1995 BMW M3 Front Shock Installation

Replacing your BMW E36 M3's front struts is a straightforward procedure, but it is time-consuming and does require the use of a number of tools. Since you will be disassembling and reassembling your M3's suspension, it is important to pay attention to the specified torque settings for certain bolts. This is a useful procedure to know whether you are replacing your struts because of wear or upgrading to high-performance struts for improved handling.

Remove the Old Struts

• 1

  Loosen the lug nuts on the wheels, but do not fully unscrew them, with the lug wrench.

• 2

  Raise each corner of the car with the floor jack and mount the car on the jack stands.

• 3

  Unscrew the lug nuts and remove the front wheels.

• 4

  Remove the nuts that secure the strut to the sway bar links on both sides with the 16 mm wrench and ratchet.

• 5

  Disconnect the brake pad wear sensor from the brake pad on both sides.

• 6

  Loosen but do not remove the 18 mm nut that is attached to the upper bolt with the 18 mm ratchet and wrench. This bolt secures the strut to the hub in the shock tower on both sides.

• 7

  Unscrew the two lower 18 mm bolts that secure the strut to the hub on both sides with the air impact wrench. These bolts are secured with a thread-locking solution from the factory.

• 8

  Position the floor jack underneath the strut and remove the upper strut bolts on both sides.

• 9

  Unscrew the three 13 mm nuts at the top of the strut tower to remove the strut entirely. Drop it on to the floor jack to minimize impact.

Install the New Struts

• 1

  Orient the upper strut hat with the shock tower and screw in the three 13 mm nuts to connect it to the shock tower.

• 2

  With the two 18 mm bolts, attach the strut to the wheel hub and tighten the nuts so that the strut is not loose. Do not tighten the nuts all the way yet.

• 3

  Install the upper 16 mm bolts on both sides to finish the installation.

• 4

  Torque the 13 mm nuts on the strut towers of both sides to 16 pound-foot with the torque wrench.

• 5

  Tighten the central 18 mm bolts on both sides with the torque wrench to 78 pound-foot.

• 6

  Reattach the brake lines on both sides to the strut bracket.

• 7

  Reattach the 13 mm sway bar links on both sides and tighten them snugly.

• 8

  Remount the front wheels and lower the car off the jack stands to complete the installation.