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View Full Version : Strut bearing replacement. Need some help.



stoner
12-09-2009, 09:28 PM
So I have had this somewhat of a grinding, creaking sound emanating from what appears to be the strut towers. It is very difficult to pin the noise down actually. Dave suggested it could be the strut bearings as these weren't replaced or greased when the new struts and springs were installed. I have checked the other steering componenents and couldn't find any noise or fault with them and were replaced a couple of years ago. Anyway, the strut is out. I couldn't get the ABS sensor out and I cracked the casing to it. The most problem I am having is trying to remove the nut that secures the bearing on. Everything spins internally spring and strut when I try to turn it and I can't think of any way to secure the strut. Any ideas from those of you who have completed this project? Any trick to removing the ABS sensor?
Regards,

Dwight

mummzaflyin
12-09-2009, 10:56 PM
Wish I had taken pictures when I did this a few years ago. This is where I got creative. I took 1/2 or 3/4 drive socket that fit the nut , ground down side of the socket so I could get an open-ended wrench on it. Now that you control the nut, you need to stop the piston from spinning. Here I took a tall 1/8 drive socket (forgot size 8, or 10 mm) that I would fit through the square opening of socket that is holding the bearing nut in place (it would fit over the top portion of the strut piston that sticks above bearing -my bilsteins has an hexagone shape) now just spin off the nut.

It is a little getto, but it works. ABS sensor, no idea.

stoner
12-09-2009, 11:55 PM
Mine are Bilsteins. Just has a long single 8mm nut on top.

smaglik
12-10-2009, 12:07 AM
the PO of my 635 did not grease the bearings at all, and i had developed a horrible creaking noise, along with severe memory steer. i filled them with grease, capped them, and the issue went away within 10 miles.

DaHose
12-10-2009, 02:52 AM
Take the strut to someone with air tools, or buy an electric impact wrench from Harbor Freight. With impact tools, you can hold the strut in one hand and bang off the nut with no problem. If you don't have air tools, I strongly recommend buying an electric impact. Best $50 you will ever spend.

Jose

CW6er
12-10-2009, 04:06 AM
First of all, be careful using an impact wrench to install the upper nut on the shock strut. I was talking to a Bilstein representative about warranties, and he told me that the number one claim was from people twisting off the strut rod at the threads using an impact wrench, and that they will not warranty that !! So if you use an impact wrench, you're on you're own. They are handy for removing the nut though.

Look for one of those "tube" type of spark plug sockets sold at garden and home supply stores that sell general lawn mower tune-up parts, the hollow 3/4 (19mm) spark plug socket is just what is needed!

You can use a regular 3/4" spark plug socket with a hex head like the one pictured in the upper right, but almost all are a 3/8" drive and the 8mm socket won't fit through the center of it. But my slim 1/4" drive 8mm socket was close (far left), so I was just going to run a drill through a spark plug socket in the drill press, until I ran across the "tube" socket, pictured in the middle, at a Lowes. The 3/4" end fits the nut and IIRC, I put a bit of a squeeze on the 13/16" end in a vice to fit a 24mm (or a 15/16") crowsfoot to the outside at the top (lets you torque it down too).

I just recently ran across a 3/4" spark plug socket with the hex head with a 1/2" Drive, that the 8mm socket will fit through, at Menards Home Center (Is this a local chain?)

A thread on this issue: http://bigcoupe.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9372&postdays=0&postorder=asc&

(By the way, you do have a spring compressor installed before you remove the nut, right?)

http://bigcoupe.com/phpBB2/files/shock_tools_178.jpg

stoner
12-10-2009, 09:58 AM
Thanks for getting my creativity flowing guys. It seems to me I have a spark blug wrench for my Huskvarna chain saw laying around that might just fit the bill. These are usually made out of soft steel and every nut I have taken off so far seems to be torqued down to the max. If that doesn't work a 1/2" drive 3/4" spark plug socket. I'll grind down a socket as a last resort if the other two don't work. Thanks again.
Regards,

Dwight

tau166
12-10-2009, 10:16 AM
I just assembled my struts with Bilsteins last weekend. Similar to Chris's picture above, I used a 3/4" (same as 19mm) spark plug socket and either a crows foot attachment (with torque wrench) for the spark plug socket. Use an 8mm 1/4" drive socket and a long extension through the spark plug socket to hold the strut from spinning. I think it's like a 13/16" wrench or crows foot to hold the spark plug socket I got at Lowes. Granted that's all for assembly where I was being more careful. For dissassembly of the old components I did as Jose mentioned and used my cordless impact wrench. The strut spun a little but not too much and then the nut came loose. I suppose you could use a strap wrench or something like that to hold the strut from spinning but I'd put safety glasses and gloves on just in case the strap wrench snaps. Also, that stupid gland nut tool from Bilstein is a POS. Impossible to keep the thing from slipping and I ended up rounding off the edges of teeth on it...what a mess that was. I tried to do it right but now am thinking a good old pipe wrench might have just been easier.