but I didn't find it necessary when I swapped in the aforementioned brakes.

Here's a good FAQ about what will fit the E34/E28/E24, brake-wise:

http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Upgrade/Brakes.htm

[righteousrags88]

This thread is exactly what I need. I finally decided to do a decent suspension setup rather cut springs and blown shocks ha. I just need someone to spoon feed me what shocks I should get, what and where I should get the sleeves, and which springs I should get including spring height and rate.

[iamsam]

Is everyone interested in front and rear or just front? only cause rear is somewhat of a coilover set up.

The rears are super simple, there isn't any modification required IIRC, just buy the shock, slap the coilover sleeve and spring on.

That said, I would also like to know what shocks will work for the rear, just standard E28 Koni Yellows?

[downernsp]

Is everyone interested in front and rear or just front? only cause rear is somewhat of a coilover set up.

[iamsam]

Good info, In general that is the same procedure I had in mind, but I am mostly curious as to what shocks can be used in an E28 with regards to different lengths and hoe much the strut tubes need to be shortened.

For example, can E30 iX struts work in an E28 after shortening the E28 tubes?

[Manimal]

It goes kinda like this.

Order parts
Pull strut from car
Remove spring/top hat(ratchet strap or spring compressors are helpful if springs are stock)
Pull strut tube from strut
cut lower spring perch off
grind paint off metal
weld on shim between strut tube and coilover sleeve if necessary(not sure on e28 diameter)
slide sleeve on and locate where you want the bottom sleeve support to be
weld on sleeve support, just add 5-6 1/2" beads around the housing, doesn't need to be fully welded on.
paint
reassemble with 2.5" adjustable coilover parts
done.

Seriously it's stupid easy. Just make sure you don't warp the strut housing welding it, if you've welded much you should know what to do and if not you probably shouldn't do this.

My shim.


shim welded on


Sleeve support welded on/assembled. I pulled it apart for paint after the pic. Mine is cut like that because the '02 doesn't have much room between the tire and strut...like a mm or two with 195/50R15 on 15x6.5 et33. Going to switch to some 225x45R15 on 15x8 kosei's w/10mm spacers later when I flare the car.

[iamsam]

Yep, it's defintely been done before, and that link is good, but mye28 isn't really known for Step 1, 2 and 3 DIYs. I think I've found more of that kind of thing around r3v. I think this is the beginnings of a definitive guide to doing your own e28 coilovers. Seems like the information is out there just scattered. If you go ahead and tackle this, a dummies DIY to doing your own e28 coilovers would be sweet.

You have pretty much just summarized exactly what I want to do with this thread.