Suspension Question


#1

Guys…I’m in need of some assistance.
I’m trying to get my Spec E30 325i ready for the upcoming season. Car is at my local shop (new motor mounts) but my mechanic called me regarding the front suspension. He feels that the upper mounts are binding when turning the wheel. I had experienced the same but always figured it was just the springs themselves binding up a bit.
So I asked him to take a look at it and upon removing the front strut and spring, he believes that the front strut is actually crashing into the top plate (and bending it).
He asked whether the strut/spring combo was a matched set because he feels that the strut is too long (or too stiff) for the spring.
Has anyone else experience this problem?
Advice greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Rob


#2

Call Dave @ DP Motorwerks. He’s build 4 Spec E30 Cars and knows them inside and out.

http://dpmotorwerks.com/

Post edited by: brain, at: 2006/03/10 12:54


#3

He probably stacked the spacers wrong. I did it once. I think Carter did too.

Bearings bind when that happens.

The parts all work perfect together…when they are installed correctly. Something either isn’t stock or something is installed wrong.

Ric


#4

Rob:

Rick is correct. One time, I thought that I had reassembled the strut correctly but the binding told me otherwise. I took them apart, got the washers/spacers back in the correct order, and it was fixed.

Let us know if you have any other questions, and tell us where you’re located.

Carter


#5

Thanks for the insight, guys.
As it turns out, the front struts are not the correct ones.
Previous owner installed Bilstein Sports with Eibach (street) springs.
After I bought the car, I simply changed the springs and sways.
Although he told me he used the short bilsteins, they were in fact the longer ones…Which is why it felt like the front upper strut bearings were binding up.

So new (correct) bilsteins all around.
Thanks,
Rob