 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  | |  10-02-2012, 03:45 AM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 404 |  Strut tower question.
My front strut tower is mushroomed. Is it possible to fix this or do I need to buy the strut tower itself and have a shop replace it? If I have to do that would you recommend doing both? Just want some info on this. |  |  | | 10-03-2012, 01:26 AM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 1,364 |
Isn't the strut tower integral to the unibody, that is, something that can't be replaced? That said, I believe a good welder can fix and reinforce the tower. Other opinions? | | | | | 10-03-2012, 05:55 AM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 404 |
It is possible to purchase just the piece. It's replaceable. If you look in your car you can see where they were originally pieced in. I think. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. | | | | | 10-03-2012, 06:45 AM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,464 |
Yes, you can buy just the sheet metal and replace it- it's #2 in this diagram:  P/N: 41148122543 (left), 41148122544 (right); Tischer has it for $268.85 If you do decide to go this route, use strut reinforcement plates when you reinstall everything. | | | | | 10-03-2012, 06:55 AM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 404 |
That was my plan, you think I should just do both of them? | | | | | 10-03-2012, 06:06 PM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fl Posts: 1,353 |
I would do them both. Use the reinforcement plate this time. Something else you may want to consider is some type camber plate as you may not be able to get the new strut towers in EXACTLY the same position. __________________
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| | | | | 10-06-2012, 02:23 AM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 404 |
Just another question before I get started on buying anything. There is no rust on my strut towers as far as I know. Do you think it can be reshaped? Or would the best route just be to replace? | | | | | 10-09-2012, 06:43 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,464 |
Sure it can be reshaped, but once the metal has been fatigued it is not going to be as strong as it originally was and will be that much more susceptible to mushrooming again. The best long-term fix is to replace the sheet metal and use the reinforcement plates. Good luck! | | | | | 10-12-2012, 08:13 PM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 404 |
I think I'm going to just have it reshaped flat and run reinforcement plates. Opinions? I won't be running the car too hardcore. | | | | | 10-12-2012, 08:23 PM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fl Posts: 1,353 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Breticus  I think I'm going to just have it reshaped flat and run reinforcement plates. Opinions? I won't be running the car too hardcore. | I would not suggest doing that. As someone mentioned before the metal is now weak. If you really don't want to replace the sheet metal I would run a strut bar and a reinforcement plate that way the weak metal is at least sandwiched. __________________
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| | | | | 10-12-2012, 08:26 PM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 404 |
I'm going to try and get a quote for the better fix soon, if it's not too much I'll just do it the right way. | | | | | 10-14-2012, 01:21 AM | #12 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 404 |
Will all e36 strut towers work? Would you think finding some off an old e36 is a bad idea? Or just spend the money and get the new ones? | | | | | 10-19-2012, 08:44 PM | #13 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 404 |
Woah. So the body shops were talkin crazy numbers. My mom has a friend who welds. I think I'm gonna see if he thinks he can do it, and just buy the pieces myself and see what he can do. | | | | | 10-20-2012, 02:17 AM | #14 | | Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Portland Or Posts: 2,666 |
This is NOT a job for anybody without some pretty serious chassis repair experience. You cars whole driving personality will be made or broken with this work. Doing just the top of the tower is not bad, go much deeper and beware...  Dave __________________
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2005 330xi - Mtech 1 - 6spd - Orient Blue/Black | | | | | 10-20-2012, 02:25 AM | #15 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida Posts: 404 |
Well this guy used to weld oil pipelines underwater so I figured a strut tower would be a cinch. | | | | | |
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