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Thread: Rear shock removal woes.....

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Posts
    2,538

    Default Rear shock removal woes.....

    Now that the front end is disassembled and awaiting new Lemforders and springs, I decided to tear apart the rear end. After the PITA rear seat removal, headrests and all, I thought I'd whip the shock assembly out in a couple of minutes, but....
    After removing the lower bolt, it won't budge, not even the proverbial inch, not even a proverbial millimeter. Now, I've done this job on a few VW's with no such problem. Am I missing something? I've removed the dogbones for replacement, but can't imagine that causing problems. Do I need to give it a few swift blows toward the vehicle to free it?? Does anyone have any suggestions. Everything to this point has been simple, no frozen bolts on the car, thrust arms off in 5 min a side with a puller. I guess I was asking for it.

    Humbled by a rear shock,

    Dave M 91 525im, 485,000km

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Linden, NJ
    Posts
    59

    Default

    did you remove the top bolts under the rear window shelf?
    1995 530im
    151k nikasil miles

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    4,894

    Default

    Three nuts on the top... not one... and one bolt on the bottom and should be free while up in the air.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Posts
    2,538

    Default Apparently not that simple, I should have checked Bruno's site...

    All steps were done including loosening the three 13mm top mounting bolts. I had no idea that a sleeve ran through the shock to trailing arm,

    Thanks Bruno,


    http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/mainte...ear_shocks.htm
    Last edited by Dave M; 02-12-2004 at 11:16 AM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    4,894

    Default

    I have no idea what you are talking about... I done mine... back was the easiest... pops right out. 540iA

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Eastern Tennessee USi
    Posts
    14,839

    Default I didnt have a problem either but did read that

    before I took it apart the first time. I put some antiseize on it since its now a Michigan car.
    95 E34 530I V2.37
    ===========
    Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.

    John F. Kennedy

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    around Toronto, Ontario
    Posts
    215

    Default

    Use a bigger hammer. I'm not kidding! When Bruno and I did it on the E28, we damn near bent one shock in half before it came out.

    Quote Originally Posted by Dave M
    Now that the front end is disassembled and awaiting new Lemforders and springs, I decided to tear apart the rear end. After the PITA rear seat removal, headrests and all, I thought I'd whip the shock assembly out in a couple of minutes, but....
    After removing the lower bolt, it won't budge, not even the proverbial inch, not even a proverbial millimeter. Now, I've done this job on a few VW's with no such problem. Am I missing something? I've removed the dogbones for replacement, but can't imagine that causing problems. Do I need to give it a few swift blows toward the vehicle to free it?? Does anyone have any suggestions. Everything to this point has been simple, no frozen bolts on the car, thrust arms off in 5 min a side with a puller. I guess I was asking for it.

    Humbled by a rear shock,

    Dave M 91 525im, 485,000km

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Thunder Bay, Ontario
    Posts
    2,538

    Default Yeah, I get where you're coming from...

    I just had an hour to kill, so I went out for another session. As per Bruno's instruction, I Liquid Wrenched the crap out of it and then (since inserting a prybar into the bolt hole and 'wiggling' seemed futile) got a large crowbar and sledge and hammered at the bottom of the shock from the outside it with no success. I'm afraid of missing and modifying my rear wheel well.
    I gave up as I was starting to dent the shock (cylindrical mounting section) and felt some frustration setting in, not a good sign when you have all winter to do things properly.

    Again, any additional advice would be appreciated. Exactly what tools did you use? Did you guys remove anything else to improve access? I guess "damn near bending a shock in half" implies damage which I'd like to avoid. Can't have everything though. As a LAST resort I will finish all other projects and take the car in for someone else to deal with removal in the spring, but of course, would prefer not to.

    Gone for a couple of days,

    Thanks again,

    Dve M 91 525im
    Last edited by Dave M; 02-12-2004 at 04:46 PM.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Austin
    Posts
    1,087

    Default

    sawsall with a metal blade?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    in a sexy house
    Posts
    272

    Default

    I ran into this problem on the driver's side - the extra heat and environmental stress on the lower mount froze the driver's side with rust, while the passenger's side popped right out. Some anti-seize and a hammer got it out, and I used some anti-seize on the new shock. (This was when I removed the original, 134K mile, 12 year old shocks)

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