hey thought this might be a usefull thread on suspension , im trying to get everything i need together and need some input on what should be replaced and what can be reused , im replacing my shocks, struts and coils with bilstine sports and h&R coils , let me know if theres anything im missing or should replace . Im gonna run the 10mm spring pads up front , i figure im lowering might as well go thicker help with vibs and fit the 18" im also gonna replace the abs sensors . oh and since im lowering i should go with the chamber adjusted strut mount, right?

front:
bumpstops part# 31331124449
lower spring pad 31331124322
10mm upper spring pad 31331128522
guide support (strut mount) 31331139452
" " chamber adjusted 31331139484

rear:
bumpstops 33521124573
lower spring pad 33521124572
upper spring pad 33521124507
guide support (shock mount) 33521126680
support cup 33521125649
washer 33521125651
rubber mounting 33521117676
protective tube for bumpstop 33521124575

i also know i have to replace the subframe mounts should i do them along with pitman arms at the same time or as seperate projects?

I dont know if you have to go as far as getting camber adjusted strut mounts, but that could just be preference. People put 18's on and lowering springs without them pretty frequently. You just have to watch for spacing on the width up front. Subframe mounts for the rear your thinking? They are a royal pain in the ass ive heard. I would relegate a separate time to do it. Although, if you already have the seats out to do the rear suspension (you should, saves time/energy/frustration) it could be done. ill try and find the write up for doing that for you. A friend of mine has done it at least twice in recent past, and he is the moderator for the e23 section on bimmerboard, did it on 2 E28s, so its the same procedure.

-Jeff

here you go...

http://member.rivernet.com.au/btaylor/BMWText/technical/SubFrameBushingReplacement.html

Hope it helps you,

-Jeff

A couple of points,

1) You don't need the bump stops in the front when using the Bilstein's, as they come with them already installed inside of the Bilstein strut inserts because the front shocks are essentially installed upside down in the strut. It is the black squiggly thing at the bottom of the Bilstein strut on the left.

2) You don't need both of the upper strut mounts, 139 452 is a std. mount and 139 484 is a fixed offset to help compensate for camber, you use one or the other. I would suggest using one of the after-market adjustable camber mounts if you are lowering and have the cash.

3) For the rears you might want to add the gasket that goes between the upper shock mount and the body.

BavAuto sells a shock installation kit for the rear with the spring pads, bump stops and the cover tubes. Add the upper mounts , the gasket and washers if you want and your good to go. i believe the after-market upper mount combines the mount 680 and the rubber mounting 676

There is a good thread on the adjustable camber plates but I can't find it at the moment.

http://www.bilstein.com/ART/tubedesigns.gif

Here is a discussion about Adjustable camber:

http://bigcoupe.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4883&highlight=ireland

jdb5015 i agree im gonna wait to do the subframe bushings another day and just torch em out.

cw6er as for the suspension im gonna look intoo the rear kit from bav auto , from what you saying its everything i need to put the shock and coils together before i even pull the old ones out.

i knew i couldnt use both but was thinking the fix offset ones must have been stock for m6?(made for lowered vehical)?
but i think im just gonna go with adjustable chamber kit by kmac i think ill do the fronts first then add the rear toe in kit later (heard the toein kit is more important but the cars no dailydriver so it dont matter to me plus if i go with the fixed chamber then change my mind i have to rip everything back out)

now dose anyone know it i can still mount some mason engenieering strut bar once the kmacs are installed?

one other questioin with one of the struts i recived a plastic ring with notches on the inside sort of a transparent white colour but with the other i did not , im not sure but i belive it is for holding down a dust boot?

cw6er as for the suspension im gonna look intoo the rear kit from bav auto , from what you saying its everything i need to put the shock and coils together before i even pull the old ones out.

Close, but I think you will still be missing a large flat washer that goes on top of the bump stop. I'd wait until it was apart to be sure. The kit doesn't contain the shock mount, gasket or cup washer but they are on the same page at BavAuto. You might give Steve Haygood a call also, might be a tad cheaper.

Also, measure the distance from the bottom bolt hole to the bottom spring perch on the old shock and match it on the new shock, the "C" clips don't always come in the right grove in the new shock body. Several people have gotten everything back together and found the rear higher or lower then it should be and have had to pull the rear shocks again to fix it.

one other questioin with one of the struts i recived a plastic ring with notches on the inside sort of a transparent white colour but with the other i did not , im not sure but i belive it is for holding down a dust boot?You should have gotten a nylon ring to secure the dust boot for each of the front strut inserts. After the old strut is out, slip the ring onto the strut housing (it's a tight fit) before the new strut and threaded collar are installed. If you didn't get it, you need to call up your supplier.

Just out of curiosity, did your Bilstein's come with a pin wrench for the threaded collar? It would be a large flat stamped ring with some ears stamped on the inside hole and a tab with a 1/2" square hole for a ratchet handle on the out side. Mine is marked "Bilstein" and I wondered if it came standard with all Bilstein shocks, or it was something my particular supplier throws in for free for buying a set.

ive bought 2 sets of bilsteins, new, in the past year. Neither of the boxes came with a pin wrench. I used a pipe wrench and it worked great.

-Jeff

It has been a few years since I bought any but the strut cartridges always came with the tool that attaches to a 3/8 drive ratchet. I have a collection of them in one of my tool boxes.

no the bilstines didnt come with the tool and there also missing one of the nylon collars , i bought mine off ebay tho , so the guy probally takes em out to sell haha, im gonna try the pipe wrench method .

about the c clips on the rears ive read the second from bottom is the position to start at , then u can adjust up or down from there by just jacking the car ?? and if i gotta take it out again ill consider it practise

Steve Haygood , ive heard this name before , he have a web site, or collect payment thru paypal?

http://stevehaygood.com/