Ok just replaced the front struts as well as front brake pads on my 318i. I drove it around for a day and it was making a clunking noise so I checked the top strut nut and it was not tightened so I torqued it down with an impact and now no noises, rides great. Except now I notice the car will intermittently pull hard to the left or the right. Usually after making a hard turn. So if I make a hard turn right it will pull to the right like it really needs an alignment. It will do this until I make a turn in the opposite direction or maybe if I go over a speed bump. Not really sure whats going on? Did I maybe put something back together wrong? Sonetimes its totally fine and tracks straight. Its kind of weird.
Sounds like an alignment issue.
What did you use as strut spring replacements? Use stock springs? Perhaps a spring is not seated properly.
Go thru the parts diagrams to be sure your reassembly sequence is correct. Use last seven of your VIN in www.realoem.com to get to correct diagrams.
Go thru the other fasteners to be sure they are tight.
Not a good idea to use impact tools on the top strut nut.
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Yeah I used the stock springs. Would an alignment issue come and go like that? When it pulls its really noticeable like a maybe I should pull over and check this out. Could I have put the top strut nut on too tight? It didnt do this before when it was loose. I had read to use an impact on it so that the piston rod would not spin. They said to put an impact on it and hit it with short blasts
If you can safely compress the spring onto the strut while you are torquing the top nut, the shaft will not spin. I had a friend hold it while I used a torque wrench to 77 ft lbs. If you over torque the nut it can cause the mount to bind and not rotate freely enough. You should get an alignment after to be safe and sure.
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The top nut is a relatively low torque. Right around 40ft lbs.
Here is a great tutorial -
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/phpBB/v...a0b2e605fa038a
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Last edited by bluptgm3; 01-19-2019 at 05:47 PM.
Did you put the correct struts on each side? Left on Drivers and Right on Passengers
You should probably loosen and retorque the nut on both sides to the correct specs, and then get an alignment. You should always get an alignment after any major suspension work anyways. If that doesn’t work, get a friend outside the car and try to pinpoint exactly where the noise is coming from and go from there.
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