So, I'll be installing the IE plates next weekend. Taking a look at them, I see the bearings are open at the top - how do you keep crud from getting in there and messing up the bearings? Do the little caps from the OEM upper strut mounts fit them? Which leads me to the next question - if they do fit, can you buy them separately (mine are missing and I don't see them listed on realoem)? :confused5:
Lucky you, because I'm doing mine right now.... IE, fixed camber plates. Well, I'm home now and tired, but hopefully I'll be finishing up tomorrow. Yes the OEM cap fits the IE and protects the bearing from "stuff".... What you need is item #4..... $1.48 RealOEM.com * BMW R56 Coop.S JCW GUIDE SUPPORT/SPRING PAD/ATTACHING PARTS Now I have one for you..... The IE fixed camber plates appear to be the same part used on both sides of the car. They don't appear to made as a Left Hand or Right Hand parts. At least that's what I'm seeing and the parts aren't marked. How do your's look to you? Same part or RH & LH parts.
hmm... almost identical, but not quite. They are mirror images of each other - if you put them side by side upside down there's an unused hole drilled in each one, but the holes are on opposite sides. Oh, also if you look at them right side up, the rubber insert has a little arrow embossed on it. They point in opposite directions. There is no indication which is right or which is left that I can see though.
and thanks for the part, I could not find it myself! The categories they give on that site are not always obvious. here's some pics for our viewer's pleasure: kind of hard to see on that one
Hmmmmmm..... The extra hole is in the aluminum housing correct? But it isn't used with the black plate correct? The comment about the little rubber arrow...... it faces somewhat towards the front of the vehicle and on the other, somewhat towards the rear, when held in position as installed.....correct?
tried to post pics... stupid Flikr For the extra holes, yeah that's it. As installed, the rubber arrows would both face forwards (or backwards). fixed pictures
Just curious..... So have you figured out which plate goes where when you go to mount them..... since they aren't marked RH or LH?
The plates are handed. I'm sorry but old age & fog are keeping me from remembering which is which. I don't understand why IE doe's not mark them. A great product that lacks a simple instruction. :frown2:
There are two oem washers you will want to transfer over to the IE unit. These protect the bearing from the spring side. These here... The two washers are different, so pay attention to the order they are installed.
Get yourself a spring compressor, beg, borrow or stee..... err rent..... There is a lot of stored energy contained in the stock spring / strut.... It will fly.... I used a pair of handy welding clamps I have here in the shop.... They worked quite nicely.... I wouldn't buy a spring compressor, not much use for one..... But if you want to spend some money on tools.... Buy a couple of welding clamps from ViceGrip...... You will find more uses for those tools than a one time use "Spring Compressor"... Eh
Make sure you get the top and bottom of the spring ends back into the rubber retainer and against the stops when you reassemble the damper assembly with the IE piece....
The photo compares an encasement that has settled, to one that will move upward with use; eventually the height difference will be negligible.