Author Topic: front struts/wheel bearings (Read 2817 times)

RED IS 91 · « **on:** March 02, 2007, 02:03:09 PM »

Well the day came to do new front struts and wheel bearings .After much research through all the forums (rusted bolts ,frozen bearing races and smashed knuckles) I was not looking forward to it but like a trooper forged ahead anyway.
I decided to loosen the wheel bearing nut ,then remove the strut so I could work on the whole thing on the bench. Removed the tie rod and ball joint with a pickle fork ,removed all the other crap and sure enough strut came right out .
Hauled it over to the bench. Used a three legged puller to remove the wheel bearing .I've read horror stories of the inner race staying on .I was using the puller and the bearing started coming off easy as shit through a goose.I thought, sure as hell that inner race was staying on but as it cleared the dust sheild to my amazement it was all together. I thought to myself "YOU DA MAN" . Cleaned up the spindle a little bit and put some grease on it and used the 36MM socket to tap the new bearing on until I could get the bearing nut on to push it in the rest of the way.(TOO EASY)
Next I put the spring compressor on to remove the strut .Get the spring off and I'm looking at an old rusted strut threaded collar . I get my 24 inch pipe wrench and proceed to give it a little .
That collar nut was not going to give up without a fight .I get some pb blaster and squirt it . Take a 15 minute break ,roll up my sleeves since it was a balmy 40 degrees outside ,put that wrench back on and with a few taps(maybe they were smashes ) with the hammer it comes free . OH, I can see the satisfaction coming . Pull the old strut out ,dump the oil out and retrieve my new Bilsteins ( touring class) .I take them out of the box and they look all shiny and new. Set it down next to my old strut and ...........................
W.T.F. NUMEROUS TIMES ,they are different . They're smaller and the collar nut is different .
After a few more W.T.F.'S I go into the house and look at my paper work.
I got them from BMA (ordered online).I checked it out online again and sure enough these are supposed to be right. I run the numbers on another site and they come up as struts for a 84 318.
The strut off the drivers side of my car is sitting on my bench.I don't have the right parts . You know what happens next ........ More W.T.F.'s
I get on the phone to BMA ,they answer and I tell them I need to speak to Patrick . After a few minutes of holding Patrick gets on the phone and after a few pleasantries he gets my order up and sure enough I have the wrong struts . He says if he puts the replacements in the mail today (wednesday) I should see them by next week . Must come by UPS Mule train.
I say W.T.F.
I knew things were going to good when I was taking it apart and it was just a matter of time .
I hope I have as much fun when I start the passenger side.
That's my story,Thanks for listening;)

2002maniac · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2007, 01:29:35 PM »

I hate it when weekedn projects take 2 weeks. What a pain. At least he didnt give you any trouble.

pepe m42 · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2007, 06:32:38 AM »

yes things goes wrog sometimes, simmilar happened to me, fortunetaly i did't have to do a big job like you with removing the whole strut...
for me i have a bad AFM and i got one but its just smaller so i cant use it, i guess its for the m40 316or 318... any way i find out that here on the forum a guy (alpina003) has one so he mailed to me he said he payid extra for shipping because i wanted tracking and so on , so i should get them in 3-5 days insted of 4-10 days or so. he shipped it out on the 21 of februar. now its 4th of march and i dont have it

the tracking was working until fiday and it said its arriwed in spain(im in spain right now) now it doesn't work at all so you are not alone with BS:) my guess is that Spanish post service positions is filled up with all those lard asses like some of the spanish people who cant do anything on time....
so just relax like i do i have my car running like shit because of this... but what can we do:) we can wait....
i read the tracking and the package left the states quick, but in spain its got the slow motion.
Damn lard ass spaish:)
not all of them but in the post for sure yes:)
good luck

RED IS 91 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2007, 07:01:47 AM »

Quote from: pepe m42;20507

yes things goes wrog sometimes, simmilar happened to me, fortunetaly i did't have to do a big job like you with removing the whole strut...
for me i have a bad AFM and i got one but its just smaller so i cant use it, i guess its for the m40 316or 318... any way i find out that here on the forum a guy (alpina003) has one so he mailed to me he said he payid extra for shipping because i wanted tracking and so on , so i should get them in 3-5 days insted of 4-10 days or so. he shipped it out on the 21 of februar. now its 4th of march and i dont have it the tracking was working until fiday and it said its arriwed in spain(im in spain right now) now it doesn't work at all so you are not alone with BS:) my guess is that Spanish post service positions is filled up with all those lard asses like some of the spanish people who cant do anything on time....
so just relax like i do i have my car running like shit because of this... but what can we do:) we can wait....
i read the tracking and the package left the states quick, but in spain its got the slow motion.
Damn lard ass spaish:)
not all of them but in the post for sure yes:)
good luck

One thing these cars or cars in general will teach you and that is PATIENCE !:D
You'll break more shit and have more frustration without patience . I just look at it as a challenge .It doesn't do any good to get your blood pressure up.
If you need your car for daily use then things can get testy but my car is sitting in the barn sleeping through winter so I have time .