URGENT help needed

[bmwe30mtech]

Hi guys,

Im half way through fitting my front springs, well almost fisihed, but im now totally stuck.

The nuts to hold the strut onto the steering arm and suspension arm are just spinning the bolts they screw onto. I cant do them up, so cant even drive it to a garage.

The allan key head in the middle of the bolt is rusted away.

I have tried putting the jack under the joints and put pressure on them, they still spin.

I have tried an air powered tool to put them on fast but they still spin.

Im TOTALLY stuck here, and cant get anywhere with it

Any hellp hugely appreciated.

Paul

[Cabrio]

Is it the ball joint...if so need a splitter or put the jack under it to push it tight in the bottom of the strut if that makes sense...difficult without being there..sorry

[bmwe30mtech]

Is it the ball joint...if so need a splitter or put the jack under it to push it tight in the bottom of the strut if that makes sense...difficult without being there..sorry

Hi,

Yer thats right. I have tried the jck to push it up, but how much can i push on it?

Also the breaker wont fit on upside down to push it back in under pressure.

[scottybeemer]

hi mate,try cleaning the threads on the ball joint(wire brush and wd40)first then pressure with a jack(i take it you are fittin the strut)if that fails,put a open ended spanner in the gap between the steering arm and ball joint(on the non threaded bit ov the ball joint shank)and apply pressure while tightening the nut,sorry but its a bit hard to explain,but hopefuly you will get me drift,good luck

[Chris-W]

When you put the jack under tha ball joint, try using a socket (impact preferably) to apply more focussed pressure.

[scottybeemer]

you can jack it right up so that corner is of the ground

[stuartgallafant]

just jack it right up, you wont damage it. then buzz the nut on. ive done it loadsa times, even without impact tools

[tee]

If all fails put a bit of valve grinding paste on the contact surfaces of the ball joint and the lower arm then use a buzz gun. This has got me out the shite before.

[bmwe30mtech]

Thanks for all your help.

I used your advice, jacked it right up (using the bmw boot jack ) and used a wire brush on the bolts. The greased them up and used a standard half inch drive to put them on.

All checked over, put the wheels on, lowered it down and its sitting very nicely.

Thanks for your help, zone is essential for these things

Paul

[Martinaston]

New nylock nuts help a bit as well (well next time anyway)