M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Suspension => Topic started by: PumpItUp on December 24, 2008, 06:05:04 PM
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i guess you were expecting a picture of some kids getting their head blown off by one of those cheap 'widow-maker' spring presses? i'm sorry to disappoint you :o
no, i need to change my front struts, and i was wondering what tools i needed.. so i can borrow bmw specific ones, which judging by stripped bolts in the engine bay, are necessary. :confused: if anyone has a link to a reference manual, or (name of one to recommend) or a some list on another forum that would be great!
with me, feck ups always happen, so i'm trying to do my homework before hand this time! even if its pretty basic
oh & Merry Christmas!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqeXVt3zpB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6qprbPTowE
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19mm socket, 17mm socket, 15mm socket, 13mm socket, 5mm allen (i think thats what it is), ratchet, spring compressor, pipe wrench, a BFH (big f'in hammer) or ball joint fork.
its actually a pretty simple process, remove wheels, remove caliper bracket with the 19mm (i usually just leave the calliper attached to the bracket), use the 5mm allen to take the wheel speed sensor #10 out of the hub, disconnect the pad wear sensor (its only on one side and once disconnected leave it off and take the light out of the cluster, 2 weight reductions), unbolt sway bars (17mm) from control arms, take nuts off ball joint (19mm) and tie rod (17mm), use the BFH or pickle fork to separate ball joint and tie rod, take the three (13mm bolts) off of the top of the strut tower and your out. Now loosen the big nut (15mm or 17mm) at the top of the strut a little (it will save you alot of cussing later), put the spring compressor/s on the spring and tighten them up equally until you see a little gap at the spring plate, take the big nut at the top off all the way now, take the strut bearing off (don't loose the washer thats inside), now take off the other washer and spring plate, remove the spring, now use the pipe wrench to remove the big nut holding the strut in #6 (may also need to use the BFH to hit the wrench for additional force) remove the strut cartridge, then repeat in reverse.
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(http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/m/l/1.png)
these are the compressors that i have, love them, put them on the spring opposite eachother
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/COIL-SPRING-COMPRESSOR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a543Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a0Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem170288383285QQitemZ170288383285QQptZBIQ5fAirQ5fCompressors
this is what i use to separate the ball joint and tie rod, it doesn't dick up the threads
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-Benz-Ball-Joint-Tie-Rod-End-Separator-Remover-Tool_W0QQitemZ370133023125QQihZ024QQcategoryZ35625QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247
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In the "How to" section of m42 Club
http://zoso.no-ip.org/318i-frontsuspension.html
I believe the 318i and the 318is have different front struts so please check.
https://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=ivyfsm45s4upqp45hxby1245&makeid=800003@BMW&modelid=1011249@318I&year=1991&cid=27@Suspension%20System&gid=7596@Strut%20Cartridge/Insert
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In the "How to" section of m42 Club
http://zoso.no-ip.org/318i-frontsuspension.html
I believe the 318i and the 318is have different front struts so please check.
https://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=ivyfsm45s4upqp45hxby1245&makeid=800003@BMW&modelid=1011249@318I&year=1991&cid=27@Suspension%20System&gid=7596@Strut%20Cartridge/Insert
that isn't likely.
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If anything perhaps the Cabrio has slightly different parts for the front struts?
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I remember Bilstein has different parts for the Cabrio for the front strut cart inserts on the 318's......
And their website has been having problems pulling up E36 parts when searching for BMW, 91, 318i.
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that isn't likely.
I stand corrected :(
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that isn't likely.
318i has small smaller struts. 45mm I think, compared to the thicker, 51mm, struts on the 318iS, 325i and all tourings. 320i also has smaller struts.
That applies on all UK models anyway ;)