Am i missing a washer on my new rear shocks???

[Barry78]

As title, fitted new rear shocks recently when a mate commented that i may be missing a washer (or shim) between the lower shock bolt hole and the hub.

Can anyone advise?

Pics say a thousands words...

 

[Antm72]

That washer should be on the outside but there should be a spacer inbetween the strutt and the arm to keep square.
I'll find a pic if i can

 

[Brian H]

As title, fitted new rear shocks recently when a mate commented that i may be missing a washer (or shim) between the lower shock bolt hole and the hub.

Can anyone advise?

Pics say a thousands words...

View attachment 38586 View attachment 38587

If you look at the OEM shocks they will have an elongated metal sleeve that the lower bolt fits through, aftermarket shocks do not have this, either fit washers or you can cut off part of the metal sleeve from your old shocks and use as a spacer.

 

[GazHyde]

There is normally some kind of spacer between the bottom of the shock and the hub mount.

 

[Antm72]

This shows the bottom the insert is longer so it provides approx 10mm of spacing mount to strut the washer you have should be on the outside so it doesn't pull through.

 

[Barry78]

Cheers.

I'll fit the 2 washers between bolt head and strut. There were no spacers in the pack but i did notice the OE shocks had a rectangular spacer attached to the lower strut bushing.

Emailed TA-Technix who said 'you don't have to fit the washer but do so if you want'...

 

[Lee]

Cheers.

I'll fit the 2 washers between bolt head and strut. There were no spacers in the pack but i did notice the OE shocks had a rectangular spacer attached to the lower strut bushing.

Emailed TA-Technix who said 'you don't have to fit the washer but do so if you want'...

That might be the case because of the way the shocks have been made. If that's the case just stick the washer under the bolt head and you'll be fine.

I bet if you laid the old shock and new shock next to each other and stuck a square up against that joint, one will have a slight lean.

 

[Barry78]

That might be the case because of the way the shocks have been made. If that's the case just stick the washer under the bolt head and you'll be fine.

I bet if you laid the old shock and new shock next to each other and stuck a square up against that joint, one will have a slight lean.

Interesting point. Top mounts were a bit perished when took old shocks out, new ones on order so will compare shocks when both on bench.

Fitted front coilovers also, is it normal to require spacers to increase gap between wheel/tyre and coilover?

 

[Lee]

Interesting point. Top mounts were a bit perished when took old shocks out, new ones on order so will compare shocks when both on bench.

Fitted front coilovers also, is it normal to require spacers to increase gap between wheel/tyre and coilover?

Be good to see a photo for info.

With the front coil overs you will actually increase the gap between the wheel and the Spring becuase it's narrower. Funny offsets and after market wheels userlly cause the rubbing problems. @GazHyde found this out once.

Lee

 

[Barry78]

Ill get back to you with pics. Thanks.

 

[5harp3y]

My bilsteins came with a large spacer.

The bmw shocks have it built in

 

[Barry78]

So, no spacer required at the back but new washer fitted. New top mounts fitted today also. There was no lean between OE shocks and new ones, so happy to leave that as that.

As for the fronts, pictures below of the gap between the tyre and adjuster on the coilover with a flat rule squeezed in for scale.

 

[Antm72]

That is close but technically unless you have a heavy wheel bearing failure it should be ok , you could 5mm space if you have the front clearance to the arch.As said it depends on the wheel widths and offsets.
I ran my last zed with the same kind of tolerance and it was ok.

 

[Barry78]

That is close but technically unless you have a heavy wheel bearing failure it should be ok , you could 5mm space if you have the front clearance to the arch.As said it depends on the wheel widths and offsets.
I ran my last zed with the same kind of tolerance and it was ok.

Ok, cheers. Was looking at 5mm spacers on ebay just for piece of mind.

Found 7mm here...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-120-72-...296944?hash=item3ac7ddad30:g:9cMAAMXQROxRdvm7

Presume ok to drive in the meantime?

 

[Antm72]

The wheel should not move anywhere the only thing with give is the tyre and it should notmove that much on on such a small tyre wall i wouldn't have thought.

 

[Barry78]

Excellent. Not having used spacers before (not much of a modifier) do the ones in the link seem ok?

 

[Antm72]

As a rule with spacers as long as you can still locate your wheel central on the hub to keep it central then they should be ok.
The term hubcentric is used this just extends the hub to keep things central so you don't get a wobble in the steering.
Never spaced front wheels and only used hubcentric rears the 3-5mm will be fine as the wheel will locate not sure on the 7mm best thing would be to whip a wheel off and measure the hub flange its about 10mm i think but 3mm on the wheel may not be adequate.
Some one thats used them may advise @t-tony ?

 

[t-tony]

I have hub centric front (14mm ) and rear (20mm) on my Z4 and used these previously on my Z3 too.

Tony.

 

[Barry78]

In summary...this pish coilover (Ta Technix) set was removed and i ordered uprated shocks and struts (Ta Technix) and found the rear struts to be bottoming out and the front strut bottom mount to be fouling the top of the tyre...so after all the on/off/on/off/on work the original shocks have been put back on with lowering springs. Sorted. Job done. I'm out...

Oh and 5mm spacers added all round.

Thanks for advice lads.