Removing front shox

#1

I know you need a special tool to remove the top nut, and another tool to remove the shox. I don’t have them, nor the money to buy them ($150 for both).
What did you use instead?
I was able to remove the passenger side top nut, but the driver side is giving me a very hard time.
Tips, suggestions and pics are more than welcome.

#2

an impact wrench is good for the top nut.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/E30-Front_Suspen/E30-Front_Suspen.htm

I recall at one point having the assembly in a padded vice and a large pipe wrench trying to get that collar off the strut tube.

cheers,
bruce

#3

I have always taken them off the car, put the strut housing in a vice and used a pipe wrench. I always hit them with some penetrant of some sort. I have even gone so far as to hammer on the pipe wrench with a 5lb sledge to shock the gland nut loose. Just remember, it WILL come off one way or another…

#4

Yeah, I got an impact wrench, but it’s got to be very deep socket, and open in order to insert an open wrench to hold the stud.
I’ll give it a try tonight again, the special tool is $40.

#5

My new Bilsteins purchased from Flying Brick (I think) came with the collar removal tool. I think I used a box wrench with a heavy offset angle to do the strut nuts.

#6

An impact works great to remove and you should not have to hold the shaft to remove the nut with an inpact. For reinstall I have a deep well socket that I ground the top down to make two flat sides for a wrench and then use a 1/4" drive socket and extension to hold the shaft.

Install 1/4" drive socket, Install larget deep well socket with flat spots over 1/4" drive socket. Install 1/4" extension in hole of deep well socket. Wrench on big socket, 1/4" rachet on extension. Now turn.

Michael O.

#7

to get the collar nut off, you can use a hammer and a drift in the notch to tap it loose.

#8

I got it.
Impact wrench remove the top nut without holding the shaft.
I used a vise-grip wrench for the oem collar nut.
I got the collar tool with the Bilstein shox, and had to hold the shaft with the vise-grip wrench to reinstall the top nut.
Thanx for all the advise.