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Really Senior Member I
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Topic: Suspension Overhaul help... Posted: 26-June-2006 at 09:20 |
Thanks drew. Yep, looking at the diagram they are similar. I have previously replaced these with standard bushes, which are a little tricky. But by far the easiest is the poly bushes, but these impact the ride, although to what degree on a six i am unsure.
oh, 1 thing. my mileage is 115,000 not 155. (typo). The judder i was experiencing has now completly dissapeared. even a spirited drive see's no brake fade, or wheel wobble. I think the brakes were somewhat corroded from short drives, infrequent use next to the sea. I still have suspect rear top mounts for which i will look into, but the brakes seem to have bedded back in. I will naturally be giving these a full inspection at some point.
The exhaust is getting patched up next weekend and the rear gearbox oil seal sorted over at my friends garage as my ramps have a tr3a stuck on them at the moment.
Spax psx kit has been sourced as the cheapest overall option, with a little extra paid for matching springs, and adjustablility (i.e. i could have had a ventura spring, and bilstein shocks marginally cheaper).
I intend to do some track days so the little extra for the adjustable side, was worth it.
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Drew540i
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Posted: 23-June-2006 at 16:25 |
6 Series rear sub mounts are similar to an E30.
Getting them out is hard work, getting the new ones
in is just as bad. But I'd rather work a couple of hours
to earn the money pay someone else - I have many
more pleasurable things to do!
As for wheels, 225/55 x 15's are the best all
rounders really. Ask anyone who's come from the
Metrics (which are a wide tyre with a very stiff
sidewall) down to a 15 or 16 inch wheel with a tall
sidewall how much better the car drives. Your
suspension has to be absolutely perfect and like
new to have big wheels and not have issues with
tramlining, juddering under braking etc. On a B reg
car with undoubted high mileage I'd be erring on the
side of caution and using E34 wheels.
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Horsetan
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Posted: 23-June-2006 at 15:09 |
AndyS wrote:
....The people on this forum have a lot of combined knowledge which will save you a lot of time & money if you listen to them... |
Aye... we're always right
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Really Senior Member I
Joined: 02-May-2004
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Posted: 23-June-2006 at 12:39 |
E30 appears very similar
Centre section was pushed out with a reverse hub puller, tearing the old rubber mount,
A bit of light "bigger hammer" workmanship.
Out!
Now, without being cocky, whats the issue with the 6? is there a capping on the end of the mount? this could make things very difficult.
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Really Senior Member I
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Posted: 23-June-2006 at 12:32 |
Just out of question, are the rear axle beam bushes in the diagram similar to the e30 rear axle beam bushes? Just wondering what makes them so difficult?
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Really Senior Member I
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Posted: 23-June-2006 at 12:29 |
thanks for the diagram. I don't think i know better and getting fed with explaining to you.
I ask on these forums because i do not know alot about the six, where as people such as yourself have them, and obviously have a better understanding.
Just because i say i am goign to try doesnt mean "your thick, im better and will succeed". rather it means thanks for the advice, much appreciated, and i will look into it bearing in mind what i have heard.
If we all took a say so as ultimate we would all have the same skill set. I like to try, and i will. And if general opinion is correct (which is most likly), i will take one look, and decide that i cannot do it. At the same time, people on these forums do not know my full skill set, tools available to me, and resources i have to get a job done (be it good or bad). I do so i have to make that decision.
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AndyS
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Posted: 23-June-2006 at 12:20 |
Petty? No, just getting a bit bored with the bullsh*t. You ask advice then when you get it you disregard it because you think you know better. The people on this forum have a lot of combined knowledge which will save you a lot of time & money if you listen to them. The bush in question:-
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AndyS Live each day as if it's your last - one day it will be.
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Really Senior Member I
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Posted: 23-June-2006 at 10:28 |
Andy, your so petty.
I didnt say i knew best, but you seem to assume a bit too much really. Yes i will have a look, if i think its possible i will do it, if not, i'll look into other means. i look to save cash as much as the next person does. But no, im not going to butcher the car to make a point.
Anyone have any pics of the bush in question, etc?
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AndyS
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Posted: 22-June-2006 at 23:14 |
Check it out! wrote:
I loved the bit about rear axle beam bushes not being DIY.
thats like calling me a bull and giving me a red flag. Thats a challenge as well! They have to be done myself now!!! see what you just did! |
He said it's not diy for a reason. Replacing the bushes requires a special tool. Without it you're likely to butcher the beam. People have had to resort to burning the old bushes out with a welding torch - right next to the fuel lines! But hey! go ahead, you know best. It'll make an interesting post!
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AndyS Live each day as if it's your last - one day it will be.
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Really Senior Member I
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Posted: 21-June-2006 at 22:04 |
Drew540i wrote:
NOOOOOO!!!!! Don't fit modern wheel to a Six Series as they just look awful. Your cheapest way out is a set of 15 inch BBS from the E34 along with 225/55 x 15 tyres (standard wear on 525i, 530i, 535i and the E32. These look proper and give good handling with a decent ride. You''ll pay around £100 for a set with decent tyres - look on Ebay.
As for shocks, Spax stuff is okayish I suppose but I wouldn't bother. 'Yellow' Bilsteins are okay but give quite a firm ride and are very expensive. The standard Boge gas shocks used as standard on the 635CSi are excellent and are better than you'd think - they have pretty much the same compression and rebound as an E28 M5 which also used Boge Monotube shocks. Look on the ECP website and you'll see they sell gas Monotube Bilsteins for £38 each or Sachs Boge for £40 (plus VAT). As for springs go for an E28 535i Ventura set, about £60 I think. As for springs, Ventura stuff is okay but I'd be looking at Eibach for something nicer. Rear shocks on the E24 never seem to wear out in common with the other semi trailing arm BMW's. I've never had to replace a rear shock on a BMW in 15 years so if they aren't leaking fluid and the spring cups aren't rotten leave them well alone. After this you're into centre drag links, upper and lower control arms etc etc etc but problems here will manifest themselves with vibration under braking. If you're going to keep this car it's not a bad idea to replace it all in one hit. Rear axle beam bushes are not DIY. |
I don't want tofit modern wheels, and jsut managed to sell my sofa's, projecotr screen and bar stools for some extra cash (seriously). merging stuff with the missus, so im more open to wheels. possibly the 800 area now. i'm thinking deep dish stainless rim cross spokes? these would look good on the 6, just as bmw thought. i only want polished if its stainless,i learnt that from bk299's and dodgy lacquer.
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Really Senior Member I
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Posted: 21-June-2006 at 21:53 |
thanks for that. I loved the bit about rear axle beam bushes not being DIY.
thats like calling me a bull and giving me a red flag. Thats a challenge as well! They have to be done myself now!!! see what you just did!
I've had the ventura springs and was very impressed for a good all-round spring. If i can get the shocks cheap enough, this will be my best bet. The brakes need bleeding, and i expect the pistons cleaning up.
When i was looking her over on the weekend the suspension seemed ok, but i know that seem and "are" are two totally different things really. the brakes need takingapart and cleaning, no cost. but i know i will find things that scream "replace me, do it properly!".
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Drew540i
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Posted: 21-June-2006 at 16:58 |
NOOOOOO!!!!! Don't fit modern wheel to a Six Series
as they just look awful. Your cheapest way out is a
set of 15 inch BBS from the E34 along with 225/55 x
15 tyres (standard wear on 525i, 530i, 535i and the
E32. These look proper and give good handling with
a decent ride. You''ll pay around £100 for a set with
decent tyres - look on Ebay.
As for shocks, Spax stuff is okayish I suppose but I
wouldn't bother.
'Yellow' Bilsteins are okay but give quite a firm ride
and are very expensive. The standard Boge gas
shocks used as standard on the 635CSi are
excellent and are better than you'd think - they have
pretty much the same compression and rebound as
an E28 M5 which also used Boge Monotube shocks.
Look on the ECP website and you'll see they sell gas
Monotube Bilsteins for £38 each or Sachs Boge for
£40 (plus VAT). As for springs go for an E28 535i
Ventura set, about £60 I think.
As for springs, Ventura stuff is okay but I'd be looking
at Eibach for something nicer. Rear shocks on the
E24 never seem to wear out in common with the
other semi trailing arm BMW's. I've never had to
replace a rear shock on a BMW in 15 years so if they
aren't leaking fluid and the spring cups aren't rotten
leave them well alone.
After this you're into centre drag links, upper and
lower control arms etc etc etc but problems here will
manifest themselves with vibration under braking. If
you're going to keep this car it's not a bad idea to
replace it all in one hit.
Rear axle beam bushes are not DIY.
Edited by Drew540i
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AndyS
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Posted: 21-June-2006 at 16:33 |
Diff mounts, subframe mounts, wishbone bushes . . . the list goes on & on.
Could be any or all of them.
Wait till you get to the front!!!
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AndyS Live each day as if it's your last - one day it will be.
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Really Senior Member I
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Posted: 21-June-2006 at 16:21 |
Thanks andy. admitedly, the missus is very wary of another "girlfriend" so to speak.
money wise you are spot on, i do have to watch the budget for this, as i do want the 335i on the road soon.
I forgot all about the lower spec spax kits, so this is something i should consider
looking at wheels the overall diameter is near as damn it the same, and i expect 235's to be ot as wide as what ison there at the moment. The bushes are worn, and the clunk that isnt quite a knock from the rear i think is a rear top mount thats gone? does this happen to the 6's in the same way as the 3?
It look like i need to remove the whole rear shelf to get at the top mounts?
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Robmw
Really Senior Member I
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Posted: 21-June-2006 at 16:21 |
I used Rochford tyres and I would strongly recommend you go for the Toyo tyre option, its a bit more expensive but they are excellent in heavy rain and the dry.
As Andy S says make certain you find out if you need the hubcentric spacers else you will shake your fillings out before you get home !
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Robert Born
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AndyS
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Posted: 21-June-2006 at 15:57 |
The Ebay wheels & tyres. 245/34 would be a better match assuming you have 240/45 x 415 TRX's on now.
What the hell are "Premium Budget" tyres anyway???
If you're wanting to keep costs down, go for something smaller & secondhand. Any wheels from an E34 5-series or E32 7-series will fit.
E39 wheels will fit but require hubcentric spacers which are only a couple of quid.
3-series wheels won't fit as the offset is too great.
As for suspension, you'll be replacing bushes on a regular basis, the bigger & wider the wheels the more often you'll need to replace. If you simply want to replace tired shocks & springs then an ECP Spax or Bilstein kit will be fine.
Beware of getting dragged into a full scale ground up restoration. Costs will escalate to the point where you could have bought a better Six in the first place. Remember, you bought it as a runaround while you got the 335 sorted.
Edited by AndyS
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AndyS Live each day as if it's your last - one day it will be.
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Really Senior Member I
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Posted: 21-June-2006 at 15:00 |
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Really Senior Member I
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Posted: 21-June-2006 at 14:37 |
Just had a look. most of the offests are in the 40's! looks like after spacers these will cost the 600 mark i was trying to avoid!
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Really Senior Member I
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Posted: 21-June-2006 at 14:35 |
So more et (offest) brings the wheels in then? lol, thought it was the other way around. thanks for that. I'm trying to get her ready for the santa pod event july 1st etc. Just so i can legally make it there and back! i.e. wheels and tyres, and the rear sport boxoil seal.
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PaulS
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Posted: 21-June-2006 at 14:33 |
If you go for mv2 reps, make sure the offset is correct - ie ET13-20 rather than ET35-45 as the latter will require spacers!!
Paul
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