REAR COILOVER INSTALLATION

This page outlines how to install a set of rear Bilstein/Eibach coilovers on an 87s4.

New and old rear coilovers....BOGES and BILSTEINS. My coilovers came preassembled. I had no idea where they should be set so i started by making sure i had the same amount of threads showing below on each rear adjustment ring. I used 4 threads, which is the way they came. (3 on the front ones) Using 4 threads gave my car a initial ride height of 182mm at the back. THIS WAS WHEN THE CAR WAS FIRST LOWERED TO THE GROUND....rear left was 182mm...rear right was 182mm also. Not a bad place to start. When the car settles I will tweek the ride height lower, to my choosing.

When you removed the main PIN hopefully you noted the way the washers and shims were orientated as they dropped out. If not this is how they look for installation. The botom of the coilover sits in the open space in the middle ...between the two "conical" washers.

i used a wood block to hold up the rear axle and to give me the extra hand to manipulate the coilover up and into postion....operative word being MANIPULATE : )

Once i got the 3 upper bolts on the coilover to line up with the 3 holes in the trunk it slid into place...., i then actually used the PIN to hold the coilover up as i secured the 3 bolts in place

3 upper bolts that hold the coilover up when tight.....right now the I'm using the main PIN to hold the coilover in postion as i get the bolts threaded. When all else fails...improvise!!

With the bolts snugged, the coilover will hang there. Now you must orientate it to the correct position....there is a correct way and you will see it in the way the coilover meets the rear control arm assembly. If it doesnt meet well, simply place a long thick screw driver through the hole in the lower coilover hole and twist it until it fits nice....may be up to 180'

with the coilover in place it is time to re-install the main pin. Before i did, i coated it with antiseize so it will be easier to remove later if i had to.

slide the pin in the rear end and tap it through. As seen here, the holes all have to line up exactly for it to pass through. I used a socket extension (seen in the right half of the picture) to apply leverage on the coilover and control arm to postion the holes perfectly. Once lined up a few simple taps of the hammer and the pin slides straight through.

One hole at a time and the pin slides to its full installed position.

When installed its time to put the bolt on the other end. When you do so and tighten it, you WILL have to counter hold the other side.(shown here) i simply placed a wrench on the bolt and let it "spin" until the wrench wedged itself against the rear sway bar.....i then torqued the front bolt down to specs.

counter holding the rear bolt on the sway bar....and tightening the front.

hey....your done!!!!!

Install your brake rotors and calipers....

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