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Thread: E31 suspension rebuild illustrated

  1. #51
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
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    Seattle, Washington
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    530
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    1994 840CI & 1995 Rx-7
    Great stuff.

  2. #52
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Atlanta GA
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    1
    My Cars
    850 I 1992
    Hi There Perelet,

    thanks so much for your very good illustration and hard work on this 850 suspension...
    I have done ( a friend mechanic ;-) ) the replacement of the shocks Bilsteins, lower springs and strut mounts.
    as he is putting everything together, he told me he could not install the bumper stops, because it was not fitting on the new struts...
    He completed the installation and I have driven the car for 5k miles or so...
    but I have 1 deal of noise on the right side front tire (which looks like is something plastic flapping/hitting the tire when I turn the car to the left)...
    I can not see and touch anything that is loose...
    and sometime at 40 miles a hour, the car (the steering wheel) starts to shakes like crazy.... but it goes away at 45 and the car is as straight as an arrow....

    what you think could be?
    bumper stops or wheel bearings
    is just nuts...

    I see you had the bumper stoppers, but I could not see if you used it.... have you?

    Thanks for your advice

  3. #53
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
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    Liberal Loontown, CA
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    2,658
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    Cool Volvo, Ugly BMW
    The bump stops are internal on the Bilsteins. No need to use the OEM on the top (they shouldn't fit).
    What "thumbs up" really means




  4. #54
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
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    Mt. Dora, Florida
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    CSi#18, Tesla S85
    Just finished up the front suspension using tips from this thread. I have never "decompressed" the spring on a front strut the way described in this thread. It worked great. While I had everything out, I repainted the struts and detailed everything. The Bilsteins were inserted. For those that want to file away the information, the top strut nut - that big Bilstein nut that screws down onto the strut housing - is torqued to 95lbs using the Bilstein tool. Bilstein also recommends antiseize grease on the threads.
    CSi #18 - Car & Driver Magazine 1994 actual test car
    -- Hellrot/Black-Gray (1 of 1 NA CSi color combination)
    BMWCCA E31 Chapter International Clubs Liaison
    North America Representative, 8er.or Board of Directors




  5. #55
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Toronto, Canada
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    1,330
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    BMW 850CSi
    Quote Originally Posted by rogbmw View Post
    Just finished up the front suspension using tips from this thread. I have never "decompressed" the spring on a front strut the way described in this thread. It worked great. While I had everything out, I repainted the struts and detailed everything. The Bilsteins were inserted. For those that want to file away the information, the top strut nut - that big Bilstein nut that screws down onto the strut housing - is torqued to 95lbs using the Bilstein tool. Bilstein also recommends antiseize grease on the threads.
    Roger , I think that should be 'thread-lock' blue (not anti-seize). That's what I used as you don't want that puppy coming loose down the road.

  6. #56
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    Oct 2008
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    Mt. Dora, Florida
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    CSi#18, Tesla S85
    Quote Originally Posted by Dr. T View Post
    Roger , I think that should be 'thread-lock' blue (not anti-seize). That's what I used as you don't want that puppy coming loose down the road.
    Actually - the recommendations came straight out of the Bilstein instructions (Yes - I know - I am one of those guys who actually reads all that fine print!). In torqueing down that large nut, when torqued to 95ft-lbs it is pretty tight. Tonight when I get home I will see if I kept the instructions and include a copy here. I did use the high strength (red) thread lock on the 3 new bolts on the bottom of the strut housing.
    CSi #18 - Car & Driver Magazine 1994 actual test car
    -- Hellrot/Black-Gray (1 of 1 NA CSi color combination)
    BMWCCA E31 Chapter International Clubs Liaison
    North America Representative, 8er.or Board of Directors




  7. #57
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Montgomery, AL
    Posts
    212
    My Cars
    '92 850i 6-speed (SOLD)
    I just finished a front-end rebuild and noticed the bump stops on my shocks were turning to powder. I ordered a new set (31331140140) which are #9 in the attached link.

    https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=31_0455

    I'm no expert mechanic, but the new bump stops seem way too long. I see exactly where they seat in the shock shaft, but they are too long at the top and don't leave enough thread on the shaft to accommodate all the components (#3, #8, #1, #5) plus tighten the #6 nut. Are these new bump stops meant to be cut to size? I think I would have to cut 1.5" of the top. Much appreciated.

    Sean

  8. #58
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Maryland
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    3,193
    My Cars
    not enough
    Where are all the pix from this post . I could use them, doing this in the next couple weeks.
    CB42366 - 1991 850i 6-speed. Brilliantrot & Black Nappa Leather
    CD00144 - 1994 850CSi. Hellrot & Black Nappa Leather


    My other projects:
    Supercharged Tbirds, V8 Tbirds, V8 Mustang Convertible, Audi V8 Quattro & Audi S8

  9. #59
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Montgomery, AL
    Posts
    212
    My Cars
    '92 850i 6-speed (SOLD)
    Quote Originally Posted by Sniff38 View Post
    I just finished a front-end rebuild and noticed the bump stops on my shocks were turning to powder. I ordered a new set (31331140140) which are #9 in the attached link.

    https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=31_0455

    I'm no expert mechanic, but the new bump stops seem way too long. I see exactly where they seat in the shock shaft, but they are too long at the top and don't leave enough thread on the shaft to accommodate all the components (#3, #8, #1, #5) plus tighten the #6 nut. Are these new bump stops meant to be cut to size? I think I would have to cut 1.5" of the top. Much appreciated.

    Sean
    OK, I figured it out. You do not cut the bump stops down. They are really tight and need a bit of coaxing to slide onto the thicker part of the shock shaft.

  10. #60
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Montgomery, AL
    Posts
    212
    My Cars
    '92 850i 6-speed (SOLD)
    This is a question for anyone who did a front end refresh. After you replaced all your components (upper and lower control arms, sway bar links and bushings, tie rod ends, etc.), did you notice your steering was noticeably stiffer afterwards? I haven't been driving my car much lately, so I may have forgotten what it feels like behind the wheel of an E31. However it seems to take a bit more effort to turn the wheel. I definitely have power steering, it just doesn't seem to be as easy as I remember.

    Sean

  11. #61
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Calgary, Canada
    Posts
    1,116
    My Cars
    '91 E31 850i,'05 E53 4.4
    I noticed more response, not stiffer (more power needed to turn steering wheel)
    I swear, my cars are like a girlfriend.
    Sometimes its a rough ride, sometimes its smooth motorin'.
    Sometimes she doesnt like how i treat her and sometimes i dont like how she behaves.
    BUT at the end of the day, she loves it when I am inside her.

  12. #62
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Montgomery, AL
    Posts
    212
    My Cars
    '92 850i 6-speed (SOLD)
    I've been asking around and have been told this is normal since all the ball joints and bushings are new. Makes sense. The ball joints on my old control arms, tie rods, and sway bar links took very little effort to move. The new ones are very tight. Much more resistance for the power steering system to overcome.

    Sean
    Last edited by Sniff38; 04-20-2017 at 03:54 PM.

  13. #63
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Fresno, CA, USA
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    52
    My Cars
    91 850i
    Same here. Anyone know how we get them back?

  14. #64
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Montgomery, AL
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    212
    My Cars
    '92 850i 6-speed (SOLD)
    Quote Originally Posted by rv1890 View Post
    Same here. Anyone know how we get them back?
    I was told over time the new components would loosen up and the steering would become lighter. I actually like the way my steering feels right now . . . sort of feels like the 997 I once owned. I guess the reason I posted the question is it was such a noticeable change from before. I wasn't at all expecting it so it caught me by surprise.

    Sean

  15. #65
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Fresno, CA, USA
    Posts
    52
    My Cars
    91 850i
    Quote Originally Posted by CaifanSC View Post
    Where are all the pix from this post . I could use them, doing this in the next couple weeks.
    I should clarify my last post. I meant so say I was wondering the same thing. Anyone know if the photos can be retrieved?

  16. #66
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Escondido,CA
    Posts
    203
    My Cars
    1999 528iT, 1994 850ci,
    Pics got lost from some of my threads due linking problems

    I created achieve version of this thread with pics here:


    http://perelet.com/cars/bmw/11.html

    Please PM me with links to other threads that lost pcs, I'll achieve them over time.

  17. #67
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    West Chester, PA
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    BMWs:74 3.0 CS, 97 840Ci
    Perelet - THANK YOU, very well done. Saved in my 'whenever needed' file!!

    Gary
    Gary Knox

    '97 BMW 840 Ci
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    50 or so others over the past 70 years of driving

  18. #68
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    london uk
    Posts
    126
    My Cars
    alpina b10, e31, e38 750
    i know this is a very old thread , but you dont instal the factory bump stops when using bilsien inserts as the inserts have bulit in bump stops, intalling extra external ones will result in the car using the bump stop instead of the spring = rock hard ride no suspension travel and stiff steering !

  19. #69
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Northern VA
    Posts
    311
    My Cars
    1991 BMW 850i

    Anyone the original rebuild post?

    This url isn't working for me, anyone has the original post saved that could share with me?

    Thanks!

    Quote Originally Posted by perelet View Post
    Pics got lost from some of my threads due linking problems

    I created achieve version of this thread with pics here:


    http://perelet.com/cars/bmw/11.html

    Please PM me with links to other threads that lost pcs, I'll achieve them over time.
    ========
    91 850i 6-speed, 2018 M550 - wife mobile, Lexus GX460 - Family mobile

  20. #70
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Perth Australia
    Posts
    29
    My Cars
    1991 E31 850i - 1994 E34 530
    Hi - original post converted to pdf - have fun!!!
    33 - Rear Suspension Rebuild Illustrated small.pdf

  21. #71
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Denver, Colorado
    Posts
    611
    My Cars
    840ci
    Hi, dropping the rear subframe this weekend to replace all bushings. One quick question, is it possible to replace the ball joint only on the rear control arm?

  22. #72
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Hampshire UK
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    8,867
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    99 840ci Sport Indv
    I'm in the middle of this at the moment. Eccentric bolts will likely fail, so Wolf (Wokke) has these, BMW don't sell them and RealOEM lists the wrong sizes (which should be 11 mm and 13 mm). The upper wishbones, cross members (spring carriers) and the control arm can all be refurbished by Wolf (https://wokke.de/).

    In the UK I use Phoenix Motorsport for the same stuff except the eccentric bolts which came from Wolf. For comparison, the UK price is £300 per side for the cross members and £320 per side for the upper wishbones. I blurb on about it all here:

    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


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