Approx. time to front swap strut assemblies?

[bubba966]

So, I've got a Bentley, and am good at taking things apart (and even putting them back together!). But I've not taken the strut assemblies out of an E34 yet.

And by the looks of my drivers side strut mount I need to swap my struts out very soon for a temporary set out of a 530 I got from Ross.

Any good guesstimates on time required to swap the assemblies as whole units?

And I should be asleep right now (I usually am at this time of day) so I'm rather tired at the moment. And I'm starting to feel like I've possibly asked a similar question before. Sorry if I have, am too tired right now to remember if I have or haven't. Either way I don't recall a timeframe on swapping full strut assemblies...

[632 Regal]

first time most of a Saturday, second time a couple hours a side... gets easier each time.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

first time most of a Saturday, second time a couple hours a side... gets easier each time.

Even faster with air tools

[Dave M]

Once you complete the job and realize you forget something (like bump stops or spring pads), the job will go from a day to two hours

Dave

[632 Regal]

air tools good, be very careful with the strut knuckle bolts, the chamfer in the socket can cause only a minimal bite on the bolt. I ground the edge flat on a socket for better gription. Yes, learned this on my own too.

Even faster with air tools

[Ferret]

Once you complete the job and realize you forget something (like bump stops or spring pads), the job will go from a day to two hours

Dave

Amen to that! I had to swap rear mounts over recently, and halfway through realised that the PO had missed out the top 'bump stop stop' on the rear left.... after I'd put the rear left assembly all back together.

Had it out again in record time.

[e34.535i.sport]

If you do your research first and know what you're doing, I reckon 4hrs if you are talking about the whole assembly (i.e strut housing/shock/disc/carrier in one peice). Really all you will need to do is remove the caliper, remove the steering plate at the bottom (3bolts) and the three nuts supporting the top end IIRC. Bish bash bosh. Remember though there are some brake lines etc that will be supported on the housing so release these before pulling it away from the car!

[Bruno]

If you do your research first and know what you're doing, I reckon 4hrs if you are talking about the whole assembly (i.e strut housing/shock/disc/carrier in one peice). Really all you will need to do is remove the caliper, remove the steering plate at the bottom (3bolts) and the three nuts supporting the top end IIRC. Bish bash bosh. Remember though there are some brake lines etc that will be supported on the housing so release these before pulling it away from the car!

It now takes me 1/5 hours /side but I know all the bolts size by heart and I have power tools.

It can be longer if you run into problem: seized collar nut for example.

Still it is not a bad job if you have a good spring compressor and power tools to help.

The E39/E38 is super easy to work on, it takes 5 to 10 min to take the strut assembly out of the car. I LOVE IT.

[bubba966]

I'm talking about taking the whole assembly out in one piece (spring/strut/hub). Will be taking the rotor off the EDC assembly and putting it on the 530 assembly.

There should be no need for spring compressors (yet, will need them when I take the EDC strut assemblies apart to send the struts out for rebuild).

It should just be the three nuts for the top mounts, the wheel, caliper, rotor, and whatever else needs to be taken off at the bottom of the mount, right?

[e34.535i.sport]

I'm talking about taking the whole assembly out in one piece (spring/strut/hub). Will be taking the rotor off the EDC assembly and putting it on the 530 assembly.

There should be no need for spring compressors (yet, will need them when I take the EDC strut assemblies apart to send the struts out for rebuild).

It should just be the three nuts for the top mounts, the wheel, caliper, rotor, and whatever else needs to be taken off at the bottom of the mount, right?

Dead on. I'm sure you know, but top nuts come off last, just incase. You'll piss it.