dgjks6

Foiled
For the first time this project

My special German spring compressors don't work on my special German car

Bruce In Philly

Except for the mount, I don't buy Porsche control arms. OEM companies only, but not Porsche-labeled stuff.

Peace
Bruce in Philly (now Atlanta)

dgjks6

Done for the day.

Both carriers off and both struts off

Spring compressed ordered from Amazon

Problem found - yes. Passenger strut mount is frozen and was moving back and the three bolts on the top were moving back and forth. Wore off some paint.

Parts broken? Just one. When I removed the passenger side carrier the caliper fell off its bucket and the curved hard line is now straight.

So new brake line

The ball joint on the coffin arm on the passenger side is still good along with all the bushings.

Plans to replace

All 4 control arms

Strut mount and bearing.

Brake line

Once I get the spring off I'll decide about the struts. They are a little rusted but not leaking.

Overall I'm amazed how simple these cars are and what high quality parts are used.

Way less complicated than my 535xi with the N54

Compared to the 08 wrangler I needed a lot less heat and force.

dgjks6

Amazon to the rescue
Drivers side apart without issue

The strut mount is a little rusted but not bad

The bearing was frozen







The passenger side still working on. The strut mount is frozen on the strut

This was the side causing the clunk

dgjks6

So questions for the day

Replace the struts because I'm here?

The drivers strut is not leaking and has good rebound

Replace the mounts? I cheated on FCP and ordered mounts last night off eBay

The passenger mount was $150 on eBay and $180 on FCP. Usually I'll spend the extra $30 to get the warranty and the service. But the drivers mount on FCP is $300 vs $150 on ebay.

dgjks6

Strut disassembly

Step 1 - compress strut



Step 2 - remove top nut

Step 3 - get out proper tools



Step 4 - use said tools to remove strut mount. I think I'll be able to reuse it.




Oh - as of this post - the strut mount is still attached

Step 5 - price new coil springs

Step 6 - start drinking

Step 7 - cry



Overall this job is going about how most things go for me. Off to a great start and realize what a great mechanic I have become. Then run into a small problem that requires heat/force/cutting.

When I got up this AM I was wondering if I could fix this problem for $45.

Now...

Bruce In Philly

2009 C2S 183K miles

Some items.

• I am really surprised to see you needed to compress the springs. I removed the mounts on my fronts without compressing the springs. The springs are tight, but with just a slight few turns of the nut, the springs are loose... no danger at all.
• Regarding removing that washer. I would have tried something a bit less extreme first. I would soaked the thing in PB Blaster or equivalent over night. Did you try that?
• Again, I did this work without removing the carrier.

Gosh, so much rust? Where are you located that you have so much deterioration on those parts? I drove my car all year with snow tires in the Philly area and my stuff looks almost new. Granted, we didn't have that much snow but they brine the roads at the first hint of trouble.

BTW, nice form gashing your knuckle... a red badge of courage.

Peace
Bruce in Philly (now Atlanta)

Wayne Smith

Time for B16s with springs and new top mounts which negates the need for separating those old parts.

But I do admire your list of required proper tools!!!

dgjks6

I'm in NE Ohio. They live salt. Weird part is the lower stuff all came apart without an issue. But both bearings were seized and the strut mount on the passenger side is seized to the strut.

Going to replace both struts.

I looked at 16's and also KW. Options without PASM are limited. Ohlins doesn't have any.
And all the coil overs drop ride height which I don't want to do. So it's either b4's or b6's.

Wayne Smith

Sounds like you're on top of things.

dgjks6

Did you see the picture of the strut mount?

Bruce In Philly

I used to live in Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. Commuted to Beechwood. Awful. No sun for three months straight... just that grey dome. Once a parking lot was plowed, that pile was there until late spring... grey/black crap. Had to get out of there. I had a blast, had a really good time, but just could not do it longer term.

Peace
Bruce in Philly (now Atlanta)

dgjks6

The Ravenna Arsenal is where they stored all the munitions in WW2 because NE has the most number of overcast days in the country.

Anyway

Ordered new B6's and bearings from FCP

Hope I can reuse everything else

And new strut mounts from eBay.

Still hoping I can save the spring and lower washer and boot from this one

Did you know the strut boot is $109? I have seen over priced parts in the past but this is ludicrous

dgjks6

I think this turned well

Bruce In Philly

Ah Ravena... my dad's family was all from Youngstown and Hubbard.

Peace
Bruce in Philly (now Atlanta)