IX Suspension Upgrade.. More Problems.. More $$

[ghatid]

Frank88ix

So his name's Frank? Damn, I can totally be an internet detective.

[e30fix]

i have a pair of strut housings for an ix. both rust free california car parts. pm me if interested.

[JIM1inWisconsin]

ix suspension

I feel your pain. Few years back ordered some strut inserts for my ix. $1700 and three weeks later they were installed. Complete mess. Next time around I would bite the bullet and order new strut housings. About $700 a throw.

[Kershaw]

I think Nisse has a good point. Those little set screws might be holding the strut in place. If you can't get them out with an allen key, just drill them out. It might come apart then. It's also possible that they only hold the spring adjuster on. But that's one more thing removed anyway.

I ordered a new hub from Steve Blunt. www.blunttech.com he's good friends with Jake. FAG bearings. Make sure you install them correctly. The first time I installed the bearing by myself I ruined it. I pressed it into the strut by the outer race (correct way) but then I pressed the hub into the bearing while supporting the strut (incorrect way.) You need to support the inner race from the back side when you press the hub in or you'll damage the bearing because you're literally pulling it apart. So..

1. Support the strut and press the bearing into the strut via the outer race
2. Support the inner race and press the hub into the bearing.

[95BMWIC]

I worked on trying to get the inner strut out for half a day...

I pulled the guts out and the outer shell of the strut insert is seized in the strut assembly... I pried and pulled and well gave up..

[95BMWIC]

Ordered a real rusty pair of struts from Classicdaily (like I said before) - super fast shipping, easy guy to talk to - but damn they were rusty - spent 5 hours cleaning, sanding, and prepping for POR-15 treatment.

[95BMWIC]

I used the degreaser, and the metal prep and laid down 2 thin coats of POR 15..

[95BMWIC]

You need to support the inner race from the back side when you press the hub in or you'll damage the bearing because you're literally pulling it apart. So..

1. Support the strut and press the bearing into the strut via the outer race
2. Support the inner race and press the hub into the bearing.

I wish I would have read this first, because when pressing in the hub, I struggled to get it fully in.. I have a 20 ton press (Harbor Freight) after getting the bearing in, I could wiggle the hub...

I called a friend, and he stated I needed to support the inner race - so I found a right sized socket and when I pressed it, it moved the extra mm and it seated.. apparently it was flexing - when pressing the final "stretch" without supporting the inner race..

I dont think I damaged it - but we will see.. (and I should have known better)..

[95BMWIC]

One thing that made life a lot easier, was that I threw the new FAG bearings into the freezer for a day and let the strut assemblies sit outside in 95 degree heat.. It was very easy to get the bearing started and the hub assembly to start..

Didn't need to order a hub after all - the rusty struts each had a hub - so after some dremel cutting - I was able to remove the inner race from each of the hubs..

[95BMWIC]

I feel your pain. Few years back ordered some strut inserts for my ix. $1700 and three weeks later they were installed. Complete mess. Next time around I would bite the bullet and order new strut housings. About $700 a throw.

Truth.. This was $500 more than I planned.. AND my air compressor took a dump..

Sad part is, its my son's car.. I only get to drive it when he comes home.

[nando]

those struts weren't that rusty, lol. I should try to find the ones that came off my parts car. the gland nuts became one with the tubes. I ended up cutting them off (converted them to coilovers anyway). The spring perch was like swiss cheese.

[Nisse Järnet]

Good job!

[95BMWIC]

Thanks Nisse,

Back together..

Does anyone know the torque spec on the AXLE nut?

Bentley has rear at 150lbs - so that's what I went with.. I didn't horse it much more - because I had to re-use nuts (not happy) I was thinking the bearing kit came with the correct size nut (it didn't). I have to order separate..

[nando]

dunno. I always just crank it down with my 4 foot cheater bar. Never had a problem.

[95BMWIC]

dunno. I always just crank it down with my 4 foot cheater bar. Never had a problem.

Me too - but I want to be careful about stripping the nut.. since it had been used already..

I marked a line across the shaft and nut - and will check if any rotation..