Fitting a strut brace

[GDBN]

Hi guys,
When installing a front strut brace - does it just bolt onto the towers or should there be some sort of gasket that it sits on? Seems funny to bolt a metal plate directly onto nice paint !!
And how tight should these bolts in the ends be ??


Thanks,
G

[kam-325i]

You can put some sort of gasket underneath to protect the paint work. The nuts should be torque'd up the the normal speck.

BTW, the bracket looks the wrong way around.....you will find out when fitting if it is.

[GDBN]

Thanks for that .... have to find some thin rubber matting. Any clues on finding the correct torque setting - don't remember seeing anything in Bentley.
G

[kam-325i]

Any clues on finding the correct torque setting - don't remember seeing anything in Bentley.
G

Are you referring to the bolt/nut on the end of the sturt brace ?

[GDBN]

yes mate .....

[E30Mark]

The three off Strut mounting nuts should be torqued up to 22Nm (16ft/lb)

Don't use a compressible gasket under the nuts as this will effect the torque settings.

[garyp_E30_325i]

The torque setting will be for the three suspension mount nuts where the strut brace is mounted. I've fitted front & rear strut braces and used the torque settings out of one the the manuals I have (Bentleys, Haynes) but can't recal exactly what the setting was

As for using rubber matting underneath... what for!? The strut brace should not be "rubbing" on the body work, if it is it's fitted incorrectly and won't work properly, nor will your front struts. The fitting must be good and proper, nice and tight. If there's any slack / movement this "play" will be taken up before the strut brace can take the strain! There is absolutely no need for anymore damping, the suspension bush (between the bodywork and strut, which the strut brace is fixed too (the three bolts which pass thru the strut brace come from the bush) provides all the damping necessary and all that's been designed for the car.

Also, your strut brace is different from mine but it may have the same clearance, i.e. limited, that is there's very little room between the top of the strut brace and the underside of the bonnet, adding height through the use of rubber matting under the strut brace may cause it to foul the bonnet. If you do decide to go this way then check the clearance first.

Lastly, when fitting the strut brace take the weight off the front wheels so you can fit the brace properly without having any adverse affects from road camber, etc.

[garyp_E30_325i]

The three off Strut mounting nuts should be torqued up to 22Nm (16ft/lb)

Don't use a compressible gasket under the nuts as this will effect the torque settings.

Missed this whilst I was typing my mammoth reply

1. Glad somebody has a better memory than me,

2. Can't agree more.

[GDBN]

Thanks for the advice ... need to raise the front as the strut won't fit between the towers!!
I hope I don't have to have the steering reset after this ..... just paid to have it done after the new suspension_/bushes ....
G

[E30BeemerLad]

agree with Kam's original post here, the bracket in the pic you have posted looks as if it is on the wrong way around

[Cloggy Saint]

agree with Kam's original post here, the bracket in the pic you have posted looks as if it is on the wrong way around

Not if the bar is rotated 180 degrees

[E30BeemerLad]

agree with Kam's original post here, the bracket in the pic you have posted looks as if it is on the wrong way around

Not if the bar is rotated 180 degrees

yes indeed, the bar could be "upside down" so to speak

[Geeman]

Yup... swap the mounts for left to right, then it'll fit. The long part of the bracket should be on the outside of the brace... if you know what I mean.

See pic:

Giles.

[GDBN]

I just turned the bracket round on each end ... but still can't get the damn thing to fit. it's about 3/4 cm too long to fit in. Am I doing something wrong ... I thought these things were fitted in minutes ....
G

[GDBN]

Will try the brackets on different ends then ... run out of time today and it's no fun when it's -2 c

G

[Geeman]

Turn them round AND try swapping them from side to side... they WILL fit if it's for the right car!

Giles

[GDBN]

Well the "cut outs" like on my picture should face the rear of the car , right ?? Have to or the brackets would face the wrong way.
Def says for e30 on the box ... just that few mm out
G

[DaveD]

I had the same trouble when I fitted mine ...I had to loosen the bolts then jack the front of the car up ...it worked then

[jonbuoy]

Mate, this is a REALLY simple job!
You don't need to raise the front as you will lose the suspension strut when you undo the nut's, leave it where it is!

Strut's are mean't to make everything tight and sturdy so you will need a little bit of leverage to put it over the stud's, put some elbow grease into it!!

This may not be everyone's cup of tea but you have a hole through the middle which line's up over the top mount, stick a pry bar through the hole and onto the top of the mount ie; Leverage.
Lever it over the stud's and push it down.

Job Done!!