keep blowing out my right rear shock mount!

[samiam3356]

I just put bilstein's and new rear shock mounts on my car about a month ago and the bushing has shredded again. any ideason how this could happen, also the trailing arm busings are fine

:dunno

[M325M]

Get GC or JTD aluminum RSMs...much stronger and a lifetime warranty.

[fourfa]

careful... if you installed new stock RSMs a month ago and already shredded them, I'd say there's a good chance you are hitting the bump stops on your shock shaft pretty hard. If you put on a sturdier RSM, you're going to pass on all that shock to your rear shock tower.

Read up on torn shock towers first. Then look toward solving the bump stop problem.

[Atrane23]

go aluminum

[Atrane23]

there pretty cheap through bimmerhaus.

[jgerry2002]

JTD mounts for sure. Customer service is first class.

The bilsteins are pretty harsh (I have a set) and I don't think its likely you are bottoming out as you would likely damage other suspension parts in the process.

FYI, I killed a set of E36 mounts, then promptly destroyed a set of E46 M3 mounts in rather short order (like 5k miles each). Finally went with the JTD mounts and they seem to be lasting (over 10k miles and they seem to be fine). Then again Boston roads are not known for smoothness.

Get Z3 reinforcement plates along with the JTD mounts. It will be much better for the shock towers in the long run.

-Justin

[frayed]

what fourfa said.

[John H]

2nd vote for what fourfa said.... also, Z3 (or Ground Control) reinforcement plates are real good idea.

Torn shock towers are surprisingly common, and not cheap to fix.

- john

[samiam3356]

going to order them monday, I'll will let you know how they work out. thanks for all the suggestions. also it was oem equipment that I put on the car last time and will be going with the alluminum his time

thx sam

[mredwin25]

same thing happened to me when I installed mine, problem was it was missing the big washer (plate) that goes on the rod before you put on the RSM. Didn't happen when it had the stock shocks because they weren't as stiff as the bilstein are. It broke one of my 6x9 speakers I had installed on the back, Be careful, Hope it helped, Good luck

[cpandrewschmidt]

Quick Question: Are rear shock mounts covered under the CPO? Thanks.
Andrew

[samiam3356]

CPO?

[hal9000]

Originally posted by cpandrewschmidt
Quick Question: Are rear shock mounts covered under the CPO? Thanks.
Andrew

Depends on the CPO. I've heard both covered/noncovered stories.

[cpandrewschmidt]

Originally posted by Srainey1
CPO?

CPO-certified pre owned, i bought my car from the dealer and it was warrientied for 2 yrs, or 100,000 miles. I have that 4th gear stick problem so will try to get a new tranny before its up. Where can I find out if its covered. I am sure if I call my dealer they will just say it isn't because well, they suck. :)

Andrew

[samiam3356]

Update, Last monday I went against my better judgment and bought another stock mount to fix the problem. on my way to work the next morning the same thing happens again. instead this time the whole bushing seperates from the mount. I looked for the washer that mredwin25 spoke of and it was not there on mine either. the rod was hitting the 6x9 thankfully it was not destroyed. anyway going to order the poly's today and make sure they send me some washers to fit the rods. I'll give another update when I get them in and get some wear on them!

Sam

[jgerry2002]

CPO will cover shock mounts. They replaced mine once. No questions asked.

You should be happy with the aftermarket mount. Watch them carefully though.

Rear Bilsteins are just harsh on the street. Great on the track though...

-Justin

[JamesM3M5]

Urethane mounts will do no better, because they can't glue the rubber to the metal under high pressure like the original mounts are. The reason you're blowing the mounts is because you're missing the washers on the shock shaft--top, bottom, or both.

Got lowering springs? If so, the shock WILL run out of travel when (not if) the suspension bottoms out. That will ruin the RSM in a hurry, as you have already found.

Parts 6 and 10:
33 52 1 090 314
33 52 1 117 677

[M3 Pete]

yep, gotta have 6 and 10 there. The GC RSM has a replacement for the bottom washer, since the stock one won't fit. For some photos of the GC RSM installed, see this thread:

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=111813

[Ron17]

The first lesson to take away from this is NEVER GET BILSTEINS FOR A DAILY-DRIVEN CAR. I speak from experience. They are just too harsh. Even if it's a bumpstop problem causing the premature failure of your RSMs, they are still too harsh even after trimming. Sell them immediately and get Konis.

(Disclaimer: Bilsteins would be great if your car was mainly a track car or if your roads were perfectly smooth everywhere you ever drove. Since such a place does not exist, Bilsteins are not, in my mind, an acceptable solution for a daily-driver's dampers.)

The second lesson to take from this is replace your stock RSMs with aftermarket units, such as GC or JTD. The stock ones are complete pieces of crap. That they will rip over time (sometimes shorter than others) is one of life's certainties, alongside death and taxes.

[tybmw]

bimmerhaus sells jtd aliminum ones for $50 brand new, very good deal

[jgerry2002]

I've been driving around with Bilsteins ON MY DAILY DRIVER for the past couple of years in the worst Boston roads.

They are harsh, but tolerable. The biggest factor is choosing a set springs to match them. OE H&Rs (taller ones) are fine, The Sport H&Rs are way too harsh.

Perhaps I am just used to them. Its all in what you like or don't like about your ride.

NVH really does not bother me much I guess.

Stronger rear shock mounts are a must have though.

YMMV.

-Justin

[JamesM3M5]

You can get M Coupe rear shocks and have them revalved. They are shorter and will not bottom as much.

[samiam3356]

just put on the upgraded rsm and everything is back to normal. also they did include the washer that bmp didn't send. i'll give an update in a month to let you know how they are doing. the ride isn't that bad (not a cadilac) but it is stiff. thanks for all the help fella's

[samiam3356]

another update!! after reviewing the stories on the shock towers i decided it best to go ahead and add the roadster reinforcement plates. Fourfa i owe you one for the idea. think i would rather spend $20 for the plates then repair the shock towers!!!

now I remember why I bouhgt this car again.

c-ya