Ohlins R&T Strut Failure

[r4dr]

Took a photo of the other side, in hindsight this looks pretty dodgy...

That's where the nut sits with the springs compressed and the camber plate stack on the base of the shaft? Something isn't right here.

[Thoglan]

Yeah, the locking portion is not doing anything there. The TMS street plates have at least 4-5 thread exposed and they use the OEM INA bearing.

Yeah, I'm thinking swapping to the turner plates is the best solution.

[Thoglan]

Well that sucks.

I'd reach out to whoever the ohlins distributor is in Oz and see what they can do.

Yup already done. They seem to think it's probably repairable. Might as well do a front end refresh and convert to flat ride while everything is apart

[Thoglan]

I have been fighting something similar with the exact same setup, Ohlins and GC street camber plates.

My steering started feeling "grainy" when turning at VERY low speeds ... like when picking up my kids and sitting on the school line doing 3mph. I could also feel slop when the car would start rolling, like a tiny clunk..

This is a good way to describe what I was feeling as well. When I went to jack the car up it was clear that the clunk was coming from the strut itself on rebound where it was sticking slightly.

[Thoglan]

Really interested to see what actually happened here, since I actually planned on getting Ohlins too :/

What did you torque the top nut to? Do you have any pictures of how well the nylon part of the lock nut actually locked?

I wouldn't consider this a mark against the ohlins, this was install error and something that in hindsight I should have been more aware of. I will likely pair with a different set of camber plates or turn down the top nuts on the lathe to ensure the nyloc is engaged properly. I believe the turner street plates are common to run with ohlins.

[Slideways]

Took a photo of the other side, in hindsight this looks pretty dodgy...

Yeah, the locking portion is not doing anything there. The TMS street plates have at least 4-5 thread exposed and they use the OEM INA bearing.

[Thoglan]

Thoglan how many threads can you see above the nut on the side that's still intact?

Took a photo of the other side, in hindsight this looks pretty dodgy...

[Thoglan]

I'm thinking the strut got bent when it was banging around in the wheel well?

Yes I'm thinking this is the case. When I came to a stop the strut was pressed up against the inside wall of the strut tower (hence why the wheel is at what looks like -10deg of camber). The spring was completely unseated so the strut would have been taking a considerable transverse load. Not sure if this would be enough to bend the strut or just driving for the short time that I did with it thrusting against one side would be the cause of the heat scoring.

[R1pilot]

I have been fighting something similar with the exact same setup, Ohlins and GC street camber plates.

My steering started feeling "grainy" when turning at VERY low speeds ... like when picking up my kids and sitting on the school line doing 3mph. I could also feel slop when the car would start rolling, like a tiny clunk. I tightened the top nut (which has barely any threads left seen, maybe 2) and the problems went away for a couple of days only to return.

I communicated with GC and they sold me a couple of bearings. When I removed the old ones, I did not think the bearings were bad but I assumed it would only manifest itself with the weight of the car, so I installed the replacement bearings. The noise/grainy feel went away for another 2 days and now its back.

I have not driven the car in a week. I was contemplating buying a new set of camber plates as mines have roughly 60k miles of which 99% were on the factory struts.

I also want to mention that I marked the nut and the coilover to see if it was backing itself, but it has not. No sure what the problem is here, might spring for some new mounts.

[bmwfnatic]

Really interested to see what actually happened here, since I actually planned on getting Ohlins too :/

What did you torque the top nut to? Do you have any pictures of how well the nylon part of the lock nut actually locked?

[r4dr]

Thoglan how many threads can you see above the nut on the side that's still intact?

[lvm3sm46]

I had the same issue with Ohlins on my Audi, The nut would keep coming off which ended up stripping the threads. I just ordered a set for the M and I was hoping not to have the same issue.

[r4dr]

Well that sucks.

I'd reach out to whoever the ohlins distributor is in Oz and see what they can do.

If they're not helpful, I'm fairly certain Barry from 3DM can get you individual components. Shipped from the US, but at least you have the parts.

[jet_dogg]

Well that sucks.

I'd reach out to whoever the ohlins distributor is in Oz and see what they can do.

[K-Dawg]

I'm thinking the strut got bent when it was banging around in the wheel well?