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How to change rear suspension strut on BMW 5 Touring (E61) – replacement guide

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Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
BMW 5 Touring (E61) 525i, BMW 5 Touring (E61) 525 xi, BMW 5 Touring (E61) 525 d, BMW 5 Touring (E61) 525 i, BMW 5 Touring (E61) 525 xi, BMW 5 Touring (E61) 525 xd … View more

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 (E61) and other BMW models

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E61). Tools you'll need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Combination spanner #18
                    
                      Combination spanner #21
                    
                      Torx bit T40
                    
                      Drive socket # 13 
                    
                      Drive socket # 18 
                    
                      Drive socket # 21 
                    
                      HEX bit no.H6.
                    
                      Torx bit T40
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #17
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Clip removal tool
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E61). AUTODOC recommends:

Both shock struts of the rear suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right shock struts of the rear suspension.
Please note: all work on the car – BMW 5 Touring (E61) – should be done with the engine switched off.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

Step 1

Open the boot lid.

Step 2

Take out the luggage compartment mat.
Step 3

Raise the lower lining of the boot.
Step 4

Detach the boot rear side lining.
Step 5

Remove the plastic clip of the boot front side lining. Use a clip removal tool.
Step 6

Unscrew the fasteners of the boot front side lining. Use Torx T40. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 7

Remove the boot front side lining.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E61). Do not use excessive force when removing the part as this may damage it.
Step 8

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 9

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 10

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 11

Raise the rear of the car and secure on supports.

Step 12

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E61). AUTODOC experts recommend:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 13

Remove the wheel.
Step 14

Disconnect the brake pads wear sensor.

Please note!
Some cars are not equipped with the brake pad wear sensor.
Step 15

Clean the brake caliper bracket fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 16

Unscrew the caliper bracket fastening. Use a drive socket #18. Use a tap wrench.
Step 17

Remove the brake caliper together with its bracket.

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E61). Professionals recommend:
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 18

Clean the fasteners connecting the control arm to the subframe. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 19

Unscrew the arm fastening from the subframe. Use a combination spanner #18 (2 pieces).
Step 20

Clean the shock strut fasteners. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 21

Unscrew the lower fastener of the shock absorber strut. Use a combination spanner #18.
Step 22

Disconnect the ABS sensor wiring. Use a crowbar.
Step 23

Clean all joints of the arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 24

Unscrew the fastener connecting the control arm to the rear knuckle. Use a combination spanner #21. Use Torx T40. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 25

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 26

Detach the rear knuckle from the suspension control arm.
Step 27

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount.
Step 28

Remove the fastening bolt.
Step 29

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 30

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E61). Tip from AUTODOC:
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 31

Compress the spring.
Step 32

Treat the shock strut rod. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 33

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use HEX No.H6. Use a drive socket #18. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 34

Remove the top strut mount.
Step 35

Release the coil spring.
Step 36

Remove the spring.
Step 37

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.
Step 38

Remove the old shock absorber from the hydraulic coil spring compressor.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E61). Carefully inspect the mount, the boot, and the bump stop of the shock absorber. Replace if necessary.Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 39

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 40

Install the dust sleeve and the bump stop on the new shock absorber.
Step 41

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 42

Compress the spring.
Step 43

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 44

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use HEX No.H6. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 27 Nm torque.

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E61). AUTODOC experts recommend:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 45

Decompress the spring.
Step 46

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 47

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 48

Treat the shock strut rod. Use copper grease.
Step 49

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 50

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 51

Screw in the lower fastener of the shock strut. Use a combination spanner #18.
Step 52

Clean the mounting seats and the thread of the suspension arm. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 53

Attach the rear knuckle to the suspension control arm.
Step 54

Install the fastening bolt.
Step 55

Screw in the fastener that connects the control arm to the rear knuckle. Use a drive socket #21. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 56

Support the stub axle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 57

Tighten the fastener connecting the suspension arm to the rear knuckle. Use a drive socket #21. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 165 Nm torque.
Step 58

Tighten the arm fastening to the subframe. Use a combination spanner #18. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 100 Nm torque.
Step 59

Tighten the lower fastening of the shock absorber. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 100 Nm torque.
Step 60

Remove the support from under the stub axle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E61). Lower the transmission jack smoothly, without jerks, to avoid damaging components and mechanisms.
Step 61

Connect the ABS sensor wiring.
Step 62

Install the brake caliper together with its bracket.
Step 63

Tighten the brake caliper bracket. Use a drive socket #18. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 110 Nm torque.
Step 64

Connect the brake pads wear sensor.
Step 65

Treat all joints of the arm. Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 66

Clean the wheel rim mounting seat. Use a wire brush.
Step 67

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 68

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner.

AUTODOC recommends:
After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 69

Install the wheel.

Replacement: suspension strut – BMW 5 Touring (E61). Tip:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when screwing in the fastening bolts.
Step 70

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #17.
Step 71

Lower the car.
Step 72

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #13. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 28 Nm torque.
Step 73

Treat the fasteners of the shock strut mount. Use copper grease.
Step 74

Install the boot front side lining.
Step 75

Install the plastic clip of the boot front side lining.
Step 76

Screw the fasteners of the boot front side lining. Use Torx T40. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 77

Install the boot rear side lining.
Step 78

Put down the lower lining of the boot.
Step 79

Put back the luggage compartment mat.
Step 80

Close the lid of the luggage compartment.

Step 81

Tighten the wheel bolts using a criss-cross pattern. Use wheel impact socket #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 120 Nm torque.
Step 82

Remove the jacks and chocks.

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