I've had issues with stock rear springs on and E30. What I did was pop them out with a prybar (after dropping the suspension as much as I could), then compress the spring with a spring compressor on the work bench, then use bailing wire between the coils to keep it compressed, since there's not much room for a spring compressor in the suspension. Then set the spring in place and snip the bailing wire off. Presto.
You can change aftermarket sport/lowering springs pretty much by hand once the rear shock and sway bar is disconnected.
In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:
Thanks for the help to you and all the others!
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
bravenrace wrote:
In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:
So no spring compressor required?
I've never used one in the rear. That is what the foot pushing down on the hub is! There are rubber bushings in the upper/lower inner and trailing arms that have some pre-load you will have to overcome with your leg as well as some rubber spring pads that have grown attached to the springs... so yank them about a little or twist them around to loosen them up.
Yep, when I was replacing the axles and rear shocks on my E36, one of the springs literally just fell out. All I had to do was reach up and put it back in. The suspension definitely has enough travel to remove the spring with no compressor.
Thanks for all the help guys. I R+R'd the springs yesterday. It was about the easiest spring replacements I ever did. All I had to do was disconnect the bottom shock mounts. Took about 45 minutes to do the the whole job!
That's awesome! My left rear wouldn't sag enough without loosing one side of the halfshaft, glad yours went so well!
In reply to unevolved:
Does yours have the sport suspension? If not, I'm wondering if the shorter springs on mine is what may have made the difference.
