carmudgeons.com  

Go Back   carmudgeons.com > Automotive Forums > Technical Superiority

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-30-2017, 11:24 AM   #1
Nick M3
Relic
 
Nick M3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 12,438
Shock Repair

So, there was a slight incident with overtightening a shock bolt on Mike's E90 (wasn't me!). Unfortunately, this was a Bilstein PSS10 damper, and Bilstein's excellent customer service response was "Fuck you, buy another set. We won't even sell you the individual shock."

While we were noodling repairing it, I pinged a friend about a couple of different approaches to solving the problem. Basically, this came down to either carefully and very slowly welding a bolt to the end, or drilling/tapping and shoving a stud in. His opinion was that the weld on option would probably work, but that it was a last resort. And also that he could knock out a "good enough" drill guide and get it done in about 15 minutes, so I should just bring it over after work.

Making the drill guide:





Chopping off the end of the shock:





Drill guide rigged up (if this was going to get more than a couple uses, a drill bushing would be good, but not needed here):


Drilled:


Studded:


Eric:
__________________
2011 M3
2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison
2004 X5 3.0i 6MT
1995 M3 S50B32
1990 325is
1989 M3 S54B32

Hers:
1989 325iX
1996 911 Turbo


Nick M3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2017, 11:26 AM   #2
John V
No more BMWs
 
John V's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8
Location: Glenwood, MD
Posts: 14,753
Very nice shop he has there. That's good work
John V is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2017, 11:34 AM   #3
Nick M3
Relic
 
Nick M3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 12,438
Quote:
Originally Posted by John V View Post
Very nice shop he has there. That's good work
By his standard, it was hugely half assed. Way better and a lot faster than it would have been for me to do it, though.
__________________
2011 M3
2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison
2004 X5 3.0i 6MT
1995 M3 S50B32
1990 325is
1989 M3 S54B32

Hers:
1989 325iX
1996 911 Turbo


Nick M3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2017, 11:36 AM   #4
bren
lawn boy
 
bren's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer
Location: Maryland
Posts: 14,029
That's cool.

Things are so much easier when you have the right tools - and know how. But mostly tools.
bren is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2017, 10:49 PM   #5
clyde
Chief title editor
 
clyde's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 26,599
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick M3 View Post

Eric:
I am not sure how Eric and I are not friends. We shared circles in the 80s. We share circles today. I don't think we've ever met.
__________________
OH NOES!!!!!1 MY CAR HAS T3H UND3R5T33R5555!!!!!!1oneone!!!!11

Team WTF?!
What are you gonna do?
clyde is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2017, 10:22 AM   #6
Nick M3
Relic
 
Nick M3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Bethesda, MD
Posts: 12,438
Quote:
Originally Posted by clyde View Post
I am not sure how Eric and I are not friends. We shared circles in the 80s. We share circles today. I don't think we've ever met.
Mistakes were made?
__________________
2011 M3
2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison
2004 X5 3.0i 6MT
1995 M3 S50B32
1990 325is
1989 M3 S54B32

Hers:
1989 325iX
1996 911 Turbo


Nick M3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 12:39 PM   #7
clyde
Chief title editor
 
clyde's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 26,599
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nick M3 View Post
Mistakes were made?
I don't know...just one of those weird things.
__________________
OH NOES!!!!!1 MY CAR HAS T3H UND3R5T33R5555!!!!!!1oneone!!!!11

Team WTF?!
What are you gonna do?
clyde is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 01:48 PM   #8
rumatt
Mugwump
 
rumatt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: E46 330i, Chevy Colorado, Tesla Model 3
Location: NY
Posts: 17,475
My main takeaway from this thread is: Don't buy Bilstein.

Well, that and: whoa cool.
rumatt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 04:05 PM   #9
John V
No more BMWs
 
John V's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Carmudgeonly Ride: Ram, MS3, CX-5, RX-8
Location: Glenwood, MD
Posts: 14,753
Bilstein makes really good dampers actually. I don't like their lack of adjustability but they're very high quality and durable monotubes.
John V is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-01-2017, 04:07 PM   #10
Plaz
•••••••
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Carmudgeonly Ride: '11 1M
Location: Churzee
Posts: 17,741
That's a seriously good "there I fixed it"
__________________
2011 1M
Plaz is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
What I'm working on now: Axle Swap and Shock Shifters lupinsea Technical Superiority 17 07-27-2011 06:33 PM
Sticker Shock, Round 2 - 1-Series Convertible SCA Car Talk 8 01-14-2008 02:29 PM
E46 shock tower crowning? rumatt Technical Superiority 101 02-06-2006 08:12 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:48 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Forums © 2003-2008, 'Mudgeon Enterprises - Site hosting by AYN & Associates, LLC