FRONT STRUT REMOVAL

Tyres, exhausts, suspension, strut braces, air filters, brake pads/rotors and anything else for 'dawn raiders'.
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Southernboy
Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
Posts: 6436

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Johannesburg

FRONT STRUT REMOVAL

Post by Southernboy »

Here's a clear and useful video of removal / relacement of the Z3 front strut. You will notice...1. The brake caliper is not removed. 2. No changes are made to any steering / wheel alignment is made. 3. It requires disconnecting / removing the cables for the sensors out the way, and then 3 x 18mm bolts and 3 x 13mm bolts to remove.
This means that since no changes are made to the steering / wheel alignment settings, it is likely you will not require to have it re-aligned after doing the changes. Also, it demonstrates the simplicity of replacing springs and shocks on the front of your car.
Personally, I would do the removal and installation of te strut myself, and simply take the complete strut to an outlet / workshop to have the springs or shocks replaced. Unless you're going to do this kind of job often, why have the expense of spring compressors...also it's probably the one procedure which may injure you if the spring compressor slips off etc...I have once used those, and the type of compressor one can buy at a tool shop isn't anything like the set-up shown in the video. They tend to slip around because each compressor is at a different length due to the coil of the spring. Also, it's important to compress the spring evenly to avoid the other two compressors from slipping along the angle of the spring coil.(one needs 3 compressors)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l3rfGbxvlM
"Normal is overrated"
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Z3 Upgrades and Additions
Zedbedee
Joined: Sun 15 Mar, 2009 20:04
Posts: 157

  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: Yeovil

Re: FRONT STRUT REMOVAL

Post by Zedbedee »

Interestingly I have just replaced my front struts as one was leaking. I bought Sachs as I was led to believe they are the original struts fitted as new. As I have a lot of junk in my garage I jacked the car up outside and just as the wheels came off the clouds rolled in and the rain started, Bugger!!
This was last Friday and I called my local garage, Swaffields at Crewkerne here in Somerset, and was told they had a slot first thing this morning, Monday, and could fit them then. I have just picked the car up, all fine and much stiffer at the front. The cost? £32.50 plus VAT. You hear some horror stories about garages from time to time but I think this cost was fairer than fair.
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Mint
Joined: Tue 01 Nov, 2011 18:43
Posts: 475

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Re: FRONT STRUT REMOVAL

Post by Mint »

Zedbedee, that sound like a bargain. Not worth getting your hands dirty for that price, even without the rain :)
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Southernboy
Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
Posts: 6436

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Johannesburg

Re: FRONT STRUT REMOVAL

Post by Southernboy »

Well, I removed my front struts...took 20 mins to get the car up on stands and the wheels off...Then, 5mins / side to get the struts off and £.10.00 at the local Tired, Shocked and Exhausted guy to compress and change my coil springs. 10 mins to fit them and 10 mins to re-fit wheels... Well worth the experience of doing the job myself....at least I know I can do a front shocks replacement in future if they need replacement without having to pay someone else and have them charge me for their labour. :wink:
Why change coil springs....I had the Eibach dropped springs fitted, but I've had enough of having the front spoiler and the exhaust front / center box being graunched on speed bumps etc...
My next project is going on a course on composites in Feb, then I want to remove my front bumper which has taken some damage across the right lowest cross beam and has broken across it. I've had it repaired, but the "specialist" bumper repair shop simply "glued" it together with body filler type gunge, and since I.ve gently nudged a pavement and it's cracked across the same place....so "Composites" (glass or CF) is what I'll be using to do a proper repair...I may even decide to do CF on the entire front spoiler to a line just under the "bulge" of the front bumper. Plan on "skinning" it inside and outside to provide a solid mend to the crack as well as fill / integrate the splitters to be a complete part of the OEM bumper vs the "add-on look" it has now....
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Z3 Upgrades and Additions
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