Suspension (Shocks & Joints) Replacement or Chassis Lube? - United Bimmer Community

**delmarco** · 08-13-2005, 08:37 AM

Car is squeaking around rear wheel wells when I go over rough spots on the road. I just checked my suspension (springs, shocks and joints) 4 weeks ago and they all checked out fine. I'm not sure when the last time they were replaced and my car has 150,000 miles.

Anyway my co-worker was telling me I just need a chassis undercarriage lube job and NOT new suspension-because My car bounces back up fine when he pushed down on the trunk to test the shocks.

I'm thinking I need new suspension...based on age and milage.

who is right?

Also what is the general cost of suspension on an E36? I just want basic OEM or OE (Bilsten, etc...) stuff nothing fancy.

**Dudesky** · 08-13-2005, 09:07 AM

There's a lot to replace if you're talking suspension. If you're talking just shocks and struts, I brought mine back to OEM spec and cost me a little over $500 for both front and rear . . and I did the work myself.

Then there are ball joints, control arms, bushings, and sway bar parts. Your best bet is to get the lube job first, and while they're doing it, ask them to let you know if they see anything that needs replacing. By the way, the squeaking could also be the parking brake.

**delmarco** · 08-13-2005, 11:24 AM

the parking brake would squeak when driving over bumps in the the road?

**Antiburn** · 08-13-2005, 02:36 PM

You cant lube up any ball joints on BMW's. They are all sealed ball joints and the bushings you just replace, you dont lube a bushing.

**delmarco** · 08-13-2005, 04:34 PM

So what are they lubing?
Can't you tell I have no idea....

I was guessing the springs...or something...like joints...

can I have some help....

**Spieluhr** · 08-13-2005, 04:50 PM

sounds like your bushings are going.

which is a common problem on the e36

**Rooz** · 08-13-2005, 05:42 PM

Yeah, you can't lube AANYTHING on a bmw as far as chassi goes...

**brien4787** · 08-13-2005, 07:10 PM

haha, this thread is so funny.

i think i am going to go lube my springs and bushings now....
haha sorry, i am an ass

**delmarco** · 08-14-2005, 08:33 AM

What is so funny?

I really have no idea about the whole "chassis lube"...

Also apart from locating the source of the squeeking sound I have no idea of what i'll be looking at when i go under my car.....

If I was joking I would have posted this in the humor section....

thanks anyway 4 those who gave real advice...

Now I'll know better to go elsewhere for genuine tech help

**Dudesky** · 08-14-2005, 11:09 AM

Yo man, relax, dude. I know it's hot and nasty outside but . .

These guys are right, I don't know what I was thinking. There's nothing to lubricate underneath. The parking (e)brake can rattle or squeak if it's loose.

Here's an interesting thing that happened to me . . a while back, I kept hearing grinding/squeaking noises when I hit bumps, and particularly whenever I made a right turn. Searched underneath for about a month, with no luck figuring out what the hell it could be. One day, I was crawling out from under, and banged my knee against the muffler, and there it was- that squeaking grinding sound. Turns out it was the exhaust system. Even though it was pretty tight and didn't move if I grabbed it, it would sway just slightly enough for the pipes to hit the metal hanger in the middle of the car. But because the sound transferred to the entire section of piping, it was hard to tell where the noise would come from. Whoever installed the exhaust apparently didn't align it correctly, and it was off to the drivers side just a hair. You might wanna check yours out just in case, to rule out this possibility.

**delmarco** · 08-14-2005, 11:54 AM

Interesting I'll look at that...later on tonight I'm getting a 2 ton jack from sears so I can raise up my car and see better.

**brien4787** · 08-14-2005, 02:04 PM

i was always taught not to go under my car with just a floor jack holding your car up in the air.. sure it probably will be fine, but i will always at least use jack stands.

the last time i had a squeeky noise from my car, it actually had to do with my exhaust also..
when ireplaced my starter, i had to lower the front end of my tranny... but in order to do this, i had to remove this little piece of metal that was there for support of the exhaust, nothing else....

when i was all done, i didnt put the exhaust support back on with both bolts(there are 2 small nuts and bolts to keep it there from what i remember,). when i would drive around i kept hearing this squeek noise... found out that it was this little piece of metal supporting the exhaust... i tried to put it back on, but it was bent a little from when i removed it, then just took the whole thing off... it was kinda useless...

if i have time after work today or just tomorrow sometime i will look under my car and tell you where that is... it is possible that it could just be this... who knows though...
it could be so many things

**delmarco** · 08-14-2005, 02:18 PM

the reason i suspected shocks and struts, is that the sqeaking and rattling ONLY occurs when going over bumps and potholeswhen the road is flat and smooth it is silent as a pindrop.

**zeit00** · 08-17-2005, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by delmarco

the reason i suspected shocks and struts, is that the sqeaking and rattling ONLY occurs when going over bumps and potholeswhen the road is flat and smooth it is silent as a pindrop.

Rear Shock Mounts

**komodo** · 08-17-2005, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeit00

Rear Shock Mounts