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E30 rear suspesion beam.

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Lancs BMW View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lancs BMW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: E30 rear suspesion beam.
    Posted: 15 Oct 2016 at 9:37am
In the process of some corrosion eradication on my E30. Where the rear beam mounts to the car its bolted through the body under the rear seat but theres a small bracket thats bolted through the sill and points to the rear of the car,Ive looked at it and cant understand what purpose it serves ? Its also a real bad area for rust . Anyone shed any light on this please. Thanks.
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Mike Fishwick View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mike Fishwick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2016 at 5:41pm
The small triangular bracket shouold be secured to both the inside of the sill and the base of the long stud holding the cross-member.  Its function is to locate the cross-member (and therefore the entire rear suspension and wheels) in its designed position.  Without such location suspension loads would make the long studs flex, so allowing the cross-member to move, and allowing the toe-in of the rear wheels to change under suspension loadings and introduce spurious steering inputs at the rear wheels - as though the rubber bushes had softened.

It does not however do much of a job, a far better idea being the combiniation of rear suspension and body braces sold by Strong Strut of Scotsdale, Arizona.  I have had these on my Z3 for about ten years, finding that they reduce understeer, so making the car more responsive and 'planted' when cornering, and also reduce rear tyre wear.  For about £250 (then) they were great value - but not via their UK dealers!  Buy direct fom Strong-Strut.  Mine only took about three days to arrive in rural France from rural Arizona!

For details - with pictures - see my bit in 'Stiffening a Z3' in the 'How To' part of this forum.


Edited by Mike Fishwick - 15 Oct 2016 at 5:53pm
A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
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Lancs BMW View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lancs BMW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Oct 2016 at 3:23pm
Thanks for your reply Mike. Im suffereing with severe corrosion to that area. Which probably defeats the function anyway. The other issue is due to rust im going to have to cut the bolt head off and probably the captive nuts too. When the sills have been repaired ill have to use a nut and bolt set up but i guess it will do the job. Thanks again. I just couldnt see what they actually do !!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cabrio Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 2016 at 10:08pm
its common on the E30 that the captives corrode or they need to be cut off on the rusty cars - you can nut and bolt but if doing it properly new ones are not costly so you support the plate for the rear beam bush is held properly
E30 Register joint coordinator - Competition Secretary - Contact name Neil for PM and Email - cabrio_e30@yahoo.co.uk - be aware addicted to E numbers
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lancs BMW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2016 at 6:51pm
The originals are an Allen head bolt and they get corroded too. My intention is to make a new outer plate but then use stainless nuts and bolts, that way it will be a way better job.
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E30sanchez View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote E30sanchez Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2016 at 6:55pm
Add thread lock to stainless nuts n bolts
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lancs BMW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2016 at 7:34pm
Agree ! They werent meant to come off when fitted at the factory for sure. Even though there in such a bad place that corrosion is enevitable .
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cabrio Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2016 at 9:13pm
There is a trick to them - but if the car has suffered corrosion in the arch that section of the sill suffers too
E30 Register joint coordinator - Competition Secretary - Contact name Neil for PM and Email - cabrio_e30@yahoo.co.uk - be aware addicted to E numbers
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lancs BMW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Oct 2016 at 8:08pm
Well i would concede the level of corrosion in the sill area would render the mounting useless. I did wonder what purpose it actually serves as the beam other than mounted through large bushes bolted through the body can in fact only twist.
I reckon that if you replaced the rubber version with polyuretane it would improve the movement greatly.

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