Strut Cartridge: Service and Repair

To remove





1. Slacken the center nut when all four wheels of the car are on the ground.
2. Raise the car. Undo the five wheel bolts and remove the wheel.
3. Unscrew the hub nut fully, detach the wheel sensor and lead from the clip.
4. Press back the brake piston, using a pair of slip-joint pliers. Remove the caliper from the steering swivel member and suspend it in the wheel housing by means of a cable tie.
5. Remove the brake disc and back plate.
6. Slacken the tie-rod end nut slightly. Press out the tie-rod end screw with Puller 89 96 69. Undo the nut and lift the tie-rod end bolt out of the hole.





7. Unscrew the nut securing the anti-roll bar to the suspension arm.
8. Undo the nut on the outer ball joint. Put Puller 89 96 696 on the link arm and press the ball joint out of the steering swivel member. Unscrew the nut and discard it. This nut is of self-locking type and must not be reused.
9. Remove the cover.
10. Unscrew the three nuts on the upper mounting for the MacPherson strut.
11. Remove the MacPherson strut.

To dismantle





1. Clamp the MacPherson strut in a vice.
Compress the spring using Spring compressor and holder 88 18 791, 88 18 809.
2. Grip the piston rod using a 9 mm, long hexagon socket and remove the nut using a Socket, MacPherson strut 89 96 613. The nut is of self-locking type and must not be reused.





3. Remove the bearing and upper spring seat.
4. Remove the spring, rubber gaiter and compression stop.
5. Remove the damper using a Spanner 89 96 670.
6. Lift the damper out of the strut.


To assemble





1. Inspect the gaiter and bushes for damage.
2. Tighten the damper using a Spanner 89 96 670.
Tightening torque: 215 Nm (159 ft. lbs.)
3. Fit the coil spring in place. Its lower end should abut against the stop in the bottom spring cup.
4. Fit the upper spring seat (make note of the projecting marker) and bearing. Grip the piston rod using a 9 mm, long hexagon socket and remove the nut using Socket, MacPherson strut 89 96 613.
5. Remove the spring compressor.


To fit





1. Position the MacPherson strut on the car, tighten the three retaining nuts on the top mounting and fit the cover. Tighten the bolts alternately.
Tightening torque: 18 Nm (13 ft. lbs.)
2. Tighten the ball joint retaining nut.
Tightening torque: 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.).
3. Tighten the nut securing the anti-roll bar to the link arm.
Tightening torque: 10 Nm (7 ft. lbs.)
4. Refit the back plate and brake disc.





5. Check that the brake piston is pressed back into the cylinder. Fit the brake caliper to the steering swivel member.
6. Fit the track rod end and tighten it.
Tightening torque: 60 Nm (44 ft. lbs.)
7. Fit the wheel sensor and its lead.

IMPORTANT: A new hub centre-nut should always be fitted if it has been loosened as the clamping force of the lock embossing is reduced when refitted. Use nut with top groove.

8. Fit new hub centre-nut and tighten it a few turns.
9. Fit the wheel and tighten the five wheel bolts, using a torque wrench.
Tightening torque: 110 Nm (81 ft. lbs.)
10. Lower the car and use a torque wrench to tighten the hub nut when all four wheels of the car are on the ground.
Tightening torque, hub nut of new type with top slot: 170 Nm (125 ft. lbs.) + 45 deg.
11. Tighten the upper mounting nut, using a torque wrench.
Tightening torque: 75 Nm (55 ft. lbs.).
12. Depress the brake pedal to press out the pistons in the brake calipers.
13. Check the wheel alignment.