Rear top mounts

[stevie_a]

I was looking at the post that shantybeater has posted

when looking at this photo of the rear shocks i noticed the amount of thread showing after the top of the nut

now i have just done my mounts today and don't have even half that amount showing

I have clicking noises from the back ( the reason for changing the mounts in the first place )

i was wondering if this is why i have the clicking noise. How do i know how tight to put them

i have heard you don't tighten them right up

 

[Aceman]

It is a very low torque setting for the top nut otherwise you end up compressing the rubber in the mount. They use a locking nut and the only purpose of the nut is to stop the shock from dropping out of the mount when on full suspension drop. I can't remember having this problem when I did mine a few years back it may just be a difference in shocks compared to yours that Shanty is using. Yours looks fine in the pic although can't see if the lower cupped washer is the correct way up.

 

[Frank.A]

I think that the picture is Shantys' shock and not Steves'.The shock in the picture looks non OEM and does not have the flats at the top for stopping the piston rod turning while tightening the nyloc.There is only about half that amount of thread showing on mine.Here's a couple of links to other threads on the subject.

http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... top+mounts

http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14703

 

[stevie_a]

I think that the picture is Shantys' shock and not Steves'.

Yes thats right the photo is Shanty's

 

[D C]

I tightened mine up over 18 months back, it cured the clicking and has been OK since.
I wasn't heavy handed but made sure they were very firmly tightened.
Dave.

 

[stevie_a]

That is interesting DC

the car is great but this clicking is getting me down

I made a short video and sent it to my mate john who is a bmw mechanic to watch

If you watch this up to about 30 seconds in you can here the clicks

 

[Ian_C]

From the video it sounds like it could be your rear shock mounts. I'd peel back the parcel shelf liner and remove the rubber dust caps from the shock mounts then go for a drive. Get someone to take a look at and/or video the mounts whilst you're driving. It should be much easier to tell if they're the source of the rattle this way. You could also try the silicon lube thing that worked for me with my new shock mounts (details on the link posted by Frank)

 

[D C]

That's a lot louder than mine was, I could only hear it when cruising along, not when setting off, though as mines an auto I don't lose drive between gear changes.
Might be worth tightening up just to see if there's any difference, if it stops you could always slacken off a bit.
Good luck with it, these noises can drive you mad!
Dave.

 

[stevie_a]

I tried to tighten up the bolts tonight but they are as tight as i can get them

and this is the thread at the top

what else could that noise be ??

 

[Ian_C]

Is the noise louder when you've got the dust caps off and parcel shelf peeled back? If so then I'd try lubricating the mount with silicon spray (probably worth a try anyway). If not then you need to get under the car and start looking at things like fuel tank straps, handbrake cable and rear brake anti-rattle springs.

For reference here's a pic of my rear shock mount install after lube:

 

[stevie_a]

It's ok i was just resizing the photos.... :ymblushing:

 

[stevie_a]

Is that standard shocks?

 

[Ian_C]

It's ok i was just resizing the photos.... :ymblushing:

I wondered where they'd gone!

 

[Garythefish]

From the look of this pic your rubber mount has come away from the metal mount, if this is the case, the shock will be rattling around inside the metal mount causing the noise.

The rubber has been known to split

Maybe a better pic is required ?

 

[stevie_a]

the mount is brand new, my thinking is that i will have to take the shock completely off the car to tighten it full up.

as at the moment i cant tighten it up in situ.

 

[Garythefish]

Check the mount and assembly onto the shock.

I have popped new mounts due to incorrect assembly on the shaft.

You cannot overtighten the nut due to the metal sleeve in the rubber mount.

 

[Brian H]

Hi Stevie,

I don't know if this helps but the diagram from the BMW tis site shows the following configuration for the shock mounts: -

The whole page can be found here, Click Me

HTH

 

[DangerousDave]

Now, this assy would make a rattling noise as nut #1 has not been wound down to the bottom of cup #2 #-o .

 

[zedonist]

It looks like to me you have left some bits out, your photo looks different to the red zed which has the zinc and yellow support on top, yours does not and lots more thread showing.

 

[stevie_a]

It never had this part on it.

On looking on the net this is an after market part, a reinforcement plate