5-Series Front Strut Cartridge Replacement

[Bruce Loos]

I'm trying to replace the front strut cartridges on my 1989 525I. The car has 245,000 miles on the originals. I have removed the first strut, removed the coil spring, and also removed the retaining nut that holds the strut cartridge in the strut housing. My problem is the old cartridge will not come out easily. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Bruce

[Bruce Loos]

Since I didn't get any responses from the forum yet, I'm going to attach a lifting eye to the end of the piston rod and another lifting eye to the bottom of the strut housing. Then I'm going to attach one eye to the frame of my engine hoist and attach the other lifting eye to the boom of the hoist and apply about 4,000 lbs force. If that doesn't pull the cartridge out, I will attempt to heat the housing with a torch. If that doesn't work, I'll probably look for another strut housing.

[Bruce Loos]

My idea worked. I attached lifting eyes to both ends and pulled the cartridge out with hydraulic force. The cartridge was rusted to the strut housing for about the first inch.

[Jeron]

I'm glad it worked.

When reading your second post describing how you were going to get the cartridge out, it reminded me of a mountain climber giving his route up a mountain. I expected you to finish with "and if you dont hear from me in a couple of hours call 911."