New Sachs Struts - Looks funny

[dnwong]

I bought some Sachs struts (OEM) and top mounts to replace the fronts on my 02' 530i. The rental spring compressor from advance auto can not compress the springs far enough to get the mounts off. So, I took them to a local shop and they mounted them.

However, upon re-installation, I found that the height of the car is 1" to 1 1/2" higher. Everything seems to be seated properly. So, I took the struts out and notice what looks like an alignment problem. The camber on the front seems to be off.

Then upon inspection of the strut...

https://youtu.be/PxjbmbA3E1s

Video show the wobble on the mount or possible a bent shaft. Thoughts

[dnwong]

Upon further investigation it looks like the wobble is from the top mount which are new.

[Jase007]

I've done struts on E39s a couple of times.

1. Re-check your part numbers for sport versus non-sport.

2. When the shop re-installed the upper strut mount, did they follow the correct order of washers (may be concave / convex) and dust shield.

3. Is the upper strut mount bearing/washer seated on the shoulder of the strut piston.

4. Are the upper and lower rubber pads for the springs the correct thickness.

5. When you re-installed strut in hub assembly, did you expand pinch bolt sleeve for strut housing to completely seat down ... and into the knuckle / hub / pinch collar. The strut body is tapered and so is the seating collar in the hub / knuckle.

Good luck.

[dnwong]

I hate having other people work on my stuff. Probably wasted $50 with the indy install. So, I decided to buy my own set of nice spring compressors and start over.

Waiting for a set of these:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/512JDAC9dlL.jpg

Which should be much safer then those rental units...

[Lupin..the..3rd]

Not sure if Arlington is too far for you, but I've got a Snap On spring compressor you're welcome to borrow if you don't want to wait for the mail order one to arrive. It's a stout beefy tool, worked great when I did suspension refresh on my E46.

[dnwong]

Not sure if Arlington is too far for you, but I've got a Snap On spring compressor you're welcome to borrow if you don't want to wait for the mail order one to arrive. It's a stout beefy tool, worked great when I did suspension refresh on my E46.

Thanks, mine just came in. Going to try again next week.

[dnwong]

Bav Auto sent me another set of struts and top mounts and I redid them with my new compressors this past week. Car still sit high. This time I figure I load down the car on each corner before tightening the inner control/sub-frame bolt and gained 3/8".

So now the car sits 3/4" higher on passenger and 1 1/4" on the drivers. I even swapped the right and the left side to see if the height variation was in the struts. Not a chance. I probably could live the 3/4" if the right and left were the same and go ahead and do rears to increase the height to match.

Anyway, still not happy with the results...

Thinking about going with coil-overs or something adjustable.

My concern would be the increase harshness of a coilover suspension vs. factory sport suspension... Also hate to spend all this money on a car that is due to be replaced.

[Trak Ratt]

Had same problem replacing the GT3 suspension on the 996 with Bilstein Sport struts and HR spring. Jumping up and down on them some got them to sit near perfect. Driving around some got them to take a final set and everything turned out fne.

[Jase007]

Here are some pics of correctly assembled Koni yellows and oem strut mounts and oem sport springs:

Upper Spring Perch:

52719

Lower Spring Perch:

*Note the lower coil end does NOT notch into the lower spring perch*.

The reason for this as per the Bentley, Koni and SACHs instructions is that the coil spring is oval in shaped and to fit the curvature of the front part of the lower spring perch, it must be aligned in this way.

52717

Side View:

52720


Good luck. :)

[86911TLCAB]

Interesting tidbit...wonder if that applies to other mounts?

[dnwong]

That is how I did it. Still looking too high. Got some coilovers in last night...
Here are some pics of correctly assembled Koni yellows and oem strut mounts and oem sport springs:

Upper Spring Perch:

52719

Lower Spring Perch:

*Note the lower coil end does NOT notch into the lower spring perch*.

The reason for this as per the Bentley, Koni and SACHs instructions is that the coil spring is oval in shaped and to fit the curvature of the front part of the lower spring perch, it must be aligned in this way.

52717

Side View:

52720


Good luck. :)