Rear Shocks & Springs

[ZTec]

Hi All,
I've been trawling the forum looking for some info on changing the rear shocks and springs on my Zed. I'm going for straight OEM items. Anyone done this job before? Any hints and tips would be appreciated.
As I'm not lowering the car I would imagine that removing and replacing the springs is a bit more difficult than shorter springs.
Much appreciated.
Tec

 

[t-tony]

You need to jack up the rear end of the car, both sides together if you can to eliminate the effect of the anti-roll bar. Remove the wheels and place a jack under the lower suspension arms. Take a little weight with the Jack and remove the lower shocker bolt. Let the weight off the Jack completely and then you may need an assistant to push the hub down while you remove the coil spring . It's best to have the handbrake on at this point to stop the hub spinning whilst it is pushed down. Remove the nut from the top shocker mounting and the shocker can be removed. You may find that the top mountings themselves need replacing at this point. Replacement is reversal of this procedure and repeat for the other side.

Tony.

 

[ZTec]

Hi Tony, thanks for the write up. Will I need to disconnect the anti roll bar?

regards
Tec

 

[andyglym]

Hi All,
I've been trawling the forum looking for some info on changing the rear shocks and springs on my Zed. I'm going for straight OEM items. Anyone done this job before? Any hints and tips would be appreciated.
As I'm not lowering the car I would imagine that removing and replacing the springs is a bit more difficult than shorter springs.
Much appreciated.
Tec

Hello mate, take a look at Pelican Parts site, it has a full technical guide with pictures supporting the words, this may help.

 

[ZTec]

Hi Andy,
I've just been looking through it, it'll help.
Thanks mate.

 

[andyglym]

www.pelicanparts.com

 

[t-tony]

Hi Tony, thanks for the write up. Will I need to disconnect the anti roll bar?

regards
Tec

You shouldn't need to disconnect it. Also jacking up both sides takes the torsion out of the ARB.

Tony.

 

[ZTec]

OK thanks Tony.

 

[roadvoyager1]

Replaced rear shocks on mine recently. Used Sachs replacement shocks and Meyle top mounts. I also replaced the rubber pads top and bottom (a few pounds each from BMW dealer}. Intended to replace the drop links and ARB bushes at the same time but the nuts were so badly corroded that this has been delayed for a few weeks. Have bought new bush and drop link brackets so all will be good when we get the job done. Check how rusty the fittings are on yours and decide if you need to replace anything else.
I found that the Meyle top mounts seemed to settle slightly after a week or so and the nut which tightens onto the shaft of the shock needed to be nipped up to stop the top washer from vibrating (or maybe we should have tightened it more when fitting!!}.

 

[ZTec]

Replaced rear shocks on mine recently. Used Sachs replacement shocks and Meyle top mounts. I also replaced the rubber pads top and bottom (a few pounds each from BMW dealer}. Intended to replace the drop links and ARB bushes at the same time but the nuts were so badly corroded that this has been delayed for a few weeks. Have bought new bush and drop link brackets so all will be good when we get the job done. Check how rusty the fittings are on yours and decide if you need to replace anything else.
I found that the Meyle top mounts seemed to settle slightly after a week or so and the nut which tightens onto the shaft of the shock needed to be nipped up to stop the top washer from vibrating (or maybe we should have tightened it more when fitting!!}.

Where did you get the Sachs shocks and Meyle top mounts from. That's another thing I meant to ask about was the upper and lower pads, how much were they if you don't mind me asking.
Drop links and bushes replaced last year along with new nuts and bolts when I refurbed ARB and spare wheel carrier.

 

[roadvoyager1]

Where did you get the Sachs shocks and Meyle top mounts from. That's another thing I meant to ask about was the upper and lower pads, how much were they if you don't mind me asking.

Sachs rear shocks were from Eurocarparts, list price was £105.84+VAT for the pair in January this year, although I bought them when they had a 25% discount sale .
Meyle top mounts were from eBay supplier ASC in Ireland. They are described as "Meyle HD Rear strut mount camber plates" and were £11.50 for the pair including p&p. I checked the Meyle part number on their web site.
Upper spring pads (ending .935) were £9.09 + VAT each and the lowers (ending .386) were £4.97 + VAT each. I bought mine from Lloyds BMW in Newcastle and got the 10% BMWCC member discount. Although the edges of the old ones were tired the area where the spring contacts was in reasonable condition. I my case I felt it would not have been essential to replace them, but I had them and can now forget about them for another 10+ years.
Check that you have the small reinforcer plate (shown as item 11 on the realoem diagram for the rear axle suspension. Another member @Axelf reported that his were missing (after he had just bought the car) and the strut punched through the top of the mount causing considerable inconvenience.
Hope that helps. Let us know how you get on.

 

[ZTec]

Sachs rear shocks were from Eurocarparts, list price was £105.84+VAT for the pair in January this year, although I bought them when they had a 25% discount sale .
Meyle top mounts were from eBay supplier ASC in Ireland. They are described as "Meyle HD Rear strut mount camber plates" and were £11.50 for the pair including p&p. I checked the Meyle part number on their web site.
Upper spring pads (ending .935) were £9.09 + VAT each and the lowers (ending .386) were £4.97 + VAT each. I bought mine from Lloyds BMW in Newcastle and got the 10% BMWCC member discount. Although the edges of the old ones were tired the area where the spring contacts was in reasonable condition. I my case I felt it would not have been essential to replace them, but I had them and can now forget about them for another 10+ years.
Check that you have the small reinforcer plate (shown as item 11 on the realoem diagram for the rear axle suspension. Another member @Axelf reported that his were missing (after he had just bought the car) and the strut punched through the top of the mount causing considerable inconvenience.
Hope that helps. Let us know how you get on.

That's a great help, I, planning on doing the rear in the next fortnight. Thanks.