#ZedShed Project Low Rider - BMW Z3 2.2i Sport
- Thread starter GazHyde
- Start date
Shortie_gal
Zorg Guru (III)
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2014
- Points
- 128
- Model of Z
- Z3 2.2i Sport
Glad you are still enjoying the zed, another year closer to your son being able to get behind the wheel too... 
(Quite a few years lol)
I'm getting dejavue. Here's a pic from last year:
Shorts on February evening-check
Rusty Z3 subframe folorn on the garage floor- check
Knackered bushes - check
Yep it's the Z shed!
Have to say that Lee's Z shed footwear in this pic is much smarter than your trainers Gaz..seems dress code is slipping..
Shorts on February evening-check
Rusty Z3 subframe folorn on the garage floor- check
Knackered bushes - check
Yep it's the Z shed!
Have to say that Lee's Z shed footwear in this pic is much smarter than your trainers Gaz..seems dress code is slipping..
I've had experience on how very small measurements can make big difference in handling.looking at the pic of the subframe does the inboard swingarm clamp look distorted or is it just the pic?Great read and top job as usual chaps.
If I thought there was any distortion at all, then I would strongly consider buying a new subframe. But if it was distorted I would have expected you would have felt some resistance when removing it from the mounting points. The badly worn bearings may be a symptom of distortion!
Mike
Mike
I think it's the pic Hugh. But till we get a closer look...
Mike - we haven't stripped it down yet, but Steve has a replacement sub frame already if we need it. If in doubt, chuck it out!
Mike - we haven't stripped it down yet, but Steve has a replacement sub frame already if we need it. If in doubt, chuck it out!
If the rubber bushes are shot, there isn't so much resistance to removal of the pivot bolts. You only discover that when you're trying to re-fit the bolts through new bushes and find that they won't align because something is bent. Also removal is often hindered by the arm not being in the correct "plane" , ie, maybe should be held at a level above or below the perpendicular.
Tony.
Tony.
Shortie_gal
Zorg Guru (III)
- Joined
- Dec 13, 2014
- Points
- 128
- Model of Z
- Z3 2.2i Sport
Theyve done 9 of them now. They are pros! 
If I'm honest Hugh I wouldn't know as basic mechanics is my limit. Not sure if mine handles as it should as mine is the only one I've driven so no real point of referance. Feels OK but I think the rear tyres are not so good (make wise) so I'll see when I come to put better ones on next year.
Didn't get chance to update the thread last night. We had a short tinkering session last night, starting up with a general tidy up and tool counting session. This is mainly so we don't lose any, but also so we can clear the work bench to make way for the rear sub frame!
The tear down commences, although not as far as we normally go. The discs and pads are fine, and both handbrake cables look in great condirtion so not touching the hubs, just need the main beam off and have a general clean up.
Part of the clean up, removing the rust from the rubber anti roll bar bushes. Again in good condition and no need to replace once tidied up.
Out with the differential bush. The centre came out with a tweak from a large screw driver, this is the metal outer sleeve being removed.
An all too common sight on Z3's, failed shock absorbers. Both fully compress easily and don't retract back in to "normal" position again.
Yet again looks like factory shocks, if original these will have done nearly 120k... No surprise they are shot to bits...
Nice minty fresh Boge shocks...
The rear beam will have been dropped off by @Shortie_gal to get the bushes pressed out and new ones in. We'll collect that first thing on the way to the bacon buttie van tomorrow morning. Lee is picking up the diff bush from the post office today.
So tomorrow morning will be reassembling the sub frame and refitting. Hopefully have the wheels down after lunch for a test drive to see if it's cured the camber and interesting rear handling.
The tear down commences, although not as far as we normally go. The discs and pads are fine, and both handbrake cables look in great condirtion so not touching the hubs, just need the main beam off and have a general clean up.
Part of the clean up, removing the rust from the rubber anti roll bar bushes. Again in good condition and no need to replace once tidied up.
Out with the differential bush. The centre came out with a tweak from a large screw driver, this is the metal outer sleeve being removed.
An all too common sight on Z3's, failed shock absorbers. Both fully compress easily and don't retract back in to "normal" position again.
Yet again looks like factory shocks, if original these will have done nearly 120k... No surprise they are shot to bits...
Nice minty fresh Boge shocks...
The rear beam will have been dropped off by @Shortie_gal to get the bushes pressed out and new ones in. We'll collect that first thing on the way to the bacon buttie van tomorrow morning. Lee is picking up the diff bush from the post office today.
So tomorrow morning will be reassembling the sub frame and refitting. Hopefully have the wheels down after lunch for a test drive to see if it's cured the camber and interesting rear handling.
Been waiting to see how you've been getting on. @Low Rider has been quiet - I guess the excitement is building now.
Are they steel toe caps @GazHyde?
Basically young Albert, a suspension arm works mainly horizontal the to road surface or very close. Once you jack a car up it will hang down below the horizontal and when you disconnect the shock absorber it will hang down much more. To get the pivot bolts out most easily you need to lift the arm back up to its "working plane" which takes pressure off the rubber bush. Simples.
Tony.
Tony.
Saturday update, which of course started with the obligatory bacon butty where we met up with @Oldguysrule for a natter.
From there, it was a trip around Basingstoke in the #ZedShed bus (Audi A2) to collect parts from various locations. Diff bush was at the main post office, and then over to GSF for some more bits, and then B&Q for a new disc for the angle grinder, and then back to pick up my car and then back to the #ZedShed. Nearly 12 by the time we started! That said, we've done this procedure soooo many times now it's down as a fine art.
New beam bushes fitted. When the old one was pushed out, the metal core came out leaving the outer part behind - this is the first time it's happened to this extent. We knew it was bad from visual inspection and the fact you could move the centre with your hand.
The new PowerFlex diff bush. For reference we fit these as they can be installed by hand and don't require pressing in. It's purely for convenience and not that they are better than OE quality rubber for the purpose.
Ready to drop down on to the floor and refit!
Once we got the sub frame back up in place we stripped the rear discs off so we can make sure everything is good underneath them. Err, oops... Quick trip back to GSF to buy some new pads then
A quick peak underneath with the sub frame refitted. The shield behind the discs are badly corroded. Annoyingly the hub has to be removed to change these, so it's not something we do in the shed as it's a real time consuming PITA!
If you have all been paying attention so far you will remember we cut off the rear section of the exhaust with an angle grinder due to the corrosion of the front exhaust flange. The guys at the local exhaust centre suggested this, and the use of 'sleeves' to reconnect it. We'd already picked up the wrong sized sleeves from GSF (someone measured incorrectly in the dark), so went out to get some smaller ones. They didn't have the smaller ones there so a rare visit to Eurocarparts, who had the correct size. We'd already purchased some exhaust cement to make sure everything is sealed and safe.
I had to leave just before the exhaust was refitted, and the essential test drive. Got a text from Lee to say "all good", which leads me to believe your back end issues & over active traction control are resolved now Steve
. Hopefully @Lee will update the thread with his test drive verdict soon!
From there, it was a trip around Basingstoke in the #ZedShed bus (Audi A2) to collect parts from various locations. Diff bush was at the main post office, and then over to GSF for some more bits, and then B&Q for a new disc for the angle grinder, and then back to pick up my car and then back to the #ZedShed. Nearly 12 by the time we started! That said, we've done this procedure soooo many times now it's down as a fine art.
New beam bushes fitted. When the old one was pushed out, the metal core came out leaving the outer part behind - this is the first time it's happened to this extent. We knew it was bad from visual inspection and the fact you could move the centre with your hand.
The new PowerFlex diff bush. For reference we fit these as they can be installed by hand and don't require pressing in. It's purely for convenience and not that they are better than OE quality rubber for the purpose.
Ready to drop down on to the floor and refit!
Once we got the sub frame back up in place we stripped the rear discs off so we can make sure everything is good underneath them. Err, oops... Quick trip back to GSF to buy some new pads then
A quick peak underneath with the sub frame refitted. The shield behind the discs are badly corroded. Annoyingly the hub has to be removed to change these, so it's not something we do in the shed as it's a real time consuming PITA!
If you have all been paying attention so far you will remember we cut off the rear section of the exhaust with an angle grinder due to the corrosion of the front exhaust flange. The guys at the local exhaust centre suggested this, and the use of 'sleeves' to reconnect it. We'd already picked up the wrong sized sleeves from GSF (someone measured incorrectly in the dark), so went out to get some smaller ones. They didn't have the smaller ones there so a rare visit to Eurocarparts, who had the correct size. We'd already purchased some exhaust cement to make sure everything is sealed and safe.
I had to leave just before the exhaust was refitted, and the essential test drive. Got a text from Lee to say "all good", which leads me to believe your back end issues & over active traction control are resolved now Steve
. Hopefully @Lee will update the thread with his test drive verdict soon!
Great job chaps that disc shield is a bit of a shocker 
that disc shield is a bit of a shocker