BMW 1989-1995 525i Service Manual page 301

REAR SUSPENSION
330-3
SHOCK ABSORBERS AND SPRINGS
Shock absorber cartridges and springs should always be
replaced in pairs.
5. Remove the rear seat cushion and backrest. See 520
Seats. Then remove the trim panel covering the strut
tower. Remove the rubber cap from the strut.
To remove and install strut assembly
6. Remove the strut upper mounting nuts. See Fig. 4.
1. Raise the car and remove the rear wheel.
CA UTlON -
Clean the area around the bleeder screw and the
hydraulic littings on the struts betore opening the
LAD system.
7. Working beneath the car, remove the lower strut
mounting bolt and remove the strut assembly.
Fig . 4. Rear strut upper moun ting nuts (arro w s).
,
o
o
WARNING -
Make sure that the car is lirmly supported on jack
stands designed lor the purpose. Place the jack
stands beneath
a
structural chassis point. Do not
place jack stands under suspension par ts.
2. On LAD-equipped cars, place a drain pan beneath the
pressure regulating valve on the driver's side of the
axle subframe. Loosen the valve's bleeder screw and
allow the hydraulic pressure to discha rge. See Fig. 3.
NOTE -
Store the removed strut assembly upright. Do not allow
it to lie horizontally
or
upside·down lor any length 01
time. If incorrect storage has occurred. place the strut
assembly upright with the rod lully extended lor at least
24 hours.
8. Make sure all thread bores, bolts, nuts and mating sur-
faces are clean.
001 1237
9. Install the strut assembly into the strut tower using a
new upper mounting gasket and new self-locking nuts.
Fig . 3. LAD pressure regulatIng valve bleeder screw (arrow ). The
regulating valve is
loca ted
on the driver's side of the rear axle
subfrarne.
Ti ghtenin g to rques
• Strut assembly to body
(self-locking nuts) 22 Nm (16 ft-Ib)
3. On LAD-equipped cars. place the drain pan beneath
the strut and remove the hydraulic line from the lower
section of the strut.
10. Install the strut assembly to the trailing arm but do not
tighten it to its final torque.
4. Support the trailing arm from below.
SHOCKABSORBERSANDSpmNGS