rear coil spring removal

petebmwm · #1 03-02-2015, 08:14 PM

I did a search and couldn't really come up with any good info, before i start to take mine out is there any tips or tricks to removing them? Do you need to use a spring compressor back there? TIA!

Pete

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petebmwm · #2 03-02-2015, 08:16 PM

going to tackle the lift this week...

petebmwm · #3 03-02-2015, 08:18 PM

petebmwm · #4 03-03-2015, 01:03 PM

does everyone have air bags?

oldskewel · #5 03-03-2015, 02:05 PM

I've got a 2001 3.0i with coil springs. And I even had them out last week!

I replaced several components on my rear suspension, and found that this was made easier with the springs compressed to remove the load. The compressors I rented did not fit. I tried both a regular spring compressor and a strut compressor, and they were too big to fit in the small gap between the spring and the body. But I did have an old smaller spring compressor in my toolbox that worked fine. I jacked the wheel up and used the compressor to mostly hold it in place.

After inspecting things, I noticed that the occasional squeaking noise I was hearing was coming from the rubber pads at both ends of the spring. After doing a bad job of greasing these in situ, I ended up just removing the spring and cleaning and greasing things carefully before re-assembly.

So, yes it is possible to remove the springs, but:
1. you'll need a thin compressor
2. even then, I could only remove it because I had most of the suspension disassembled
3. the Bentley manual does not cover springs. It assumes we all have air bags.

Good luck.

petebmwm · #6 03-03-2015, 03:46 PM

thank you! I work at a bmw dealership, so I'm sure one of the techs can help me out, but i'm using a back of the shop lift out of the way and dont want to bother them much while i'm doing it.

oldskewel · #7 03-03-2015, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petebmwm

thank you! I work at a bmw dealership, so I'm sure one of the techs can help me out, but i'm using a back of the shop lift out of the way and dont want to bother them much while i'm doing it.

That makes sense. I had noticed you have a very impressive garage.

Good luck.

itscoo2pyopants · #8 03-03-2015, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petebmwm

that looks badass. what are you planning for the suspension lift? any details on the wheels / tires?

petebmwm · #9 03-03-2015, 08:18 PM

wheels are style 42's off of an e39 17x8 et20, i broke them down and had them powder coated charcoal gunmetal metalic grey, close to nogaro silver from bmw. tires are 265/70/17 hankook dynapro atm's as far as the lift, I have no idea when fluid motor union is going to make a batch, so I made my own.

petebmwm · #10 03-03-2015, 08:19 PM

I'm also running 20mm spacers on all 4 corners.

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