31 31 000 Removing And Installing Complete Left Or Right Spring Strut Shock Absorber

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 6 other vehicles, including the 2013 BMW 128i, 2012 BMW 128i, 2011 BMW 128i, 2010 BMW 128i, and 2009 BMW 128i. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

IMPORTANT: If the centering pin is missing from the support bearing, the position of the studs to the wheel arch must be marked so that the original camber is approximately maintained. Only one nut may ever be released for marking.

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Remove front wheel . See 31 21 180 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING BEARING FOR FRONT WHEEL .
Remove stabilizer link from spring strut
Detach plug connection for pulse generator and expose line up to holder on spring strut
Disconnect plug connection for brake pad sensor and expose line up to brake caliper
Remove front brake disc . See 34 11 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING OR REPLACING BRAKE PADS ON BOTH FRONT DISC BRAKES (TEVES FLOATING CALIPER) or 34 11 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING BRAKE PADS ON BOTH FRONT DISC BRAKES (BREMBO) .

If necessary, remove jointed rod of ride-height sensor from control arm.

Fig 1: Locating Ride Height Sensor Jointed Rod

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Slacken control arm bolt connection on front axle carrier in order to prevent control arm rubber mount from being damaged. See 31 12 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING LEFT OR RIGHT CONTROL ARM .

Remove control arm from swivel bearing . See 31 12 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING LEFT OR RIGHT CONTROL ARM .

Remove tie rod end from swivel bearing . See 32 21 151 REPLACING LEFT OR RIGHT TIE ROD .

Remove tension strut from swivel bearing . See 31 12 080 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING BOTH TENSION STRUTS .

WARNING: Risk of injury!
Secure spring strut against falling out.

Centering pin missing: remove tension strut (on spring strut dome) and mark position of threaded pins to wheel arch. See 51 71 371 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING TENSION STRUT ON LEFT OR RIGHT SPRING STRUT DOME .

Release nuts (1) and remove spring strut with swivel bearing towards bottom.

Installation:

Clean contact surface in spring strut dome.

Align spring strut using centering pin to bore in wheel arch or studs to wheel arch and push upwards.

Replace self-locking nuts.

Tightening torque. Refer to 31 31 1AZ SPRING STRUTS .

Fig 2: Identifying Spring Strut Nuts

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

IMPORTANT: Replace faulty sealing washer (1).
Reinstall sealing washer (1) and plate insert (2).

Fig 3: Identifying Sealing Washer And Plate Insert

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

After installation:

Perform CHASSIS ALIGNMENT CHECK
Carry out steering angle sensor adjustment/adjustment for active front steering . See 32 10 005 ADJUSTMENT FOR ACTIVE FRONT STEERING or 61 31 996 CARRYING OUT STEERING ANGLE SENSOR ADJUSTMENT .