Hello,
I have a 318is (so 51 mm front struts), I was wondering if anyone could supply a guide to fitting/changing springs on such a car? I have seen a number of guides for replacing the complete suspension, including dampers and in some cases anti-roll bars, but haven't found one on replacing just the springs. So if anyone could provide one, or show me where I can find one if it exist it would be great.
A list of all the tools I need would also be greatly appreciated!
Guide to fitting suspension springs?
Moderator: martauto
Tools Needed
Socket set
Spring compressors
WD40
Ball Joint Seperator
Fronts
Open the bonnet, remove the little black tab in the middle of the 3 nuts on the strut top to reveal the top of the shock nut (17mm IIRC), loosen this with the car on the deck BUT DO NOT REMOVE!
Jack the car and remove the wheel, remove the brake caliper and all ABS/sensors and support it accordingly, remove the bolts which hold the control arm in place (4 in total I think)
Use the ball joint seperator to remove the track rod ball joint and the other steering jobby (not 100% off the top of my head)
The strut should now not be connected to anything apart from the top of the strut.
Get a friend to hold onto the strut or stick a jack underneath to support it while you undo the 3 13mm nuts on the stru top which hold the strut to the car body, once these nuts are off the strut will drop if un supported so be careful, its possible to do it by yourself but the strut is canny heavy so be quick!
Once its off, lay the strut down on the floor andapply the spring compressors to the spring to compress it, once they're on and the spring is secure, you can loosen and remove the strut top nut which you loosened when the car was on the deck. Pay attention to how the top bump stop thingamy goes together when you remove it, it will save you trying to figure it out later!
Be careful when removing the spring incase theres still soe tension in it as it will shoot nuts across the road/drive/garage and it'll take ages to find them
I know!
Remove the spring, carefully remove compresors, compress new spring and seat in correct position in the rubber stop, put strut top back together the same way it was before and tighten nut (If your struggling to hold the shock still, stick some mole grips on it to get some purchase on the nut, remove compressors, get a friend to hold the strut under the top and poke the 3 bolts through, again you can do it yourself but its a PITA, once their on put ball joints back in, re-attach the supporting arm and brake jiblets, put the wheel back on and make sure tyhe nuts at the top of the strut are tight.
The rears will be easy after that
Socket set
Spring compressors
WD40
Ball Joint Seperator
Fronts
Open the bonnet, remove the little black tab in the middle of the 3 nuts on the strut top to reveal the top of the shock nut (17mm IIRC), loosen this with the car on the deck BUT DO NOT REMOVE!
Jack the car and remove the wheel, remove the brake caliper and all ABS/sensors and support it accordingly, remove the bolts which hold the control arm in place (4 in total I think)
Use the ball joint seperator to remove the track rod ball joint and the other steering jobby (not 100% off the top of my head)
The strut should now not be connected to anything apart from the top of the strut.
Get a friend to hold onto the strut or stick a jack underneath to support it while you undo the 3 13mm nuts on the stru top which hold the strut to the car body, once these nuts are off the strut will drop if un supported so be careful, its possible to do it by yourself but the strut is canny heavy so be quick!
Once its off, lay the strut down on the floor andapply the spring compressors to the spring to compress it, once they're on and the spring is secure, you can loosen and remove the strut top nut which you loosened when the car was on the deck. Pay attention to how the top bump stop thingamy goes together when you remove it, it will save you trying to figure it out later!
Be careful when removing the spring incase theres still soe tension in it as it will shoot nuts across the road/drive/garage and it'll take ages to find them
I know!Remove the spring, carefully remove compresors, compress new spring and seat in correct position in the rubber stop, put strut top back together the same way it was before and tighten nut (If your struggling to hold the shock still, stick some mole grips on it to get some purchase on the nut, remove compressors, get a friend to hold the strut under the top and poke the 3 bolts through, again you can do it yourself but its a PITA, once their on put ball joints back in, re-attach the supporting arm and brake jiblets, put the wheel back on and make sure tyhe nuts at the top of the strut are tight.
The rears will be easy after that
1990 318i Lux
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Brianmoooore
- E30 Zone Team Member
- Posts: 49358
- Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Perfect description! Only thing to add is that spring compressors are possibly the most dangerous tool you will ever use! The energy stored in even a lightly compressed spring is amazing, as is the effect of this potential energy being turned into kinetic energy when a compressor slips off!! Use extreme caution.
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sportscarfan
- E30 Zone Newbie
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Fri May 11, 2007 11:00 pm
Thank you guys! And very helpful description Choppa7! Can't wait to get cracking at it, of course will get the help of a friend as it seems like it's much easier than done by two (as most things are!).