DIY: Shocks install
09-11-2009, 05:16 PM
#1
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My Ride: 545i Sport
Model Year: 2004
Engine: N62
I finally have the time to do this project(just the front for now 
).
Fast Times Bavauto Newsletter Summer 2006.
1. Raise the front wheels off the ground by jacking up and supporting the front of the vehicle using
appropriate jack stands. Remove the wheels. I placed another 2Ton jack under the engine jacking point for added safety.
Put chocks on the rear wheel.
2 Disconnect and set aside the ABS sender and brake pad wear sensor wires. Open plastic box and take cables out
(there are 2 on driver's side, one on the passenger side). Unlatched wires from the spindle bracket.
3 Loosen the 2 strut-to-spindle bolts (18mm and 16mm).
). Fast Times Bavauto Newsletter Summer 2006.
1. Raise the front wheels off the ground by jacking up and supporting the front of the vehicle using
appropriate jack stands. Remove the wheels. I placed another 2Ton jack under the engine jacking point for added safety.
Put chocks on the rear wheel.
2 Disconnect and set aside the ABS sender and brake pad wear sensor wires. Open plastic box and take cables out
(there are 2 on driver's side, one on the passenger side). Unlatched wires from the spindle bracket.
3 Loosen the 2 strut-to-spindle bolts (18mm and 16mm).
09-11-2009, 05:17 PM
#2
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My Ride: 545i Sport
Model Year: 2004
Engine: N62
4 Place a floor jack under the strut & control arm assembly and raise it slightly. Remove the 3 upper strut mount nuts.
5 Lower the floor jack. Remove the 2 strut to spindle bolts that were loosened in step 3. Separate the strut from the spindle
and lift the strut assembly out of the vehicle.
Trick: I used a Brake pad Spreader to push strut assembly out of the spindle.
6 Using a spring compressor, compress the spring and remove the shock-to-mount nut.
5 Lower the floor jack. Remove the 2 strut to spindle bolts that were loosened in step 3. Separate the strut from the spindle
and lift the strut assembly out of the vehicle.
Trick: I used a Brake pad Spreader to push strut assembly out of the spindle.
6 Using a spring compressor, compress the spring and remove the shock-to-mount nut.
09-11-2009, 05:19 PM
#3
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My Ride: 545i Sport
Model Year: 2004
Engine: N62
7 Disassemble the upper mount, washers, spring perch, spring perch isolator, compressed spring, lower spring seat isolator, compression absorber
and dust tube from the old shock.
8 Assemble all of the parts from step 7 onto the new shock.
9 Install the strut assembly into the vehicle in the reverse procedure from removal. Reconnect the ABS and brake pad wear sensor wires. Install the
wheels and lower the vehicle.
and dust tube from the old shock.
8 Assemble all of the parts from step 7 onto the new shock.
9 Install the strut assembly into the vehicle in the reverse procedure from removal. Reconnect the ABS and brake pad wear sensor wires. Install the
wheels and lower the vehicle.
09-11-2009, 05:36 PM
#4
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My Ride: 545i Sport
Model Year: 2004
Engine: N62
Whew! I'm going to take a good rest and postpone the rear install. Thanks to Allen AKA e6t.lab.rat for the advice on using a rachet strap.
It made the install quicker. I will continue this DIY another day(give this 50 year old guy a break
). Oh, BTW, the ride is great, even with just the front
with new shocks and old shocks at the rear.
It made the install quicker. I will continue this DIY another day(give this 50 year old guy a break
). Oh, BTW, the ride is great, even with just the front with new shocks and old shocks at the rear.
09-11-2009, 07:55 PM
#6
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My Ride: Jet Black '05 545i, Sport/Premium Pkg, Steptronic, Adaptive Xenon, Nav, L7, Blue2th, PDC,
Great DIY Joe!! I knew you could do it. Just be sure to fully recover before you take on the rears, especially the passenger side. 
09-11-2009, 10:30 PM
#9
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My Ride: 545i Sport
Model Year: 2004
Engine: N62
Thanks guys. Now that I've done it I could tell how the mechanic at TrueLine Wheel Alignment messed up the last job. They lost one bolt and put a different size, luckilly, I have an assortment of sockets. The spring was not seated properly on the rubber pads(upper and lower). And both cover caps were missing 
.
.
Thank you Joe *Bookmarked*
