How did I miss this. Keep it going
1999 Z3 2.8 winter project
- Thread starter D0nni
- Start date
Subframe ordered along with engine support bar. Will get engine mounts ordered today. Might throw in the powerflex bushes also while at it.
Started as a small project. Getting bigger by the day lol. If I wasn't emotionally attached a few weeks ago I'm fully committed now
Keeping in mind I have never worked at a car in my life. Skillset ended at tyre changes a few months back
Started as a small project. Getting bigger by the day lol. If I wasn't emotionally attached a few weeks ago I'm fully committed now
Keeping in mind I have never worked at a car in my life. Skillset ended at tyre changes a few months back
Decided to start into this madness last night. Ran into a few problems. But slowly getting there. Got the rollbar out, the control arms disconnected (bar the final bolt at the strutt which ill tackle tonight) and the bolts connecting the steering rack. Disconnected trackrods also. All getting replaced so may as well take out while doing all. Nearly out 
If wasnt for youtube and falling on @Lee for advice who has been nothing but helpful throughout id be at a complete loss
Hopefully have her pulled out this evening.
Then eagerly await replacement coming back from powdercoating
If wasnt for youtube and falling on @Lee for advice who has been nothing but helpful throughout id be at a complete loss
Hopefully have her pulled out this evening.
Then eagerly await replacement coming back from powdercoating
You could well regret not undoing those bottom ball joints first of all. You now have nothing to pull against. There are ways if you struggle.
Tony.
Tony.
I was looking at that afterwards thinking ahhhh crap. im a right ignorant heur at 16stone so HOPEFULLY i can put enough force through it to allow it to come.
Will be tackling tonight after get the we fella down to bed so stay tuned!
What are these ways if i am stuck?
Andrew
Various means Andrew but all will be noisy. Are you replacing the lower arms?
Tony.
Tony.
A great thread, coming together nicely. Those rear beam bushes look goosed mate, just had mine done, looked the same as yours.
You can assume if it can come out and isnt engine gearbox or diff its getting replaced
but in all seriousness yeah they coming off
You could cut through the ball pins with a reciprocating saw using a metal cutting blade. I used this on a members Z3 earlier in the year. You can use the old fashioned method of hammer and cold chisel to split the nut (or use a nut splitter tool). Remove the 2 18mm bolts from the strut to hub and let the arm hang down and use an impact wrench and socket directly on the nut ( after copious amounts of freeing oil and wire brush on the exposed thread. If you don't have a recip. saw or impact wrench, do you know anyone who does who would lend it to you or come and use it or is there a hire shop nearby? If funds allow I would by a 1/2" drive impact wrench as they're a very versatile tool to have. Mine is a Ryobi model, as is my reciprocating saw (these are very useful using wood blades for tree pruning and other jobs)
Tony.
Tony.
Yeah so as @t-tony predicted. Id started this wrong from the offset. Note to anyone following as a how to. This quickly turned into a how to not.
Before i do, the parts returned from the powdercoating
So. I have control arms and all the bits and pieces to replace anyway. I did fully intend on replacing the front struts etc..... I would have liked to have removed these on my own terms and the way the video how tos do it, never the case! Alas. My z3 was not going to give me up her bra so easily.
So while fighting with the control arm bolts and the pry bar just not working i tried plan B. Undo the bolts at the bottom of the strutt. Gain access to the nut and bingo pop right out. EEHHHHHH WRONG. Bolts rusted beyond budging. All still original everytbing up front.
So i decided something was going to have to be a scraficial lamb
. enough was enough. Disconnected the break electrics. Tried to undo the break pipe (again wouldnt budge - knife job unfort!) And unscrewed the strutts from within the engine bay.
Ive quit for the night and cut my losses. These things never go to plan.
HOWEVER, silver linings and all that I've it all out. YEY! Just gotta figure out best way to pull out from under car some how with the minimal space ive got and remove the breaks etc.
Tomorrow evening shall be fun. Might need to purchase some metal cutting grinder discs
Sure if it was easy everybody would be doing it....
It will not beat me though. I did plan on removing these things. Just in a more managed approach. But hey ho. Once i get it out from under the car we are on the right track to rebuilding.
Before i do, the parts returned from the powdercoating
So. I have control arms and all the bits and pieces to replace anyway. I did fully intend on replacing the front struts etc..... I would have liked to have removed these on my own terms and the way the video how tos do it, never the case! Alas. My z3 was not going to give me up her bra so easily.
So while fighting with the control arm bolts and the pry bar just not working i tried plan B. Undo the bolts at the bottom of the strutt. Gain access to the nut and bingo pop right out. EEHHHHHH WRONG. Bolts rusted beyond budging. All still original everytbing up front.
So i decided something was going to have to be a scraficial lamb
. enough was enough. Disconnected the break electrics. Tried to undo the break pipe (again wouldnt budge - knife job unfort!) And unscrewed the strutts from within the engine bay. Ive quit for the night and cut my losses. These things never go to plan.
HOWEVER, silver linings and all that I've it all out. YEY! Just gotta figure out best way to pull out from under car some how with the minimal space ive got and remove the breaks etc.
Tomorrow evening shall be fun. Might need to purchase some metal cutting grinder discs
Sure if it was easy everybody would be doing it....
It will not beat me though. I did plan on removing these things. Just in a more managed approach. But hey ho. Once i get it out from under the car we are on the right track to rebuilding.
Good on you for sticking with it mate. Wish I was closer so I could offer more help.
Tony.
Tony.
Cheers tony. Will get there. They needed to come anyway so not the worst thing to happen. The bolts were all rusted solid.
Sure this way i get to do more shopping and speeds the process up a bit?
My da says my best and worst quality is never quitting. I think ive shown some of that character this last 3 nights.
Nothing like some time to gather the thoughts and equipment.
Mallet instead of hammer. Check
Blowtorch check
Grinder disks. Check
Result!
Anyone interested in a front subframe? A good powder coat and shed genuinely be 100%
Nothing like some time to gather the thoughts and equipment.
Mallet instead of hammer. Check
Blowtorch check
Grinder disks. Check
Result!
Anyone interested in a front subframe? A good powder coat and shed genuinely be 100%
That's just some pile of bits Donni. I guess the baby sleep well away from the noise then?
Tony.
Tony.
Luckily the we man has his sleeping genes from the mas side. Could sleep through a hurricane.
Fortunate to have a Garage which is detached from the house. Would take serious noise to disturb him tbh.
In rebuild mode now. Gonna get subframe in now hopefully
Well done mate, keep us posted.
Tony.
Tony.
Worst of it over mate. All uphill now. Summer cant come soon enoughWell done mate, keep us posted.
Tony.
Yes, new bits certainly go back together much easier.
Tony.
Tony.