Author Topic: E46 Shock mounts suck! (Read 9640 times)

mikesjo · « **on:** August 08, 2006, 02:07:53 AM »

Yeah don't use them.

Drove around today and went over a sewer and BOOM the stupid bushing in the damn shock mount went right through the thing. The carpet in the trunk and the spring stopped the whole shock from going any higher is what I'm guessing. So now the car is in my driveway with no shock in the rear driver side.

Going to see if BMA will cover the part, then I have to find some better RSM. Probably IE or GC.

tim_s · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2006, 02:14:04 AM »

Yup, I've had this too. Wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary, but the bushing popped out through the surround. I use koni adjustables on medium hardness. I have e46 m3 ones in there now that have been in there for a yr or two which have been fine, however.

mikesjo · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2006, 03:13:52 AM »

What's the difference between the E46 and E46 m3 ones?

M42boy · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2006, 10:18:50 AM »

Sounds like a defective part. I can't imagine even OEM E30 shock mount blowing out like that in that short of time. I think if you get BMA to send you a replacement, you will be fine.

I can reccomend the Turner Motorsports aluminum high-strength rear shock mounts. Seem to work fine on my car. See link below.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=JTD909

That being said, I'm a bit supprised you had any problems. BTW, I've heard the E46 Cabrio RSM's were the way to go. I think they are a decent bit stiffer than the regular E46 mounts.

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2006, 10:23:30 AM »

I used IE E30 rear mounts, but a quick question: did you have a washer above and below the shock mount? just curious...

Eurospec · « **Reply #5 on:** August 08, 2006, 01:28:03 PM »

Ditto, 2 washers per rsm.

My JTD mounts purchased from BMA are holding up just fine.

mikesjo · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2006, 02:09:56 PM »

I had a big washer on top before the nut goes on, none below. Anyone have a pic of the one below? On Pelican's site it doesn't say you need a washer on the bottom of the RSM, just the top.

I'm ordering IE ones right now from BMA.

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #7 on:** August 08, 2006, 02:23:47 PM »

yeah, in general, you need washers above and below

mikesjo · « **Reply #8 on:** August 08, 2006, 02:50:56 PM »

How would the washers below the RSM stay in place? Pics!

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #9 on:** August 08, 2006, 03:34:53 PM »

locknut - washer - shock mount - washer
(or something like that)

there are pics at zoso's website, except that his server is not responding right now --mike, put another quarter in the machine!!

2002maniac · « **Reply #10 on:** August 08, 2006, 05:22:04 PM »

I have thr E46 M3 vert bushings and they are showing wear after a year of use.

mikesjo · « **Reply #11 on:** August 08, 2006, 05:37:45 PM »

How does the washer stay in place if it's under the RSM though? Do you still put a washer under there if you're using say an IE or GC RSM?

tim_s · « **Reply #12 on:** August 09, 2006, 03:30:00 AM »

mine had the washers in place above and below, was assembled exactly as per the ETK. Still popped an E46 rubber out of its surround, the part was only 6 months or so old. I run koni adjustables, eibach arbs etc.
believe the rubber insert is stiffer on the E46 m3/cab part, they have a different part no. from standard E46 ones. i wondered whether the problem lay in the fact that I was running the E46 top mount with the rest of the E30 assembly. maybe changing the rest of the assembly to E46 stuff would help. ive not had any trouble since with the E46 m3 stuff, but im guessing that running uprated suspension means you are more liable to pop rear shock mounts.

mikesjo · « **Reply #13 on:** August 09, 2006, 04:36:47 AM »

Do i still need the washer on the bottom w/ IE or GC ones?

M42boy · « **Reply #14 on:** August 09, 2006, 08:21:08 AM »

Quote from: mikesjo

How does the washer stay in place if it's under the RSM though? Do you still put a washer under there if you're using say an IE or GC RSM?

Mike, the nice thing about the Turner RSM's is that they have replaceable rubber bushings in the center. The mount never goes bad, and you can buy replacement bushings from Turner for $15 a pair from Turner.

This sounded like a winner to me.

Febi... I'm concerned as I dont' have a washer on the top of mine either! I was really confused as I would have figured Turner would have included washers if I needed them, but when tightening the top nuts, it didn't seem right to not have one.

Do you use the factory washer (which looks concave in the Real OEM pic) or can I use any old decent sized washer from the hardware store?

Can someone post pics for mikesjo and I? I'd like to see what others are doing. I can understand having one on the top, but a little confused as to why you'd need one below.