Another noobiw questions .....

[underDAWG]

After 17 years hard driving, my '86 325E shows her age. I have not replaced any of her suspension except the front control arms. What are the worthwhile items (bushings etc.) I should consider replacing? I am thinking to replace the springs and shocks but I don't like to lower the drive height though. Any suggestions are welcome. TIA.

Later,

 

[xLibelle]

Lift the front end up with the weight off the suspension. With plyers, squeze at the ball joint; if it squezes more than 1.4 mm or has play anywhere else in the control arm, it should be replaced.
Springs and shocks is really the only thing you are looking for then. These other guys know that stuff better than me.

 

[Ryan Stewart]

Just make sure the tie rod ends and the ball joints are good up front for now.

For some preventative maintenance the top shock mounts both front and rear are some not too pricey peace of mind. Also the Subframe bushings will help solidify the rear end.

If you want to start modifying or racing then there is a plethorea of parts to watch.

 

[xLibelle]

You want to list them.

 

[Ryan Stewart]

Tie rod ends, control arms (includes the front ball joints), CA bushings (recommend M3 1s if you have wider wheels), subframe bushings (incl diff bushing), trailing arm bushings, front strut mounts (bearing set and mount in one), rear shock mounts (use E46 cabrio mounts).

Most of those are not that bad, the trailing arm bushings are a bitch. Once you do the back it should last a while. They recommend watching the front like a hawk when you race, to the extent of replacing the control arms every few years just to be safe.

If you are planning on putting springs/shocks in the go ahead and do the shock mounts both front and rear. The mounts are not that much money and the work involved in removing them is prohibitive, so do them in conjunction.

 

[underDAWG]

Thanks Ryan.

Definately I need to replace the rear upper shock mount, I know it is gone. But how hard is it to replace the subframe and trailing arm bushings ? Is there an easy way to tell if they needed to replace?

After checking on a number links for susoension, is it better to buy a kit or but spring and shocks separately.

The kit sold by Eurowebparts.com seems to be reasonable. What do you guys think, here is the description of it:

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BTS- Bilstein Tuned Suspension, is a high performance system with sport tuned monotube gas shocks and matched lowering springs. The system includes 4 coil springs with performance directed spring rate and patented monotube gas pressure shock absorbers.
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Later,

 

[underDAWG]

BTT