# Strut assembly, remove and install, M3.

Raise and support vehicle. |
DANGER: Never work on vehicle supported by a jack. Always use jack stands or an equivalent to hold the weight of the vehicle!
Rotate center of hub cap counter clockwise until it releases, pull cap off. |
Remove the five 17mm lug bolts and remove wheel. |
Left: Disconnect brake lining sensor, and on older cars with original sensor harnesses, remove 10mm nut securing sensor ground wire. |
Remove ABS sensor and lining wear sensor wiring, from mounts in strut housing. |
Pull brake hose from mount on strut housing. |
Remove 5mm Allen bolt securing ABS wheel speed sensor (if ABS is fitted) and remove sensor by twisting and pulling. Rotating sensor in the hole will help break it loose without damaging the electrical connection. If sensor does not want to come out, rather than risk damage, follow wiring into engine bay, disconnect and remove strut with ABS sensor still in place. |
Remove the two 17mm bolts securing brake caliper assembly to strut. |
Pull caliper back and towards the outside of the car. This will force the piston back, spreading the pads enough to allow you to remove the assembly from the rotor. |
Tie caliper back, out of the way. |
NOTE: Do not allow caliper to hang from brake hose.
If weight is an issue, remove brake rotor by removing the 5mm Allen bolt. This is not required for the job, but makes the strut considerably lighter for removal. |
Remove sway bar link from strut housing with a narrow 15mm wrench and a 17mm socket. Place the wrench between the rubber boot and the bracket. There are two flat surfaces on the ball joint that you can hold it with. |
Remove the four 13mm bolts securing strut to control bracket. Separate the control bracket from the bottom of the strut. |
Remove the three 13mm nuts from top of strut tower. |
CAUTION: When these last nuts are removed, strut assembly will drop. Strut is heavy, while removing the last nuts, support the weight of the strut.
Remove strut assembly from car. |

### Installation:

Do not tighten the 13mm nuts on the strut mount until the cars weight is resting on it's wheels. Install them loosely until the job is complete.
DANGER!: Pump the brake pedal after brake components are re-assembled. Failure to pump up the calipers will result in the brake pedal travelling to the floor during the first brake application.
There is no need to perform a wheel alignment after removing struts unless the springs are replaced.

###
Torques:

Brake Caliper bracket | : | 86 - 110 Nm (62-80 ft lbs.)
Sway bar link | : | 59 Nm (42 ft lbs.)

E30 M3 Repair Manual V2.7. Copyright ©1999-2001 Koala Motorsport & Brett Anderson