Strut to hub bolt question.

[raymond.harper]

After discovering my car only has one front Bilstein strut being described as having two front Bilstein struts, I have started on the twisting path of replacing it. The strut was shot but the spring had a BMW tag still attached to it. Many videos have been watched and a whole list of replacement parts have been purchased. Today I thought I would make a start on the hard part, the removal of the strut to the hub bolt. There are many horror stories about this bolt of how it can take days to release it assuming it doesn't break in the hub. The bolt was soaked with Plus Gas for a couple of days, then with the wheel off, and the hobby blow torch with a new gas canister ready to use. I thought I would give the bolt a gentle tweak with a short ratchet, not expecting much. It was a pleasant/unpleasant surprise when the bolt just loosened with very little pressure. The bolt was nowhere near the 81Nm it was supposed to be. Could it be the bolt has loosened over time or has just not been done up properly?

 

[j3nks79]

Probably never torqued up before.
But I’ve never had a problem Undoing them.
Now the Audi ally front legs with a steel bolt is a very different story!!!

 

[enuff_zed]

You lucky, lucky bar-steward.
Had one this weekend: a day with the plusgas soaking in, then a good heat up. Picked up the socket, merely waved it in front of the bolt head and it sheared off. Hours of my life wasted, drilling it out and re-tapping the thread.
And I've done dozens of the things, so I thought I knew what I was doing.

As you had odd struts fitted it's likely both have been off at some time, so you struck lucky. 21 years and 117k of use had definitely taken it's toll on the one I had.