Discussion about play in tension strut bolt
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Hi all,
Among other things, i have replaced the rubber bushing of my front right tension strut today.
Number 12 on the picture.
![](http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/s/y/216.png)
When mounting it back, i noticed that the bolt used (number 13) is not of the correct size.
BMW states this bolt as M12X1,5X120 while it actually turns out to be M11X1,5X120 at the shaft.
This causes play in the entire mounting of the arm. Upto 4mm!
I have created a video to show the issue.
I have replaced the bolt with a proper strenght (10.5 i believe) M12 bolt and it is now a direct fit.
What do you guys think of this?
Among other things, i have replaced the rubber bushing of my front right tension strut today.
Number 12 on the picture.
![](http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/s/y/216.png)
When mounting it back, i noticed that the bolt used (number 13) is not of the correct size.
BMW states this bolt as M12X1,5X120 while it actually turns out to be M11X1,5X120 at the shaft.
This causes play in the entire mounting of the arm. Upto 4mm!
I have created a video to show the issue.
I have replaced the bolt with a proper strenght (10.5 i believe) M12 bolt and it is now a direct fit.
What do you guys think of this?
#2
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My Ride: 530i
Model Year: 2004
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Holy moly. I take it that this is the original bolt, i.e. no one has been in there before? That's scary. I'm getting ready to replace all front control arms in a week. thank you for posting this, I'll have to see what my car is like when I get it apart.
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Yes, original bolt. Car is second hand but low milage. There were no traces of it bieng replaced before (pressing the rubber in and out the arm would definitely leave a mark)
The bolt seems perfectly up to the specs of the parts list, at the wire its M12 but not at the shaft.
Also, the wire end is too long, the wire should not be so long that it goes all the way into mount as u can see in the second part of the video.
The bolt seems perfectly up to the specs of the parts list, at the wire its M12 but not at the shaft.
Also, the wire end is too long, the wire should not be so long that it goes all the way into mount as u can see in the second part of the video.
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