To remove the front suspension components, raise the front of the car and support it safely on floor stands, allowing the suspension to hang free. Disconnect the anti-roll bar on each side by detaching the lower ends of the links from the control arms. Remove the securing wire and detach the three nuts to disconnect the steering arm from the suspension strut. After removing the securing nut, use a suitable tool to press the control arm ball joint from the steering arm, then disconnect the control arm from the front axle cross member, noting the position of spacer ring 1. Unlock and remove the slotted nut to detach the front end of the trailing link from the underbody, and then remove the control arm and trailing link completely. If needed, unlock and remove the slotted nut to detach the trailing link from the control arm, ensuring that the convex outer radius of washers 1 faces the rubber bush. For servicing, check the axial play of the control arm ball joint; if it exceeds 2.4mm, renewal of the ball joint or possibly the complete control arm assembly is necessary. Examine all trailing link and control arm components for wear or damage, renewing as necessary, and ensure that if the trailing link is renewed, dimension A is 355mm. Check the rubber bushes in the front axle carrier and control arm for wear or damage, renewing the front axle carrier bush using a suitable bolt, nut, washer, metal plate, and tube with an internal diameter of 68mm, and install the new bush from the opposite direction with a tube of 60mm internal diameter. Renew the control arm rubber bush similarly, using a tube with a 35mm inside diameter and smearing the front edge with soft soap for easier installation. For reassembly, reverse the removal procedure while ensuring the convex outer sides of washers 1, 2, and 3 face the rubber bushes and noting the correct position of spacer ring 4. Initially tighten the fixings of the control arm to the front axle cross member and trailing link to the underbody loosely, then fully tighten to the specified torque with the car resting on its road wheels under the correct static load, which includes specific weights in the front and rear seats and luggage compartment, along with a full fuel tank. Finally, lock the slotted nut securing the trailing link to the underbody with a new split pin and use a new piece of soft wire to lock the nuts securing the steering arm to the suspension strut.
Posted by BMWPartsDeal Specialist 
