Getting that BMW ride back

[Dave535Phoenix]

A shaky ride lead me to look at my shocks and the driver's side front is leaking. Time for some new ones.

I don't want to change the ride or stance or anything, just get it back to good.

Okay, now what? BMA has a couple different Boge shocks. Is doing the fronts without doing the rears an exercise in stupidity?

And springs...do I need springs? I have close to 160k miles on the car, I'm assuming original springs though I don't know for sure. I can't even find springs for this car anywhere, though I haven't looked too hard. Again, will doing the fronts without doing the rears cause me problems?

TIA

Dave

[shogun]

Bruno's website is a good info for that too
http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/upgrade/suspensions.htm

[Kalevera]

Hi Dave.

You might find some useful info in my recent sachs kit install:

http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=9792
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=9850

I would definitely do the rears if your fronts are of the same vintage and are leaking.

springs are a nice addition while you're taking everything apart. Might as well do it all right the first time, eh?

Best, whit

[Paul in NZ]

yeah but do springs actually "wear" out????I have mtech suspension and i can see the time is coming...but i thouht i would keep the springs??

[Mobius]

As long as your ride height hasn't changed; no - your springs haven't worn out.

[Kalevera]

Dunno on the Mtecs, and it's hard for me to comment on the OEM 535 ride, as mine had to be replaced the second I bought the car...so it's hard for me to say what was the strut's fault and what the spring was doing.

After 220k, I was convinced that the average automotive spring would lose some of it's rate of return/tensile strength. I guess the ultimate test is ride height, but my shocks were so dead that they weren't exerting any pressure, which contributed to my situation a lot.

Best, whit

[Mobius]

After 220k, I was convinced that the average automotive spring would lose some of it's rate of return/tensile strength. I guess the ultimate test is ride height, but my shocks were so dead that they weren't exerting any pressure, which contributed to my situation a lot.

Yep. You'd expect they'd get a little softer over time, but whatever happens - the end result is 'sagging' - and if they aren't sagging there's no problem.

Shocks do exert a little bit of upward force, so changing them will probably fix most small 'sagging' issues.