E36 Return to Stock Suspension - Front Strut Help.

[quail]

Just bought the Monroe OESpectrum replacement struts for my 325is. The car had the suspersport coilovers on it for the past 4 years, and I got sick of bending rims, plus 3 out of 4 struts were leaking.

I wanted to go back to stock, and Advance Auto Parts had a monroe set on sale for $227. I still have the stock springs from prior to my coilover purchase.

I reinstalled the rears today. No problem. Took about 35 minutes a side.

I went to do the front, removed the two bottom botls to the hub, the carrier bolt above, and then proceeded to the 3 that mount the strut up top.

The coilover came out no problem.

I went to install new monroe strut, I was able to compress the old spring onto it, but when I went to fish the newassembly in, the bottom bolts are about 4 and a half inches too low...

It is impossible to line up the bottom bolts to the hub and I can only line up two of the 3 top botls. Should I need to compress the spring to reinstall, and should it be off by that much. I am using a spring compressor rented from Advance Auto and I can't seem to get it installed inside the wheelwell on the spring. The studs are just too long. Is there a special spring compressor for BMWs?

I quit for the day and the old coilover mounted back in no problem. What gives?

Could the old spring have expanded after 4 years of sitting free? (It is about 13 inches long now)

I tried putting a jack under the strut to lift it, but I have to get it about 3 inches to the right as it should sit directly over the control arm. By physics this is impossible. What am I doing wrong?

[rThor]

It sounds like you are trying to install the spring/strut assembly while he spring is compressed.. If so, don't do that.. The spring didn't expand after sitting; that length is proper. Should just be the 3 upper bolts and 2 connecting the strut to the spindle.

[fball]

I'm not sure if this is particularly relevant to your model, but some cars need to have the strut / spring assembly installed while compressed. My volvo s40 was like that. Fortunately I have not had to replace the struts on my 325 yet. Usually if you shift where the compressors sit on the spring, or turn them upside-down, u can get them in the wheel well.
As a side note, you should NEVER use Monroe struts, or anything monroe for that matter, on a BMW. Its a disgrace and it will not give you original ride / handling quality. I don't care what they say at the auto parts store, Monroe does NOT meet or exceed OE quality on a BMW. Use Bilstein. They are a German brand that make both touring and sport shocks and struts for many European cars, including most BMWs. They are as good as the original (except if you have variable valve struts that are controlled electronically). The cost will be a bit more, but it's worth it. Order through Summit Racing. They are the cheapest.

[quail]

I'm not sure if this is particularly relevant to your model, but some cars need to have the strut / spring assembly installed while compressed. My volvo s40 was like that. Fortunately I have not had to replace the struts on my 325 yet. Usually if you shift where the compressors sit on the spring, or turn them upside-down, u can get them in the wheel well.
As a side note, you should NEVER use Monroe struts, or anything monroe for that matter, on a BMW. Its a disgrace and it will not give you original ride / handling quality. I don't care what they say at the auto parts store, Monroe does NOT meet or exceed OE quality on a BMW. Use Bilstein. They are a German brand that make both touring and sport shocks and struts for many European cars, including most BMWs. They are as good as the original (except if you have variable valve struts that are controlled electronically). The cost will be a bit more, but it's worth it. Order through Summit Racing. They are the cheapest.


It's too late I already have the Monroe's, and I did a fair amount of research a lot of people seem to like them.

Regardless, I know bilstein is a better brand etc.. This is what I have to work with though.

In order to get the spring compressed enough to get the bottom of the strut high enough to mount to the hub, I will have to compress it so far that I do not think I will be able to get the compressor out.

[fball]

Are you taking the upper mounts out too? I'm not quite sure by your explanation. If not, you need to take out the mount and put the strut, spring and mount together, then install the whole thing. Should go in easy. If that doesn't work, the Monroe struts may be made wrong. I initially tried monroe for my Volvo, but the whole thing was wrong. Glad of it too.

[scooper]

maybe post a few pics to see what you're referring to. It'll help.

btw, I have some good used strut top mounts if you're interested. Spin freely with no issues.

[quail]

I had the top mounts out. I have the reinforcement plates for them too. I think my problem, fairly simply, is that I was working with only one wheel off the ground. Since the passenger side was in the air, and the driver side was compressed, there was tension on the sway bar which was holding the hub up. Tonight I will see if I can either get both wheels up, or detach the swaybar from the control arm so the hub swings down free.

[JonStang351]

That will make the job hard with the swaybar hooked up and one side fully compressed. Disconnect your swaybar and you should get some more room. Also, pics would be handy so we can have a better idea what is going on.

[quail]

That was exactly my problem. Once I got the car up, I used the car's jack in the jack hole, and removed the strut. From there I used a floor jack to raise the control arm up and remove the swaybar link. Once I dropped the jack, the control arm swung way down and the new strut install was a piece of cake. I only had about an hour and a half of sunlight to do it, so only one side is done. I will have the car done tomorrow hopefully.