Strut Replacement Help

[mdistel]

I've removed the 3 18mm bolts and the top 3 13mm nuts but the strut seems to be stuck at the bottom. I didn't remove any of the brake hardware. It almost looks like there is a bolt behind the splash shield in between the two bottom 18mm bolts holding the assembly together. Do I have to remove the brake hardware?

Mark
95 325is

[bmw728ivik]

yes as if you did not you cant remove the strut away from the car without braking the line to the caliper??? then there is on bolt behind the disk which goes to the wish bone?? correct me if im wrong?

[jjoel]

there are 3 pretty good size bolts at the base of the strut. two of them i think go into the housing that supports the caliper and the third is in the middle and goes cross instead of verticle.

[mdistel]

Problem Solved. The bottom of the strut was rust welded - a good breaker bar solved that. THe myster nut was actually an alingment nub.

No need to remove the caliper which is a good thing since I couldn't free the 16mm bolts for it. Unfortunately I will have to soon since the brakes are getting old.

Mark