Having a mare with removing struts.

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capri_rob
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Fri Feb 03, 2012 6:45 pm

Might be worth replacing the spring pads if they're the worn out originals.

On reassembly be careful not to cross thread the bolt that holds the damper to the trailing arm - you might need to put your trolley jack under the arm and then position the damper so you can screw the bolt in by hand as far as possible.

Be careful as IIRC these bolts are NLA at the dealers so you might have a problem if you dont get it right.

Its not that hard - just take your time. Lowered springs will go in easy - standard springs might be a pig to get out - you might need a suitably tubby assistant to put some weight on the trailing arm whilst you try and lever the old spring out :D
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e30topless said : Proper BMW's have 4 headlights, last of the run was the E30 and E34/E32 anything after that is just complete shite
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Kedge
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Fri Feb 03, 2012 6:48 pm

capri_rob wrote: Be careful as IIRC these bolts are NLA at the dealers so you might have a problem if you dont get it right.
I can confirm that is correct, i tried to buy shinny new ones recently.
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Brianmoooore
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Fri Feb 03, 2012 9:18 pm

Kedge wrote:
capri_rob wrote: Be careful as IIRC these bolts are NLA at the dealers so you might have a problem if you dont get it right.
I can confirm that is correct, i tried to buy shinny new ones recently.
It looks like a perfectly standard HT bolt though, that you should be able to buy from any decent fasteners supplier.

It's important that you don't fully tighten this bolt until the car is back on its wheels and at normal ride height.
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tari
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Sun Feb 05, 2012 1:01 pm

mattycoops43 wrote:Right, forget all this about scissors, splitters etc etc. You need a lump hammer, and you need to give the bottom of the leg a few good sharp whacks on the square end of the bit that the ball joint goes through, the bit facing you directly in the bottom pic.

The shock makes the joint pop out without even touching the ball joint or the threads. I haven't damaged a ball joint in years, and own both types of splitters, they do stirling work as paperweights. I never split a ball joint successfully with either type.

used to rebuild landys that have about 20 balljoints on the front steering and suspension.

I agree with this!! I just done this yesterday, with issues until I got out the hammer!
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