2019-04-01 BMW Car

APRIL 2019 87

WORKSHOP WISDOM

Now we can disconnect the anti-roll bar link from the

strut. Hold the inner bit still with a 17mm spanner,

then undo the retaining nut – either 16 or 17mm,

depending on who made it.

Your first task is to get a 21mm socket on a

breaker bar and crack this top nut undone with

the car on the ground – don’t remove it for God’s

sake, though! Just crack it off so it’s not tight, as

getting this nut off with the strut removed can be

a real pain.

Disconnect the ABS sensor by opening the plastic
box on the inner wing, pulling the sensor joint out
and separating the two halves. Spray WD40 on to the
suspension leg brackets where the sensor clips in,
then remove it carefully.

This is a view of the offside strut – notice how far

through the alloy hub the strut goes. It’s only about

an inch through on the old E46 and, on the E36, they

were bolted to the side of the hub. The E39 has the

same set-up, so this procedure probably works on

those cars, too.

Now we have to remove the 18mm clamp bolt. Unlike

the E46, these cars use a proper through bolt and nut,

so if it snaps, it’s not a disaster. The nut came off OK in

this case, but I used an impact gun and lots of WD40

to get the long bolt out.

We’ve already removed the 22mm nut here, but this

photo shows the Torx driver hammered into the ball

joint pin. These can be really rusty – if they round-

out, rest the track rod end on an axle stand to really

hold it still while you undo the nut.

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The alloy hub now needs to be opened up a touch.
There are special tools that fit into the slot and open
it up when twisted, but adopting this method is just
as effective. Spray WD40 around the strut-to-hub
joint as it’ll be coming out soon.

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