scottalexander

This afternoon I replaced both thrust arms on my e60, but the pinch clamp will not return to its original position.

There are two pictures attached.

After I installed the Meyle thrust arms, I tried to get the pinch clamp to return to its original position, but it would not return.

When I did this job I used a big crow bar to pry between the ball joint and strut tube. It took a lot of work, then finally I separated the two enough to lift up and out the ball joint. I was able to install the new Meyle thrust arm.

I could not get the strut tube to return to its original ride height.

I tried to put a floor jack under the ball joint and lift it, but the entire assembly was moving upwards and the pinch clamp was not sliding upwards.

I put everything back together "loosely" and drove up on ramps. I thought the load would reset the strut tube in the proper position, but the strut tube didn't budge.

I jumped up and down on the front end bouncing it up and down, but that didn't work either.

Who's got some ideas? Thanks.

cmyachtie

I went thru a similar challenge recently and found with the car on ramps, had to wedge the pinch bolt bracket open some more to get it to reposition, be forewarned went it comes down it does so with a vengeance.....
So stay safe and keep your fingers away.
i used a thick chisel and hammer to open it.

scottalexander

I'm using a large screw driver.

I'll have to go out and buy a big chisel.

CVTBenhogan

get the special tool at ecs tuning to spread the clamp. 15 buck or something like that

scottalexander

I should have bought that tool.

I ended up using a chisel punch and tapping it with the hammer.