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How to change front suspension strut on BMW E39 – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 525tds, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 523i, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 528i, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 525 td, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 530 d, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 520i, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 520 d, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 525 d, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 520 i, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 530 d, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 525 i, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 530 i, BMW 5 Saloon (E39) 520i … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on BMW 520i (E39) [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

All the parts you need to replace – Shock Absorber for 5 Saloon (E39) and other BMW models

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E39. Tools you need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Combination spanner #13
                    
                      Combination spanner #16
                    
                      Combination spanner #18
                    
                      Drive socket # 13 
                    
                      Drive socket # 16 
                    
                      Drive socket # 18 
                    
                      Drive socket # 22 
                    
                      HEX bit No.H6.
                    
                      HEX bit No.H7.
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Shock absorber socket
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Ball joint puller
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 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 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 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.

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E39. 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:
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E39. Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components 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 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 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 E39. Tip from AUTODOC experts:
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.

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW E39. AUTODOC experts recommend:
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 E39 – Without starting the engine, press the brake pedal several times until it feels firm.

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