How to change front suspension strut on BMW 5 Touring (E39) – replacement guide
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Important!
This replacement procedure can be used for:
BMW 5 Touring (E39) 520 i,
BMW 5 Touring (E39) 523 i,
BMW 5 Touring (E39) 528 i,
BMW 5 Touring (E39) 530 d,
BMW 5 Touring (E39) 525 tds,
BMW 5 Touring (E39) 520 i,
BMW 5 Touring (E39) 520 d,
BMW 5 Touring (E39) 525 d,
BMW 5 Touring (E39) 530 d,
BMW 5 Touring (E39) 520 i,
BMW 5 Touring (E39) 525 i,
BMW 5 Touring (E39) 530 i
…
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The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.
This video shows the replacement procedure of a similar car part on another vehicle
All the parts you need to replace – Shock Absorber for 5 Touring (E39) and other BMW models
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E39). Tip from AUTODOC experts:
Both shock struts of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right shock struts of the front suspension.
All work should be done with the engine stopped.
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E39). Take the following steps:
Step 1
Open the bonnet.
Step 2
Use a fender protection cover to prevent damaging paintwork and plastic parts of the car.
Step 3
Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 4
Remove the shock strut mount cap. Use a crowbar.
Step 5
Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a combination spanner #13.
Step 6
Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 7
Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 8
Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 9
Unscrew the wheel bolts.
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E39). Tip:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 10
Remove the wheel.
Step 11
Clean the stabiliser link fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 12
Clean the brake caliper bracket fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 13
Spread the brake pads. Use a crowbar.
Step 14
Unscrew the caliper bracket fastening. Use a drive socket #18. Use a tap wrench.
Step 15
Remove the brake caliper together with its bracket. Use a crowbar.
AUTODOC recommends:
Tie the caliper to the suspension or to the body with a wire without disconnecting from the brake hose to prevent depressurization of the brake system.Make sure that the brake caliper is not hanging on the brake hose.Don't press the brake pedal after the brake caliper has been removed. As a result, the piston can fall out from the brake cylinder, and brake fluid leakage and depressurization of the system may occur.
Step 16
Unscrew the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 17
Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #16. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 18
Remove the fastening bolts.
Step 19
Clean the fastener connecting the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 20
Unscrew the end fastening nut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18.
Step 21
Disconnect the tie rod end from the steering knuckle. Use a ball joint puller.
Step 22
Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 23
Disconnect the tie rod end from the steering knuckle.
Step 24
Remove the support from under the arm.
AUTODOC recommends:
Lower the hydraulic transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging assemblies and mechanisms.
Step 25
Disconnect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 26
Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 27
Remove the control arm cover.
Step 28
Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 29
Unscrew the front arm fastener. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 30
Remove the front fastener of the control arm.
Step 31
Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 32
Unscrew the rear fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 33
Remove the rear fastener of the control arm.
Step 34
Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 35
Release the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a special drive socket to remove the shock absorber.
Step 36
Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.
AUTODOC recommends:
BMW 5 Touring (E39) – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 37
Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut.
Step 38
Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount.
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E39). Tip from AUTODOC:
To avoid injuries, hold the shock strut when undoing the fastening bolts.
Step 39
Remove the suspension strut.
Step 40
Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E39). AUTODOC recommends:
Note that when using a spring compressor, spring coils need to be securely gripped, compressing the spring on the opposite sides.Ensure the correct position of the spring in the retainer.Make sure that the spring coils tightly entered the lock handles.
Step 41
Compress the spring.
Step 42
Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #22. Use HEX No.H7. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 43
Remove the top strut mount.
Step 44
Release the coil spring.
Step 45
Remove the spring.
Step 46
Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.
Τhoroughly examine the shock absorber mount, dust boot, bump stop. Replace them if necessary.
Step 47
Remove the old shock absorber from the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E39). AUTODOC recommends:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 48
Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 49
Install the dust sleeve and the bump stop on the new shock absorber.
Step 50
Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 51
Compress the spring.
Step 52
Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 53
Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use a drive socket #22. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 64 Nm torque.
AUTODOC recommends:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 54
Decompress the spring.
Step 55
Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 56
Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 57
Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Do not tighten it.
AUTODOC recommends:
BMW 5 Touring (E39) – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 58
Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 59
Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 60
Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 61
Clean the mounting seats and the thread of the suspension arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 62
Install the front fastener of the arm.
Step 63
Clean the mounting seats and the thread of the suspension arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 64
Install the rear fastener of the control arm.
Step 65
Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E39). Tip from AUTODOC:
Lower the hydraulic transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging assemblies and mechanisms.
Step 66
Clean the mounting seats of the tie rod end. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 67
Support the arm. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 68
Connect the tie rod end to the steering knuckle.
Step 69
Screw on the fastening nut that connects the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18.
Step 70
Install the shock absorber mount using the center hole as a guide.
Step 71
Clean the mounting seats of the stabiliser link. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 72
Install the fastening bolts.
Step 73
Screw in the fastener that connects the shock strut to the steering knuckle.
Step 74
Raise the hydraulic transmission jack by 10-15 cm.
Step 75
Screw the rear fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 76
Screw the front arm fastener. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 77
Tighten the front fastener connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 78
Tighten the rear fastener connecting the arm to the body subframe. Use a combination spanner #16. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 nm torque.
Step 79
Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 81 Nm torque.
Step 80
Tighten the fastener connecting the stabilizer link to the shock strut. Use a drive socket #16. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 65 Nm torque.
Step 81
Tighten the fastening nut connecting the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 65 nm torque.
Step 82
Remove the support from under the arm.
AUTODOC recommends:
BMW 5 Touring (E39) – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 83
Connect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 84
Clean the mounting seats of the caliper and its bracket. Use a wire brush. Use a brake cleaner.
AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E39). After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 85
Install the brake caliper together with its bracket.
Step 86
Tighten the brake caliper bracket. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 87
Install the control arm cover.
Step 88
Treat all joints of the arm. Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 89
Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 90
Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E39). AUTODOC recommends:
After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 91
Install the wheel.
AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts. BMW 5 Touring (E39)
Step 92
Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 93
Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 Nm torque.
Step 94
Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 95
Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 24 Nm torque.
Step 96
Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 97
Install the shock strut mount cap.
Step 98
Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 99
Close the hood.
AUTODOC recommends:
BMW 5 Touring (E39) – Without starting the engine, press the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.
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