BMW Shock Absorber and Strut Assembly

Your BMW shocks are an important part of your suspension system, which is made up of a variety of parts that work together to control the force that road vibration and traveling over rough and bumpy terrain produces, ensuring to the highest degree possible that all of the wheels are firmly on the ground and the vehicle is in control. When your BMW shocks become worn, increasingly less able to perform as they should, not only will your ride be less comfortable, each bump in the road jarring you much more than in the past, but also your vehicle handling will suffer, something that is difficult to put up with in any vehicle, but can be simply unbearable to someone who has become accustomed to the superior handling ability of a BMW. Matters of comfort and degree of enjoyment aside, driving is simply less safe when your BMW shocks are not performing well, due to the affect that they have on the handling of your vehicle. If you are in need of a new set of BMW shocks, we have a great selection available through our easy to use online catalog, and at prices that are within the realm of reason. Our affordable selection of BMW shocks includes stock style replacements and higher performing versions suitable for off-roading and other demanding driving circumstances, as well as custom styles suitable for vehicles that have had height modifications. Ordering your BMW shocks, or any other of our numerous BMW parts and accessories, is always safe and convenient, whether you choose to take advantage of the ease of anytime shopping offered by using our online ordering system or prefer to order via our toll-free telephone number.

If you want a smooth ride whenever and wherever you take your BMW, you have to make sure that your struts and shock absorbers are always in great condition. Changing your old BMW shock absorber and strut assembly is vital because it is responsible for making sure that your vehicle is stabilized even at high speeds. In turn, you will have a smooth, comfortable, and safe ride. Struts and shocks get worn out with use and will sometimes break if you've gone over bumpy terrain. The good thing is that you can easily get replacements from any auto parts store. Installation is also easy. Check out the guide below:

Required skill level: Intermediate

Needed tools and materials

• Floor jack
• Jack stands
• Coil spring compressor
• Wrenches
• Safety glasses

Step 1: The first step in removing and installing anything from under your vehicle is to have it parked on a solid level surface. Make sure to set the parking brake and chock the rear wheels. These are important to avoid untoward accidents. When the vehicle is stable, you can now remove the front hub caps and loosen the front wheel lug nuts.

Step 2: Using your floor jack, raise up the front of the vehicle. Then, secure your vehicle with jack stands on both sides. The pinch welds or the frame rails under your vehicle are the best locations for the stands. When the vehicle is secure, you can start removing the front wheel lug nuts and then the front wheels.

Step 3: Next, remove the top nuts that secure your old BMW shock absorber and strut assembly to the frame mount inside the engine compartment. Make sure to leave the center nut. You should mark the lower mounting location on the hub for installation reference. The alignment will be close if the new assembly is installed in the same position.

Step 4: After you have marked the installation position, you can now remove the bolts that hold the BMW shock absorber and strut assembly to the hub and then remove the entire assembly. In this step, you are marking the top mount for the installation. Then, using a side mounted spring compressor, compressor the spring and remove the nut and retaining washer. Pull the assembly out from the bottom of the spring.

Step 5: Next, slide the new shock absorber and strut assembly up into the spring. Make sure to reposition the top mount onto the spring and check that it is in the same position as the old assembly. When it's positioned correctly, install the retaining washer and top nut. Don't forget to tighten the top nut according to the manufacturer's specifications and carefully remove the spring compressor.

Step 6: Now, you can install the replacement assembly. Install the nuts on top of the assembly to hold it to the frame in the engine compartment; don't tighten it. The next thing for you to do is to line up the bottom mount to the hub marks. You can now torque the bolts and top nuts but make sure to follow the manufacturer's specifications.

Step 7: You can now reattach any clips you've removed (such as the brake lines) to the assembly. Then, mount the wheels and torque the lug nuts as well. Repeat this for the other side.

Step 8: The last step is to road test the vehicle to get a feel of the new assembly. A drive test will help you ensure that everything's mounted correctly and working as designed. A visual inspection of the shock absorbers and strut assembly after the test is also necessary.