Shock Help - BMW Forum

DFL · 12-28-2007, 11:39 AM

I am in the process in installing Bilstein rear shocks and springs, fronts are going on tomorrow. The sport shocks did not come with a dust cover or bump stop? Do I use the old ones or do the new sport shocks not need them. I don't want to have to redo this if I guess wrong. HELP!

dannyb · 12-28-2007, 12:20 PM

i dont have them on

DFL · 12-28-2007, 02:38 PM

I called Turner Motorsports and talked with their Bilstein rep, and he did not know for sure??? I looked around at various other BMW parts sites and most stated for the bump stops and dust covers not to use with sports shocks.
I finally decided not to use either. I was surprised how easy it was to do the springs and shocks; I hope the front is as easy. I'm also doing the tie rods while I am at it. The hardest part was putting the trunk back together.

thekid · 12-28-2007, 06:32 PM

The fronts are a little harder, but the same as most other cars with the spring around the strut. Be ready for the spring compressor.

saltshaker185 · 12-28-2007, 09:53 PM

yea make sure you rent a spring compressor for the front... those springs can really hurt you when the pressure on them is released if youre not carful... you can goto autozone, put down a like 40 dollar deposit and borrow thiers getting your 40 back when you bring back the compressor... if the strut didnt come with the bump stop dont worry about it... the ones on your oem struts as made to fit oem springrates and such, bilstein doesnt know if you are lowering or anything so they dont include a bump stop in thier package as it would need to be fitted...

heh my sentences are terrible now that i'm on break... hopefully you can read all that...

DFL · 12-29-2007, 08:39 AM

Thanks for all the input. I bought a spring compressor at Harbor Freight, real cheap; I prefer to use my own tools. I'll post after I complete the fronts today and let you know how it went.

thekid · 12-29-2007, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFL

Thanks for all the input. I bought a spring compressor at Harbor Freight, real cheap; I prefer to use my own tools. I'll post after I complete the fronts today and let you know how it went.

Good luck today. If you run into any problems along the way let us know. I'll be around a computer until this evening.

Furious · 12-29-2007, 03:50 PM

i retained my old bump stops and dust covers, i did want to buy a new set of bump stops but its not overly important

DFL · 12-29-2007, 08:52 PM

Everything went fine until I started using the cheap spring compressors that I bought; you definitely get what you pay for. I finally took the struts to a neighborhood repair shop and they swapped out the springs for what it would have cost to rent a decent spring compressor. Got everything back together, including the new tie rods. I am surprised how well it tracks knowing it needs a front end alignment, no pulling at all. Thanks for the help and advise!

AlpineSixAndSeven · 12-29-2007, 10:36 PM

^ thats good how do you like the handling?

DFL · 12-30-2007, 10:30 AM

I haven't tested it too hard yet, getting an alignment tomorrow. Certainly a lot tighter feel. There is a stretch of road with lots of twists that I am dying to try tomorrow!

AlpineSixAndSeven · 12-30-2007, 05:39 PM

lol have fun but be safe