E92 Front Spring/Struts wont come out! How'd you do it!?

M3to335 · 03-13-2007, 06:26 PM

Ok, I'd like to first start off by saying that Im no novice when it comes to spring installs or anything on a car for that matter. In fact, this is probobly my 20th+ install and 3rd this YEAR including an M3.

So, my problem... On the front drivers side I removed the sway bar attachment point as well as the bolt holding the strut cup/brkt. Next the 3 top bolts came off. Typicall you can compress the spring and pull out the strut/spring combo.

I stood on the control arm (at the hub) and STILL can not pull it out. It looks like there is about 1"+ left in the cup. Then I shoved a 5 foot pipe between the frame and hub hub and cranked down. Still doesnt go past that point. How in the hell does this thing come out?

*Am I missing an extra nut that needs to be removed?
* Should the opposing wheel be sitting on the ground instead of on stands? Currently its lifted (as I always do).

HELP

M3to335 · 03-13-2007, 06:31 PM

30 seconds after posting this I thought about something. Please tell me you dont have to swing the top of the strut/spring combo out the fender?? I've never done it that way but heck lets give it a whirl!

AHY · 03-13-2007, 06:44 PM

maybe compress the spring so you can shorten the strut?

wj4 · 03-13-2007, 07:16 PM

Hey there, you have to really compressed the springs down. We installed my KW V2 this weekend and the fronts were a pain. We had two guys on the job. loosen up the top bolts by the strut tower, then get the spring compressor in the fender well and compress it as much as you can. At this point, you still won't be able to pull it out. Have another guy stand on your rotor to budge a little, and have a person pull the strut out, be careful to work as a team because once the person that is stepping on the rotor gets off and the strut tower isn't cleared yet, you will damage the fender and nearby areas. There is only about less than an inch of clearance space.

M3to335 · 03-13-2007, 08:39 PM

Yeah 10 seconds after I put up the post I realized it should be pulled top first out of the fender. Typically I wouldnt recommend doing that haha. Oh well, it worked. Had the other side out in 20min max.

brocken · 03-14-2007, 08:41 AM

I had a problem getting the front shocks out of my car but mine I couldn't get out of the control arm. I got everything else disconnected, compressed the springs and had the top of the assembly out of the well but I could not get the bottom of the shock out of the control arm. I totally removed that bottom bolt but the shock was just stuck in there. Never could get it out.

Booster · 03-14-2007, 08:47 AM

Post some pics fellow NC'er... My car should get here tomorrow... Getting the springs put on during PDI

M3to335 · 03-14-2007, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brocken

I had a problem getting the front shocks out of my car but mine I couldn't get out of the control arm. I got everything else disconnected, compressed the springs and had the top of the assembly out of the well but I could not get the bottom of the shock out of the control arm. I totally removed that bottom bolt but the shock was just stuck in there. Never could get it out.

As much as I dont like doing this to cast aluminum.... your going to need to throw a pry bar into the crease in that strut cup. Pry back and forth and it will widen the slot (releasing pressure on the strut). After that it literally falls out

Pics "should" be up tomorrow pending the actual springs arrive TODAY. They came yesterday and the a-holes put signature confirmation in PERSON on the shipment. So, I had to forward it to my work address. Im patiently waiting for them to arrive

longtran · 03-14-2007, 10:36 AM

you guys are doing it all wrong.

1, never compress the springs while its still in there.

2. never pressure or pry it down to get it out.

to remove the springs out, just remove the 2 21mm nut and the brakes will drop down to the floor (depending on how high the car was lift up with the jack) this way is so much easier. you dont need to pry anything. plus no risk in damaging your fenders.

widenlongtran · 03-14-2007, 01:18 PM

^^^OK, how about getting the strut out of the retaining clamp?

M3to335 · 03-14-2007, 01:27 PM

Mods- Can You Close This Post?

brocken · 03-15-2007, 08:30 AM

i think this is a good thread. supplements the info in the DIY.
The DIY thread only talks about springs and you can get those out without removing the shocks. The shocks is where I got stuck.
I thought about the prybar on the control arm...I was using a screw driver...haha

M3to335 · 03-15-2007, 09:23 AM

Yes, a small pry bar or a large thick screw driver will work. Tap the screw driver down into the gap in the aluminum strut cup with a hammer. Be cautious not to jack up the aluminum.

longtran · 03-15-2007, 11:45 AM

i use a chizzle fo shizzle.

brocken · 03-16-2007, 08:27 AM

cool, I was just afraid of screwing up the control arm.
If ground control comes out with a coil over spring for the car(so I don't have to lower it) I'll give the suspension another go.

Longtran- where are the 2-21mm nuts you were talking about that drops the brakes? Sounds like that would make it much easier to get the suspension done. It's a real PITA trying to compress the springs while it's still on the car. And yes, I put a couple little chips in the fender.... doh!
fortunately, a blind man running for his life from a bear wouldn't notice the chips.

03-13-2007, 06:26 PM	#1
M3to335 Whats that smell? 145 Rep 1,790 Posts Drives: Bimmers, duh Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NC iTrader: (6)	E92 Front Spring/Struts wont come out! How'd you do it!? Ok, I'd like to first start off by saying that Im no novice when it comes to spring installs or anything on a car for that matter. In fact, this is probobly my 20th+ install and 3rd this YEAR including an M3. So, my problem... On the front drivers side I removed the sway bar attachment point as well as the bolt holding the strut cup/brkt. Next the 3 top bolts came off. Typicall you can compress the spring and pull out the strut/spring combo. I stood on the control arm (at the hub) and STILL can not pull it out. It looks like there is about 1"+ left in the cup. Then I shoved a 5 foot pipe between the frame and hub hub and cranked down. Still doesnt go past that point. How in the hell does this thing come out? Am I missing an extra nut that needs to be removed? Should the opposing wheel be sitting on the ground instead of on stands? Currently its lifted (as I always do). HELP
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03-13-2007, 06:31 PM	#2
M3to335 Whats that smell? 145 Rep 1,790 Posts Drives: Bimmers, duh Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NC iTrader: (6)	30 seconds after posting this I thought about something. Please tell me you dont have to swing the top of the strut/spring combo out the fender?? I've never done it that way but heck lets give it a whirl!
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03-13-2007, 06:44 PM	#3
AHY First Lieutenant 12 Rep 333 Posts Drives: e92 335i, e70 3.0 m-sport Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: N. California, East Bay iTrader: (5)	maybe compress the spring so you can shorten the strut?
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03-13-2007, 07:16 PM	#4
wj4 Major General 335 Rep 7,719 Posts Drives: E90 manual 335i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Burbank, CA iTrader: (8)	Hey there, you have to really compressed the springs down. We installed my KW V2 this weekend and the fronts were a pain. We had two guys on the job. loosen up the top bolts by the strut tower, then get the spring compressor in the fender well and compress it as much as you can. At this point, you still won't be able to pull it out. Have another guy stand on your rotor to budge a little, and have a person pull the strut out, be careful to work as a team because once the person that is stepping on the rotor gets off and the strut tower isn't cleared yet, you will damage the fender and nearby areas. There is only about less than an inch of clearance space.
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03-13-2007, 08:39 PM	#5
M3to335 Whats that smell? 145 Rep 1,790 Posts Drives: Bimmers, duh Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NC iTrader: (6)	Yeah 10 seconds after I put up the post I realized it should be pulled top first out of the fender. Typically I wouldnt recommend doing that haha. Oh well, it worked. Had the other side out in 20min max.
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03-14-2007, 08:41 AM	#6
brocken Captain 34 Rep 616 Posts Drives: X3MC Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (5)	I had a problem getting the front shocks out of my car but mine I couldn't get out of the control arm. I got everything else disconnected, compressed the springs and had the top of the assembly out of the well but I could not get the bottom of the shock out of the control arm. I totally removed that bottom bolt but the shock was just stuck in there. Never could get it out.
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03-14-2007, 08:47 AM	#7
Booster Pave The Rainforest 269 Rep 1,197 Posts Drives: Wagon Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norfolk, VA iTrader: (33) Garage List 2007 335i Coupe [0.00]	Post some pics fellow NC'er... My car should get here tomorrow... Getting the springs put on during PDI __________________ Sold: 2015 Pyrite Brown M3 Sold: 2020 Sunset Orange M340i Xdrive Sold: 2021 Bluestone 540i Xdrive Msport
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03-14-2007, 10:36 AM	#9
longtran Lieutenant General 1431 Rep 16,628 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CA iTrader: (105) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	you guys are doing it all wrong. 1, never compress the springs while its still in there. 2. never pressure or pry it down to get it out. to remove the springs out, just remove the 2 21mm nut and the brakes will drop down to the floor (depending on how high the car was lift up with the jack) this way is so much easier. you dont need to pry anything. plus no risk in damaging your fenders.
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03-14-2007, 01:18 PM	#10
widenlongtran Enlisted Member 0 Rep 40 Posts Drives: 2001 E39 M5 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	^^^OK, how about getting the strut out of the retaining clamp?
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03-14-2007, 01:27 PM	#11
M3to335 Whats that smell? 145 Rep 1,790 Posts Drives: Bimmers, duh Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NC iTrader: (6)	Mods- Can You Close This Post?
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03-15-2007, 08:30 AM	#12
brocken Captain 34 Rep 616 Posts Drives: X3MC Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (5)	i think this is a good thread. supplements the info in the DIY. The DIY thread only talks about springs and you can get those out without removing the shocks. The shocks is where I got stuck. I thought about the prybar on the control arm...I was using a screw driver...haha
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03-15-2007, 09:23 AM	#13
M3to335 Whats that smell? 145 Rep 1,790 Posts Drives: Bimmers, duh Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NC iTrader: (6)	Yes, a small pry bar or a large thick screw driver will work. Tap the screw driver down into the gap in the aluminum strut cup with a hammer. Be cautious not to jack up the aluminum.
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03-15-2007, 11:45 AM	#14
longtran Lieutenant General 1431 Rep 16,628 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: CA iTrader: (105) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	i use a chizzle fo shizzle.
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03-16-2007, 08:27 AM	#15
brocken Captain 34 Rep 616 Posts Drives: X3MC Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (5)	cool, I was just afraid of screwing up the control arm. If ground control comes out with a coil over spring for the car(so I don't have to lower it) I'll give the suspension another go. Longtran- where are the 2-21mm nuts you were talking about that drops the brakes? Sounds like that would make it much easier to get the suspension done. It's a real PITA trying to compress the springs while it's still on the car. And yes, I put a couple little chips in the fender.... doh! fortunately, a blind man running for his life from a bear wouldn't notice the chips.
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