Having problems removing rear strut assembly

[e34.535i.sport]

Hi there, done a lengthy search on this as its probably happened many times before but couln't find anything specific enough... Anyway here goes:

Been waiting to replace the rear shock mounts for some time (spring compressor was in the post - good old royal mail), and finally got down to the job earlier today. I have got the bottom bolt out, suppported the trailing arm and removed two of the tree top nuts. The other nut a tthe top is well rusted and must be seized to the bolt as when i try to undo it the bolt is just moving around with it. Its really frustrating. Also having problems at the bottom end, as i've took the bolt out and prized a washer type item off too but the shock wont budge off the trailing arm... HELP!

I'm wandering if i can get the bottom off will it be ok to try and move the shock around so i can snap the bolt up top to get it out? All was going well until i hit this rusty bolt. There's always one...

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Cut the last bolt off and buy a new nount, the bottom is is frozen on, so spray it with some WD-40 and give a few blows with a hammer.

Becareful if you plan to reuse the shock and do not damage it with the hammer.

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

unbolt the roll bar to give yourself a bit more space, cold chisel the top nut off, if you`re going to re-use the top mount then get a shop to weld a bolt up thro the mount. If all else fails I have a spare set to send you.

[DanDombrowski]

The shock in the RTA can be hard to get out. Mine popped out easily (unlike everything else on the damn car) but if it were stuck, my advice would be lots of penetrating oil and some quick hammer hits.

[Dave M]

have a look at this (http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?p=63478#post63478)

Dave M

[CharlesAFerg]

I bought the big meyle 16 piece kit, and also the sachs sport kit - I'm curious if it is a good idea to purchase new strut mounts

like these
http://www.bmaparts.com/item.wws?mfr=MEYLE&sku=BMW075123&price=34.74&orpartno=1368935&cookieID=27I0748ZF27M15KSNR&drillid=9&image=http%3A%2F%2Fcatimages2%2Esophio%2Ecom%2Fweb app%2Fwcs%2Fstores%2Fservlet%2Fimc%2Fimages%2Ftn%2 F33521132270MY%2Ejpg
BMA
BMW075123 MEYLE Rear Strut Mount
SHOCK SUPPORT Available 0.00 34.74

Ebay
http://motors.search.ebay.com/?from=R40&satitle=e34+meyle+mount

[e34.535i.sport]

Hey guys, couldn't get on the site at all yesterday so apologies on the late reply.

Thanks for all the advice, I got a cold chisel on the top and it is working, but its gonna take a bit of time so i've had to wait till today to get stuck into it (lots of banging!). I think i should be able to get it off with the chisel i got! Just hate banging away like that, makes the car shake and a terrible noise.

Thanks for the very generous offer there Barney - i may take you up on it depending on how things go today!!!

As for the bottom end i couldn't find that thread in my search thanks Dave, i might pop out and get a gear puller - i don't like hammering the shock as i'm keeping that! :D

Just waiting for everyone to get up so i can chisel that f*cker off the top - it though it had us beat! ;)

I'll keep you informed...

[leicesterboy15]

What is a cold chisel?

[BigKriss]

On nicks car we used a large pole to move the RTA down to move the shock out . it worked okay.

[DaveVoorhis]

What is a cold chisel?
A chisel intended for cutting metal, as opposed to a wood chisel, etc.; so named because the metal doesn't need to be heated.

[e34.535i.sport]

Oh my god its done! A mate and I just finished the job at 12.40...AM!

Went to town on the rusty nut with the cold chisel and a BFH, only to turn it from a nut into a spikey block of metal! Nith this not going well i borrowed a neighbours drill and put a few holes in it - and give it a few more heavy blows with the chisel. I got it off but have damaged the framework where the mount meets the car a little. sort of dented it downwards, but i think it'll be ok.

Got the other side done without any hassle, going to try and do a write up on it for other first timers.

The mounts were absolutely destroyed, no wonder there was so much noise coming from back there. Post some pictures of them tomorrow if i can...

Thanks for the help guys - its always appreciated.

:D :D :D :D

[Brandon J]

have a look at this (http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?p=63478#post63478)

Dave M
I have found this to be the best way. Dave draws it out clearly by slightly threading the same bolt and using a puller or even a similar ball-joint tool. It does it so easily without damaging the shock housing, the rubber bushing in the shock, or surrounding parts. I don't even get damaged, lol. Both wheels have to be off the ground or the swaybar links removed.

Sometimes old shocks have damaged or rotted shock bushings. They flex a lot or even are cracked at a few places. Hitting the shock housing moves and flexes without transfering any force on the shock insert-to-trailing arm. So, it doesn't budge. This way gets it out.

[e34.535i.sport]

I have found this to be the best way. Dave draws it out clearly by slightly threading the same bolt and using a puller or even a similar ball-joint tool. It does it so easily without damaging the shock housing, the rubber bushing in the shock, or surrounding parts. I don't even get damaged, lol. Both wheels have to be off the ground or the swaybar links removed.

Sometimes old shocks have damaged or rotted shock bushings. They flex a lot or even are cracked at a few places. Hitting the shock housing moves and flexes without transfering any force on the shock insert-to-trailing arm. So, it doesn't budge. This way gets it out.


Dave is the man - i went and bought one as soon as i looked at the thread because i knew i'd seen them before in Halfords for an unbelievable £13.99! I know exactly what you mean, it just makes it so easy to remove the bottom end of the shock. I didn't want to hammer it too hard anyway as the shocks are good and the M-tec ones are really expensive!

I didn't need to remove the sway links or anything though, and only had one wheel off the ground! All the job's i've done have been done with one wheel off the ground, with no problems at all.

[Dave M]

I was wondering what you did with the bottom. Glad it worked out. The added bonus is you had an excuse to buy another tool, which will come in very handy for lots o other things.

Dave M

[e34.535i.sport]

I was wondering what you did with the bottom. Glad it worked out. The added bonus is you had an excuse to buy another tool, which will come in very handy for lots o other things.

Dave M

Ha ha thanks Dave! I just wish i'd have bought it before we done my friends control arm bushes on his e36! Woulda saved us a few hours and almost broken limbs!

Any job is easy with the right tool...

[e34.535i.sport]

Here's some pictures of the rogue parts! I can't believe how bad they were...

http://img29.picoodle.com/img/img29/6/10/26/f_IMG0257m_e9d5fe5.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/6/10/26/f_IMG0257m_e9d5fe5.jpg&srv=img29)

http://img30.picoodle.com/img/img30/6/10/26/f_IMG0261m_cc74134.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/6/10/26/f_IMG0261m_cc74134.jpg&srv=img30)

[e34.535i.sport]

And some more... I'm not great with a camera...

http://img35.picoodle.com/img/img35/6/10/26/f_IMG0265m_ad5c2b9.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/6/10/26/f_IMG0265m_ad5c2b9.jpg&srv=img35)

http://img27.picoodle.com/img/img27/6/10/26/f_IMG0268m_8e2f677.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/6/10/26/f_IMG0268m_8e2f677.jpg&srv=img27)

And the b*stard nut that wouln't play ball...
http://img37.picoodle.com/img/img37/6/10/26/f_IMG0272m_951025c.jpg (http://www.picoodle.com/view.php?img=/6/10/26/f_IMG0272m_951025c.jpg&srv=img37)

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

Now thats rooted! Well done on gorilla method of removal. Done the front yet? Beware the ******* that either has fitted E28 mounts or G&S give you the wrong ones,gorilla time.