Blown front struts

[chuckdizzle]

I'm looking into refreshing my front suspension, new struts, tie-rods, bushings, possibly new control arms. Currently the front end floats like a boat and is so soft that going over a huge speed bump actually bottomed the suspension. It's a fairly large investment and I'd rather do it all at once but that wouldn't be able to happen for a while until I have the money.
With the suspension in such bad condition, I'm not too sure how the car will respond or the AWD system in snow. I was going to plan a trip to Mt Baker in WA to go snowboarding but I'm hesitant about driving up the mountain pass. Should I avoid driving up in the IX? I daily drive the car and just take speedbumps like a Stanceworks posterboy, other than I can drive the car normally. The front end doesn't dip as much as I thought under hard braking either and for the most part, passengers haven't really noticed either.

[supernaughtIX]

blown struts are going to make for a cushy ride and won't affect hard braking much. Its the dips and bumps in the road that can get you bouncing and possibly off the road. It probably bounces more like a truck than a BMW compact.
Its taking a risk to drive on blown struts, good ones are a major part of a safe vehicle, but all in it might not be that bad. But keep in mind that hitting a dip in the road on a sweeping corner on a snowy/icy road can put brown in your pants.

[chuckdizzle]

blown struts are going to make for a cushy ride and won't affect hard braking much. Its the dips and bumps in the road that can get you bouncing and possibly off the road. It probably bounces more like a truck than a BMW compact.
Its taking a risk to drive on blown struts, good ones are a major part of a safe vehicle, but all in it might not be that bad. But keep in mind that hitting a dip in the road on a sweeping corner on a snowy/icy road can put brown in your pants.

Yea, I'm concerned about the mountain pass since they aren't kept in the best condition and tend to be very twisty. Day to day its tolerable on the highway, commuting etc. My assumption is that the car's balance goes to shit once I start bouncing and that weight shift will throw me off course regardless of how many wheels I have putting down power.

[maximumangle]

dont let them go too long or they will end up looking like the ones i pulled out of mine....

[Kershaw]

Mine were completely dead when I bought the car. They were so rusted into the strut tubes I had to remove the struts from the car, cut flats and put them in a bench vise. It took 2 of us using 2 old motorcycle handlebars for leverage to break them free.

Good luck with yours.

[maximumangle]

what did you do for a spring compressor?? we had determined that the easiest way to swap strut cartridges would be to do it on car, compress and pull the spring and keep the housing installed. our only problem was that in our shop we have a wall mount spring compressor..which led to some pretty shady improvising. got the job done, but it wasnt pretty. lol curious because i am going to have to do another set soon..

[Kershaw]

Only way to swap struts is off the car. So I assume you mean shocks? Autozone spring compressors. If you unbolt enough items, you can get the strut to drop low enough that you can impact the compressor through the strut hole in the engine bay.

[supernaughtIX]

I always remove the strut housing from the car to do springs or cartridges. It looks like too much of a bitch to leave them in the car. I can have the 2 struts out in a couple hours.
I usually crack the axle nuts and strut top(rod) nuts loose before I lift the car at the start. Then remove everything to get the strut out.
Use a spring compressor set from harbour freight/princess auto/autozone etc, and then remove the top nut.
Drink 4 or 5 beers and get started on removing the strut insert retainer

[88e30ix]

I have the front OEM set up ready to install!

[Kershaw]

be careful with spring compressors. i only use the ones i RENT from advance now. the ones they SELL are pieces of shit. i had one break its tack welds while it was compressing a spring. it explosively uncompressed and shot the claw towards my face. i barely managed to dodge it, i felt it brush my hair.

i am extremely careful with spring compressor quality now.

[nando]

I hate spring compressors!

you only need them to install the springs (if stock). Since avoiding their use is a priority, you don't need them to remove springs at all.

-lay the strut on the grass with the strut mount facing away from expensive items/living things (nothing will happen, but better safe than sorry)
-stand on the spring with one foot
-put impact gun (chordless will work) on 19mm top strut mount nut, loosen.

the spring will "pop" free, but not with much force. Your foot will easily hold it in place, the strut will absorb most of the force, and the impact the rest (they're both heavy so it's no problem). it's easy and it takes literally 5 seconds, and honestly it's way safter than stupid cheap crappy spring compressors that could explode in your face.

with aftermarket springs you don't need a spring compressor at all. Well, H&R sports need to be compressed *slightly*, but you can do it by hand if you're clever.

[Kershaw]

^ yes! avoid using them at all costs.

if you arent saving the springs, use an angle grinder to cut them in half. it makes removal a crazy amount easier as well. especially if you arent removing the struts. even for the rears. i cut them 95% of the way, then tap them with a hand sledge.

with aftermarket springs, you can assemble everything in place. bolt the strut mount to the car. and then jack the strut up into place, slightly compressing the spring enough to secure the shock.