About to set fire to the damn thing!!

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BowwssBmwE30
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Post Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:36 pm

I'm trying to fit lowering springs into my e30 it's taken me a long time to get the lower arm joint out. Whilst attempting to re fit the strut back onto the ball joint I'm really struggling to get it to line up. I've watched this video but he's just made things look far too easy.

It's almost as if my car was fitted with an aftermarket strut as its alot longer that his in the video.

I drive a e reg 318i with m10 engine.
45 mm strut type.

Any help please would be appreciated

maxfield
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Post Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:42 pm

Is the strut bolted up at the top with the 3 13mm nuts?

If so, get a lever bar in the arm and some leverage so your not trying to push down with your hand and just place it in the hole.
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BowwssBmwE30
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Post Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:51 pm

I've got the crow bar out. And I've undone the top 3 so they're almost off. I'm doing this just by myself so need them to sit in to hold up.
In the video his lower arm drops about 3 inches and mine barely drops at all!
I can't find any oem details on my strut either.
Does it matter that I'm jacked up on the subframe???
jmc330i
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Post Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:59 pm

Have you undone the arb from the arm?
James
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v
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BowwssBmwE30
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Post Mon Sep 02, 2013 7:02 pm

Arb? If your referring to front sway bar arm links yes I have only thing I haven't unbolted in the arm to the sub frame bolt nor have I unbolted the arm to the chassis at the rear "arm pit" for lack of a better word
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BowwssBmwE30
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Post Mon Sep 02, 2013 8:03 pm

Thanks for the advice guys I have done it! Brute force accompanied by a sledge hammer!!
jmc330i
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Post Mon Sep 02, 2013 8:34 pm

Good good 8)
I was about to say that you need a bigger crow bar! :D
James
'91 325i Sport
'93 318i touring 16v