88 BMWcar
WORKSHOP WISDOM
Always replace the bump stops and gaiters as they’ll
be like this. You can buy new gaiter kits from Boge
Sachs on Amazon for around 15 quid, so there’s no
point in skimping.Apply two or three layers of masking tape all around
the arch edge. Then, using a long jack handle or
similar, push the suspension down all the way while
you pull the strut outwards. It’s possible by yourself
(I managed it), but a helper makes it easier.Here’s the strut refitted with its new spring. Slide it
back into the hub until it hits the height stopper, fit
the brake hose bracket and then the through bolt.
Once the strut is back in position, tighten the nut to
81Nm (M12 nut) and reassemble everything.The strut will now pull straight up and out, ready
to be worked on. Give this alloy hub a bit of
clean-up with some Emery paper, then coat the
inner bore with some grease so that it slides
back in really easily.Now remove the three, 13mm top mounting nuts as
shown here. The suspension is still under a bit of
tension, so the strut won’t try to fall out or anything
like that.Here you can see the witness marks where the three, top
13mm nuts have been. There is fore and aft movement to
adjust the camber so I just refitted it to where it was from
the factory. Nip the nuts up to 24Nm. The track rod end
22mm nut should be tightened to 165Nm.Finally, with the car back on the ground and with
weight on the wheels, tighten this top nut to 64Nm
and refit the black plastic centre cap if it was fitted.
The diagonal, reinforcing bars can now be refitted to
complete the job.From here, it’s all regular front-strut stuff. You need
some good spring compressors if refitting original
springs, as you need to bind the inner coils enough
for the spring to be loose on the strut. Fitting shorter
springs negates this.While the strut can just about be removed without
compressing the spring, I’d advise you do it as
shown; it just gives that bit of extra clearance
when removing it. You’re compressing the springs
to get them off anyway, so...(^8910)
(^111213)
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