Can't install Front strut bar

[markus_74]

Hello,

need info, what is wrong when my new front strut bar did not fit into my front strut suspension screw?

does my car front strut brace has a deformation?

how to fix it?

and can I use adjustable front strut bar to fix it?

and does fitting front strut bar is worthed?

thank you
markus

[milescook]

Hi there post up some pictures and I'm sure the guys will try and help you out.

[march109]

Try jacking up one side of the vehicle. Sometimes they don't quite reach and jacking one side up will bring the strut tops closer together so the strut bar does reach. At least I think that's your issue!!

[pac1982]

front struts are only really worth fitting if you drive hard, it may not fit due to you having the wrong version, I'm fairly sure they differ for 6 pot and 4 pot cars and you could have even been sold one for a totally different car

[Kos]

Or the car is bent........

[markus_74]

Try jacking up one side of the vehicle. Sometimes they don't quite reach and jacking one side up will bring the strut tops closer together so the strut bar does reach. At least I think that's your issue!!

yes this is my issue
which point should I jacking up? at the tire or the body?

the different is about 1 centimeters from original strut bar holes.

does is it a big gap or normally because of the car age?

[markus_74]

front struts are only really worth fitting if you drive hard, it may not fit due to you having the wrong version, I'm fairly sure they differ for 6 pot and 4 pot cars and you could have even been sold one for a totally different car

but I hope with strut bar I can make my chamber of my car become back to original condition, because strut bar is corrected it?

and make the car handling better?

is it correct?

[bmw9818]

i had an issue getting mine to fit, it was a very tight fit, i had to line it up on both sides then i eventually got on top and stamped it home, might damage part of the thread but a quick thread file sorted it

[s9810588]

Markus, one centimeter is a lot of mismatch. One or two millimeter mismatch may be forced to fit.

Jacking the car up on one side will not make it fit - if it does, I'll be very worried.

Either it's the wrong strut bar or the car has had a collision and deformed that much.

[Dave_M3]

front struts are only really worth fitting if you drive hard, it may not fit due to you having the wrong version, I'm fairly sure they differ for 6 pot and 4 pot cars and you could have even been sold one for a totally different car

Nonsense!

I've only seen two E30s that I've tested a Sparco strut brace I have without any problems.


For example... Years ago somebody local had a 325i Touring, fitted a strut brace on it.
6 months later, another guy bought a 318is and they tried the strut brace off the Touring to see if it fitted and was fine apart from a small bit of prising but nothing out of the ordinary

He was suppose to get a strut brace but never did. A year later or so, the Touring was being sold and he took the strutbrace off it to fit on the iS as he never got round to getting on.

The struts were now over an inch off what they were the previous time they were fitted.

Car wasn't crashed or anything, just driven a little hard and both cars were lowered a little.


Granted, it was driven hard but if hard driving distorts the shell over an inch in the space of a year, I'd give a fair guess 20 years of constant flexing even if not as much force doesn't help either

Anyways, if you comtemplating about fitting a strut brace if you should do it or not. Chances are, you don't drive like miss daisy anyway.

Every E30 should have them. It's probably the weakest part of the shell in terms of flex.



As Kos, says... It's probably bent even if it was never damaged or anything but by just wear and tear.

[Justin325i]

front struts are only really worth fitting if you drive hard, it may not fit due to you having the wrong version, I'm fairly sure they differ for 6 pot and 4 pot cars and you could have even been sold one for a totally different car

Nonsense!

I've only seen two E30s that I've tested a Sparco strut brace I have without any problems.


For example... Years ago somebody local had a 325i Touring, fitted a strut brace on it.
6 months later, another guy bought a 318is and they tried the strut brace off the Touring to see if it fitted and was fine apart from a small bit of prising but nothing out of the ordinary

He was suppose to get a strut brace but never did. A year later or so, the Touring was being sold and he took the strutbrace off it to fit on the iS as he never got round to getting on.

The struts were now over an inch off what they were the previous time they were fitted.

Car wasn't crashed or anything, just driven a little hard and both cars were lowered a little.


Granted, it was driven hard but if hard driving distorts the shell over an inch in the space of a year, I'd give a fair guess 20 years of constant flexing even if not as much force doesn't help either

Anyways, if you comtemplating about fitting a strut brace if you should do it or not. Chances are, you don't drive like miss daisy anyway.

Every E30 should have them. It's probably the weakest part of the shell in terms of flex.



As Kos, says... It's probably bent even if it was never damaged or anything but by just wear and tear.

So how would you get this sorted??

[markus_74]

can adjustable strut brace can fix the bending shell?

[bss325i]

If your strut towers had flexed as much as an inch or even 1cm you would have camber issues and uneven tyre wear.

A 4 wheel alignment will show up any issues.

[hillbilly30]

Is it the strut brace at fault? Cheap one from China? If you measure between your strut mounts (centre to centre) I, and I'm sure others would be happy to nip out to the car and compare!

[hillbilly30]

From centre to centre of BMW stamp on strut top cover I've got 995mm if that helps

[Rich320I]

From centre to centre of BMW stamp on strut top cover I've got 995mm if that helps

potentially could be quite interesting to see the variation in these measurements. il do mine when its back from the MOT today

[Justin325i]

Can the towers be brought back into alignment?

[hillbilly30]

From centre to centre of BMW stamp on strut top cover I've got 995mm if that helps

potentially could be quite interesting to see the variation in these measurements. il do mine when its back from the MOT today

If anyone finds much difference in this measurement please don't post it, as far as I'm aware my car is not bent! I like it that way!

[Dave_M3]

Haha.

I'll measure mine tomorrow. I know two of them are perfectly straight. The iS was a few millimeters collapsed inwards.
Not sure about my other two shells so will be interesting. I'll be pointing the finger at others to blame if I end up scrapping my E30s upon revealing they are all bent however

Best to measure it from one of the bolt holes to the opposite one as the top mount covers could give abit of variation.

[rich318i]

i know someone that had to ratchet strap his towers together to get his brace on

[Brianmoooore]

http://www.300mm.de/download/rahmen.jpg

[hillbilly30]

http://www.300mm.de/download/rahmen.jpg

Well that makes me about 5mm narrow give or take! Not far out but enough to make a strut brace a pig to fit! I have one in the post so I guessing will find out v soon!!

[rich318i]

http://www.300mm.de/download/rahmen.jpg

Well that makes me about 5mm narrow give or take! Not far out but enough to make a strut brace a pig to fit! I have one in the post so I guessing will find out v soon!!

what brace you getting???

[hillbilly30]

Not sure, it's off a guy on here! Was fitter to an "is" as mine so it might even fit.

[Black_Potato]

If you arnt already....

Only loop the brace lightly over the thread and just put the nut on the top a couple of turns then fit the other side. Dont tighten one side al the way down 1st if you see what I mean as it will only make it harder.

FWIW I've moved one from a 318i to a 320i without a problem.

My 2p... They are not worth the weight gain on a saloon car or a race car in most scenarios, maybe in cab I can see the point but beyond that I would look to control arm bushes, ARB & Mounts, top mounts, dampers ( or a roll cage in a race car) etc.. as all ways of fixing alignment and roll issues.

[polsta]

i fitted one to my is, an RPM , it was a tight fit and didnt quite fit if the car was sat on the floor, had to jack the front end up letting both wheels hang and take the stress of the turrets to get it on

it made a lovely much for the better difference to the car, more solid and better cornering

[markus_74]

how about strut brace with adjustable in the center of the bar? does it is has same rigid with the permanent strut brace?

[Justin325i]

So can a flexed chassis be brought back into correct alignment?

[Brianmoooore]

So can a flexed chassis be brought back into correct alignment?

That's what 10 tonne body jacks are for!

[Quaser]

when ive ever fitted a solid strut brace (they are the only ones worth fitting imho) ive had to prise it onto one of the turrents using a long screwdriver to lever it.