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I've just pulled the rear struts out & stripped them down. The replacement Spax units don't have the bottom spring cup so I took them off the original struts. The problem I have is that the spring cups won't fit over the Spax damper tube.

Am I supposed to re-use the spring cups or are there specific ones for the Spax units?

Check the pic on the page this link takes you too and you'll just be able to see my old Spax. They had integral spring cup iirc.

http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.p ... 4&start=30

e21-Mark wrote:Check the pic on the page this link takes you too and you'll just be able to see my old Spax. They had integral spring cup iirc.

http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.p ... 4&start=30

No pics on the topic just the placeholders.

I'm worried now - have I been given the wrong struts? The fronts are on the car but it looks as though I might have to refit the old rear struts for it's mot next week.

Sorry - they were showing earlier.

Mine definitely had their own integral spring platforms anyway.

Here's a pic of a Spax rear strut (not mine) without the spring pan.



So it seems there must be a separate spring pan - either from Spax or the BMW one.

I'm looking into opening up the hole in the oe pan - getting a second opinion on whether it's possible.

Just had a look on the online parts catalogue - rear spring pans aren't listed separately.

I think you need the Spax spring. I seem to remember it being smaller diameter than the OE one, so it would sit on that narrower perch.

It was a complete Spax spring & damper kit. W&N's Spax & Hartge kits don't show spring pans.

Watched an online video of some guys changing their E21 suspension & when they opened the Bilstein box the struts came with new pans. I've emailed Spax & will contact them tomorrow.

After careful measuring we have determined there isn't enough metal in the inner pan collar to grind it out far enough. Without the collar the pan would be seriously weakened. I'm hoping Spax can come up with something otherwise we're looking at opening up the hole & welding a piece of pipe onto the pan to reinforce it.

My pans weren't to rusty but I'm sure they can get seriously corroded. BMW must be able to supply new ones.

This is a right

The joy of old cars and bank holiday Mondays! I feel for you.

Hopefully Spax will sort them out for you.

i just got some spax and they do come with the plates but are in a seperate bag hidden at bottom of box...

That's great news.

I'll chase them down for a pair.

Well, my contact at Spax was still struggling to help so I gave Larkspeed a call. A very helpful guy called Rob soon sprted things out with Tony st Spax and a pair of spring pans are on their way to me now.

Thanks for the help guys.

exellent news
what are you doing about bumpstops?

mine were totally perished beyond repair
so i didnt bother / tested shock by compressing as far as i could and went all way down so couldnt see the piston at all so though maybe not suppose to have them otherwise would limit travel ALOT.

but it is now playing on my mind.......

I got new bumpstops from the main dealer. They weren't expensive.

They do perform a necessary function so I would get a new pair.

Part number 31.33.1.116.098