bilstein wrench

[3bvert]

so do I need a special wrench to install my billy sports "struts" into my 91 318 ?
if so, anyone in the Corvallis/albany area have one I can borrow
==============
used search but did not find anything about installing sports and if a wrench is needed, unless I looked it up wrong

[Unearth078]

nope... no special wrench here!

just regular craftsman tools

[dj01540i6sp]

tools

To be honest I just did this and I used a large pipe wrench that is for the big spanner nut that holds the shock in on the strut.

[3bvert]

thats what Ill do then
that was the feelings on bimmerforums too, that and this
dump th eoil out of the housings
clean the threads
a dab of blue loctite

[3bvert]

it is interesting how I can get different info out there on installing the struts

found one thread that said use antisieze on the "nut/collar"
and another that said use ble locktite

two totally different long term results

[Van Westervelt]

also if using billy sports for sure, a tad bit of new oil back in housings

Wrong, NO OIL. and you shouldnt use antiseize on the collar nuts. Bad idea. You dont need to put locktite on them either, make sure you torque them down close to specs though, I think 92 ft lbs or so.

[Van Westervelt]

If he was using Bilsteins, no. I dont know what he had on, as I have seen dozens of e30s in the last while.

You DO NOT add oil to gas pressure shocks like Bilstein Sports, just hydraulic shocks. You will damage Bilsteins if you add oil.

[3bvert]

how do you get 90 lbs of torque reading, if all you have is monkey wrenches ? I guess just tight as shit ?

[Van Westervelt]

90 lbs of force, on a 1 ft bar/wrench from the axis.

Tight as shiz, isnt a great method as some people have more strength than others.

[3bvert]

90 lbs of force, on a 1 ft bar/wrench from the axis.

Tight as shiz, isnt a great method as some people have more strength than others.

but I dont have the correct wrench to install the bilsteins, so from other threads it looks like I have to use a pipe wrench, and that I dont understand how to put a torque wrench to it ( pipe wrench)
I would truly prefer to use the correct tool and torque it, but no one responded to that request either

and how true, one person "tight as shiz" might be barely on for a whimp or stripping threads for another

I guess Ill have to settle for as tight as I feel comfortable without stripping. Maybe that is another good reason someone suggested using blue locktite

[Van Westervelt]

Using a pipe wrench, put approx 90 lbs of force into it about 12 inches down the handle. More force if its a shorter wrench.

It helps to have the strut mounted in a fixed vise or have someone with a 2nd pipe wrench countering you.

[3bvert]

thats what Ill do, starting on the project today, will hit the backs first, new springs and billy sports

[3bvert]

so , wht the exception of interruptions during the day, Ill be done tomorrow
got the back done, billy sports, low springs, rotors, pads and pulled out the front end

toay got the struts ready, installed the , low springs, billy sports, strut mounts, rotors,

pressed in the offset cab's
( lost time to two rusted solid bolts, and one stripped rotor screw, and a honey do list)

tomorrow, hang the struts, install lower controll arms, cabs, install tie rods, sway bushings and links, new pads, try to get toe in near

friday, before work, see if I can get toe in set

it ought to be nice. with a lowered suspension , and so much new, it's gonna be nice