 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  |  02-04-2010, 06:27 PM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Central Florida Posts: 678 |  Front Susp. Overhaul...
Alright guys wish me luck!... About to begin my overhaul right now... Control Arms Tie rods Saw-bar links Bilstein Sport shocks  __________________ 2LT Rodriguez CA ARNG
TURBO 96' Sport, Alaska Blue, Auto
Custom JohnBoy Turbo, Midnight-Tunning Software, HKS BOV, e-Pod Gauge Pod, BavAuto Springs, Bilstein Sport, e30 3.73 LSD, Depo P36, Apexcone 55w HID, OEM Spoiler, M3 Lip, M3 Mesh Grill, Crossdrilled Rear Rotors, M3 Front Brakes, Sparco 3 point Harness, Euro M3 Wheel, K&N cone, Clear Corner/Sides/Tails, M3 Center Console & Arm-rest, M3 Red Cluster Needles, M3 Mirrors & Side Skirts, RD Exhaust, DS-1 wheels!...
 |  |  | | 02-04-2010, 07:03 PM | #2 | | Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: dover Posts: 18 |
good luck...
Can you take some pics of it as im due om gonna be having to do this soon ? | | | | | 02-04-2010, 09:27 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Central Florida Posts: 678 |
Great... Had the car up on stands, have driver side almost completely dismantled, except for the control arms and tie rods ( using a pickle fork but wasn't giving). I sprayed some liquid wrench on it, and decided to do the shocks while I let it penetrate... and the spring compressor Autozone gave me is not the one to use our shocks!!!!.... Now I g=had to put everything back together and go to Autozone and get the RIGHT compressors so that I can try and continue tomorrow!!!!....   __________________ 2LT Rodriguez CA ARNG
TURBO 96' Sport, Alaska Blue, Auto
Custom JohnBoy Turbo, Midnight-Tunning Software, HKS BOV, e-Pod Gauge Pod, BavAuto Springs, Bilstein Sport, e30 3.73 LSD, Depo P36, Apexcone 55w HID, OEM Spoiler, M3 Lip, M3 Mesh Grill, Crossdrilled Rear Rotors, M3 Front Brakes, Sparco 3 point Harness, Euro M3 Wheel, K&N cone, Clear Corner/Sides/Tails, M3 Center Console & Arm-rest, M3 Red Cluster Needles, M3 Mirrors & Side Skirts, RD Exhaust, DS-1 wheels!...
| | | | | 02-04-2010, 10:08 PM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Merritt Island, FL Posts: 351 |
Quote: Originally Posted by yoda  Great... Had the car up on stands, have driver side almost completely dismantled, except for the control arms and tie rods ( using a pickle fork but wasn't giving). I sprayed some liquid wrench on it, and decided to do the shocks while I let it penetrate... and the spring compressor Autozone gave me is not the one to use our shocks!!!!.... Now I g=had to put everything back together and go to Autozone and get the RIGHT compressors so that I can try and continue tomorrow!!!!.... | Were you using this type?  These work okay if you use an air hammer to turn the bolts, otherwise it is really tedious. I found it to be easier to un bolt the strut assembly from the hub and unbolt the strut bearing from the tower and remove strut assembly from the car. It is easier to do the spring work when you have lots of room to use the spring compressors. As for ball joints I like to use these to seperate ball joints:  This tool isn't as destructive as the pickle fork on the ball joint boots (if you were reusing the ball joints). Only thing is that you have to be careful not to flare out or mushroom the threaded end of the ball joint or you may not be able to get the nut back on it. But since you are installing all new parts this won't be a problem for you. One trick I've used on difficult ball joints is to take 2 similar sized hammers (one in each hand and have the faces of the hammer face each other) and smack the arm simultaneously on either side where rod end is. You have to use some force and some coordination  , but it works. It will pop that ball joint right out of the arm. It is a little difficult to describe, but once you see it in action it's a no brainer. __________________ Alpine Weiß 1995 318ti
M50tu mostly stock, chip'd 413, AFE Intake. e36 M3 front brakes, e30 M3 rear calipers. e28 3.25 LSD + e30 axles. Custom stainless Magnaflow 2 in 1 out muffler.
R.I.P schwartz 1990 325is  | | | | | 02-05-2010, 04:05 AM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 |
Quote: Originally Posted by chrisbec One trick I've used on difficult ball joints is to take 2 similar sized hammers (one in each hand and have the faces of the hammer face each other) and smack the arm simultaneously on either side where rod end is. You have to use some force and some coordination , but it works. It will pop that ball joint right out of the arm. It is a little difficult to describe, but once you see it in action it's a no brainer. | I usually wrap a chain around the control arm, stick a big metal pipe through the chain so the end is on the subframe, and just use the leverage to pop it out, might not work if you're on jackstands unless you have it up real high though | | | | | 02-08-2010, 10:32 PM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 890 |
1. Loosen the ball joint nut, but don't remove it.
2. Take a big hammer and strike the spindle where the ball joint passes through it. Get serious with it. The ball joint will drop but will catch on the nut you left on.
3. When it drops down remove the nut and you're done.
No new tools or penetrating oil required. Works everytime. | | | | | 02-08-2010, 11:29 PM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: norcal - 94590 Posts: 3,186 |
Quote: Originally Posted by yoda Great... Had the car up on stands, have driver side almost completely dismantled, except for the control arms and tie rods ( using a pickle fork but wasn't giving). I sprayed some liquid wrench on it, and decided to do the shocks while I let it penetrate... and the spring compressor Autozone gave me is not the one to use our shocks!!!!.... Now I g=had to put everything back together and go to Autozone and get the RIGHT compressors so that I can try and continue tomorrow!!!!.... | Luis, this is proof that you need to live closer to us norcal .org members... You just could have called, and one of us would have come over to help! Hope you have been able to finish this! __________________ James 95 active w/leather interior and sport interior conversion, Vaders, full M-Tech exterior conversion. Now m50 swapped* Eibach sway bars, D2 Coilovers, Depo's w/AE's, blacked-out sides and grills, LeatherZ console and door armrests, 1 series starter button mod, and custom finished Style 5's <--- in this color! Named "Roddy":  *M50 6 cyl. swap with fan delete, S50 cams and chip, AFE stage 2 intake, M3 clutch and 11.5 lb Fidanza flywheel, 3.15LSD, battery relocated to rear and complete custom exhaust. Sweet!  97 318ti sport, Alaska Blue, Contours, coilovers, Dove Vaders and custom black/grey interior named "Max" 95 318ti Active in Cosmos, S50 swap in progress... named "Pit" SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | | | 02-09-2010, 07:22 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Central Florida Posts: 678 |
Quote: Originally Posted by wolferj Luis, this is proof that you need to live closer to us norcal .org members... You just could have called, and one of us would have come over to help! Hope you have been able to finish this! | Caved in!.... Taking the car to a shop today to have the arms and tie rods installed and have the alignment done as well... I did install the struts though (Bilstein Sport), the original ones were shot to heck!!!!... BTW my front camber was so off that I already had to replace the 2 front tires. One blew a few weeks ago, they were down to the wire on the inside corners and almost new on the rest... I'll see the difference after I get my car back this afternoon...  __________________ 2LT Rodriguez CA ARNG
TURBO 96' Sport, Alaska Blue, Auto
Custom JohnBoy Turbo, Midnight-Tunning Software, HKS BOV, e-Pod Gauge Pod, BavAuto Springs, Bilstein Sport, e30 3.73 LSD, Depo P36, Apexcone 55w HID, OEM Spoiler, M3 Lip, M3 Mesh Grill, Crossdrilled Rear Rotors, M3 Front Brakes, Sparco 3 point Harness, Euro M3 Wheel, K&N cone, Clear Corner/Sides/Tails, M3 Center Console & Arm-rest, M3 Red Cluster Needles, M3 Mirrors & Side Skirts, RD Exhaust, DS-1 wheels!...
| | | | | 02-09-2010, 08:33 PM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Raleigh/Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,233 |
You didn't listen to me!
Seriously, take a blow torch and light the ball joint boots on fire, let them burn themselves out, then hit it with a pickle fork flipping it over every time. Makes it very easy to get them suckers off. __________________ -Jeff
 | | | | | 02-16-2010, 08:24 AM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Central Florida Posts: 678 |
well... Here's a picture of all the parts replaced...  __________________ 2LT Rodriguez CA ARNG
TURBO 96' Sport, Alaska Blue, Auto
Custom JohnBoy Turbo, Midnight-Tunning Software, HKS BOV, e-Pod Gauge Pod, BavAuto Springs, Bilstein Sport, e30 3.73 LSD, Depo P36, Apexcone 55w HID, OEM Spoiler, M3 Lip, M3 Mesh Grill, Crossdrilled Rear Rotors, M3 Front Brakes, Sparco 3 point Harness, Euro M3 Wheel, K&N cone, Clear Corner/Sides/Tails, M3 Center Console & Arm-rest, M3 Red Cluster Needles, M3 Mirrors & Side Skirts, RD Exhaust, DS-1 wheels!...
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