Need help with Sach Kit installation

[Badkrma]

I have done several searches and did not see it ask or answered. I have a 1990 535 with an automatic if that makes a difference.

1. On the front struts, do I need to fill tube with oil as per the repair manual?

2. What do I do for the rear bump stops? I have an email into Sachs, but I am starting the project.

Also,

When doing the upper and lower Thrust/control arms, did any of you put the 150 lbs in both front seats and 150 lbs in the center of the rear seat before finishing tightening the bolts?

Thank you.

Stephen

[califblue]

.

1. On the front struts, do I need to fill tube with oil as per the repair manual?

Your Sach's struts are sealed, you old ones had oil in them

2. What do I do for the rear bump stops? I have an email into Sachs, but I am starting the project.
Just claen them and reuse them

Also,

When doing the upper and lower Thrust/control arms, did any of you put the 150 lbs in both front seats and 150 lbs in the center of the rear seat before finishing tightening the bolts?

I just torqued them then drove the car and checked a week later nothing moved... check again at 5k ...nothing moved

[Robin-535im]

1. On the front struts, do I need to fill tube with oil as per the repair manual?

No - just make sure the collar nut is as tight as can be or else you'll get clunks. The sway links have to be really tight too (hopefully you got new ones to go with your other new parts).

2. What do I do for the rear bump stops? I have an email into Sachs, but I am starting the project.

I don't know.

When doing the upper and lower Thrust/control arms, did any of you put the 150 lbs in both front seats and 150 lbs in the center of the rear seat before finishing tightening the bolts?

I did the force/moment balance on this a year or two ago. Turns out if you put something like 50 lbs directly over each wheel you'll get the same loading as the "Fully loaded" case in Bentley. I used a bag of sand on top of a soft blanket. It hardly changed the ride height at all with the stiffer springs, so it might not really matter. For the rear, I think you need 150 or 200 lbs in the trunk to equal "fully loaded", but you don't have to torque the rear under load so the 50 lbs on the front wheel humps is all you need.

HTH

Robin

[Badkrma]

Thanks. I did get new sway links. Hope to have it all done this weekend, then just wait for my wheels to get back from repair (17's had a little taco in 2 of them) and I will be ready to go.

[Robin-535im]

...(17's had a little taco in 2 of them)

Did you crash into a Del Taco or something?

[Kalevera]

http://www.statch.com/users/wlowel/e34suspension.pdf

I kept the full rear bumps...they work fine on the "upper" setting.

If you don't have a set of ramps to tighten the thrust/control arms under load, get out the spare tire and lower the side in question onto it. It's very important that you preload those bushings before torquing them - they've got to be "set" to the ride height. If they're torqued with the weight off of the wheels, the bushings get set pointed downwards, you'll get a messed up ride, and you'll have to replace the bushings again in a few thousand miles...


best, whit

[liquidtiger720]

Defintely torque down those bolts as soon as possible. I had to wait a two weeks while driving around, so I am hoping I didnt mess them up =x. Of course, it was easy for me as I had access to a full shop with alignment rack for free. =)

I also used the full rear bump stops.

[Mobius]

1. On the front struts, do I need to fill tube with oil as per the repair manual?

Your Sach's struts are sealed, you old ones had oil in them

Are you sure about that?

I mean, I definitely don't know - but my Konis called for oil in the strut tube.

All the struts for this car are sealed inserts. I don't know why one application would call for oil in the strut tube and another not.

From what I learned here in trying to deciper the Koni instruction's heiroglyphs, a small amount of oil is necessary in the strut tube to act both as a water displacement mechanism and to aid in heat transfer. I know the old (sachs) strut I pulled out of my driver's side had barely any oil in it compared to the passenger side, and above the oil level the insert was quite rusty.

I don't think it could hurt anything. I'd do it just to be safe.

[Badkrma]

I have tried all that I have read on this board, Pry Bar, Hammer, Lube, Lube, Lube, Hammer, Pry Bar, Heat....... Help Please.....