help getting CA on

[CorvallisBMW]

I am totally stumped by this damn thing. The passengers side was easy to put back in to the mounting hole on the strut, but I cannot get the driver's side to go in. There is a big difference in height between the CA ball joint and the hole in the strut. I have tried pushing down on the CA but it won't go any further. I've tried jacking up the strut, but because of the natural caster and camber built in, it won't jack up in any kind of strait path, it just pushes forward or out and messes up the alignment of the bolt and hole. I am out of ideas. Anyone have some tricks to getting this thing in? Everything looks to be put together perfectly, this is the 3rd time I've disassembled e30 struts so I've done it before and never had this issue. I am out of ideas, help!

[backtrail69]

Looks like you need a new ball joint/control arm too. You must be running stock springs because it was easy to install mine with lowering springs.

[erik325i]

Looks like you need a new ball joint/control arm too. You must be running stock springs because it was easy to install mine with lowering springs.

Yeah, you need a new control arm anyways. It will be easy to install once you get a new one.

-Erik

[Cooper]

disconnect the arb

[dark89e30]

Is your CA bent? It looks ok, but try moving the ball joint so it points in the same direction as the hole, it has to go straight in. Sometimes the ball joints can be really stiff but you need to move it so it goes straight in. It looks the same in the pics as every time I've done it...

[jlevie]

Are the sway bar links disconnected? They need to be for this job.

[CorvallisBMW]

Are the sway bar links disconnected? They need to be for this job.

Yes, end links are disconnected. the stur mounting bolts in the engine bay are tightened all the way, so i can't get the strut to move up any further.

[CorvallisBMW]

Is your CA bent? It looks ok, but try moving the ball joint so it points in the same direction as the hole, it has to go straight in. Sometimes the ball joints can be really stiff but you need to move it so it goes straight in. It looks the same in the pics as every time I've done it...

I can't see any kind of bending or damage to the CA. The ball joint moves freely and easily in all directions and appears to be just fine. I think the little tear in the boot came from when I popped it off with the pickle fork. I will apply some silicone to the crack to seal it up again.

[dtdub]

I will apply some silicone to the crack to seal it up again.

Does this work well? I tore up my boots with the pickle fork pretty good, during dis-assembly. I the the joints are otherwise fine, and would hate to have to go through the trouble of replacing the unecessarily.

[erik325i]

I tore up my boots with the pickle fork pretty good, during dis-assembly.

That's why you should only use a pickle fork when you are not going to reuse the part. It is pretty easy to damage the boot when using it.

As for the silicone question, I've never done this, but It should be better than leaving it open.

-Erik

[dtdub]

That's why you should only use a pickle fork when you are not going to reuse the part. It is pretty easy to damage the boot when using it.

Man, I was forced into using the pickle fork... I banged away with a hammer, had a jack-stand under the CA, etc, etc... nothing was working... Finally I got it off by banding the pickle fork in as hard as I could and then jumping on the end of a 2.5' breaker bar slipped over the fork.