Removal and installation the shock absorber (BMW 3 Series E30)

Removal

Attention: The shock absorber must be replaced with a shock absorber with the same marking "K".

Remove the shock absorber strut (see section "Removal and installation the shock absorber strut").

To remove the shock absorber, it is necessary to compress the coil spring. Compress the spring with a special device.

Caution: Loosen the shock absorber nut only when the spring is compressed.

Clamp the shock absorber strut in a vice and compress the spring with a suitable compression device.



Remove the cap.



Loosen the nut with a bent open-end wrench, while holding the piston rod from turning.

Remove the washer.

Remove the upper spring cup with the gasket, as well as the spring.

Note: If the spring needs to be replaced, unload it slowly. If only the shock absorber needs to be replaced, the spring remains compressed.

Remove the protective tube, as well as the plastic spring or rubber bellows.

Unscrew the threaded ring and remove the shock absorber.

Remove old oil from the shock absorber cup.

Installation

Pour about 30 cm³ of SAE 30 engine oil into the shock absorber strut cup. The engine oil serves to transfer heat from the shock absorber to the shock absorber strut.

Insert the new shock absorber into the shock absorber strut.

Tighten the threaded ring with a tightening torque of 130 Nm.

Assemble the shock absorber strut as shown in the figure. Ensure that the coil spring fits correctly to the surfaces of the upper and lower spring cups.

The sealing washer is installed with the concave side facing the support bearing.

Tighten the new self-locking nut to 65 Nm while holding the piston rod from turning.

Slowly release the spring.

Install the cap and mount the shock absorber strut (see section "Removal and installation the shock absorber strut").