325ix suspension rebuild

[VRSTLE]

I have a 1990 four door 325ix and I am replacing my bmw shocks with Bilstein HD shocks and control arms and I am going to replace all of the wearable parts, and cut my front springs down a coil
I was wondering if anyone has done this before and if you would have tips. I am doing it with a poor man’s tool box and will have to take the whole strut out so that I can take it to my garage and have them use a impact wrench on the top of the strut tower where the shock pokes through
(If anyone knows a way to get past using impact wrench I would love to know ways)
I will have to take out the axel from the wheel and was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to do this
I will post pictures tomorrow,

[jlevie]

You can usually get the strut nut off with a deep socket & wrench, though you may have to grab the strut rod through the spring with vice-grips. The strut always has to come out to change the strut cartridge, spring, or upper strut bearing. You will need spring compressors.

I'm not sure what you mean by "I will have to take out the axel from the wheel". If you mean that the bearing needs to be changed, pop the dust cover off, bend back the locking tab and loosen the nut before removing the strut from the car. The nut gets a lot of torque, so you'll need to use a breaker bar and pipe extension to loosen the nut. You may need a gear puller to get the hub off. Wait until the strut is back on the car to tighten the nut.

[nando]

You can usually get the strut nut off with a deep socket & wrench, though you may have to grab the strut rod through the spring with vice-grips. The strut always has to come out to change the strut cartridge, spring, or upper strut bearing. You will need spring compressors.

I'm not sure what you mean by "I will have to take out the axel from the wheel". If you mean that the bearing needs to be changed, pop the dust cover off, bend back the locking tab and loosen the nut before removing the strut from the car. The nut gets a lot of torque, so you'll need to use a breaker bar and pipe extension to loosen the nut. You may need a gear puller to get the hub off. Wait until the strut is back on the car to tighten the nut.

it's an ix...

go buy or rent a FWD hub puller. Use an appropriate 6-point socket, breaker bar, and about 3 feet of steel pipe. Lock the front wheels (ebrake, in gear, etc) and use the 3 foot pipe for leverage to break those front hub nuts free. After that you can press the axle shaft through the hub with the puller. Of course you have to undo the control arm and tie rod ball joints first.

[audiquattrot]

if for whatever reason you need a passenger strut housing (since these things rust to a point where you can't remove the shock)....let me know. I have one available ready for a new shock to go in.

i've got low mileage control arms as well for both sides ;-)

[VRSTLE]

yea i would defenetly be interested in your control arms how much where you thinking and are they for the ix,

Also does anyone have any tips on removing the shock insert i think that the collar is rusted out or something

[nando]

pipe wrench..

[audiquattrot]

yea i would defenetly be interested in your control arms how much where you thinking and are they for the ix,

Also does anyone have any tips on removing the shock insert i think that the collar is rusted out or something

you got PM.

Yeah pipe wrench + heat should get the collars off (if they aren't too rusted on shut).

[VRSTLE]

it seems to be round so should i just crank the pipe wrench down as tight as i can get it and then twist
and thanks i go the pm

[VRSTLE]

also my tie rod is not sepereating on the left side, it came of realy easy on the right
the bolt is spining with the ball joint, i tried to put a wedge in it to see if that would work but no luck any ideas should i just cut it off and replaice the nut

[nando]

unthread the nut to the top and hit it with a heavy steel hammer.

[VRSTLE]

yes but the bolt is stuck halfway and is not moving it is just spinning what it is attached too

[nando]

oh

put a jack under the balljoint to put some pressure on it so it doesn't spin.

continue on..

[audiquattrot]

oh

put a jack under the balljoint to put some pressure on it so it doesn't spin.

continue on..

i tried that method w/ the front sway links...didn't work in my case. had to cut it off a

[VRSTLE]

yea i think i will have to cut it any tips on how not to mess up, im going out to get a tool to cut it and i just figure im going to cut it on both sides