Hey guys, I did this job more than 2 years ago and then recently the front struts started bouncing inside the knuckle receiver because the nut came lose. I tightened it for the second time and used Loctite Red.

I noticed this time that the bolt was threaded at both ends which makes no sense because the knuckle or carrier isnt threaded (OR IS IT?). 150k miles on my 2008 R56 S and this was the first new set of suspension parts.

I'm referring to #3 and #4 in schematic. The bolt shown seems threaded at one end but mine are threaded at both ends with a smooth section in the middle. Are your knuckles/carriers threaded or simple nut/bolt situation?

 

It's threaded at one end last time I looked at it

R53

 

Well that's interesting. No wonder mine came lose so easily. The threads on my unit are long rusted away. I may need to put in a helicoil or tap new larger threads and go with a 19mm. Or maybe just use a jam nut as well as loctite.

 

I think the R56 isn't threaded. The R53 is threaded. Often when R53 owners have to drill out a broken bolt, they'll just put a longer bolt in with a nut, but I think the R56 was designed to use a nut instead of a threaded steering knuckle.

 

OOPS sorry I didnt realize I was in the Gen 1 section. Sorry guys. Thanks for the info Racingguy04.

 

R56:

Does not look threaded.

 

thanks sir.

 

Welcome.

 

Zombie thread revival again
I'm attempting to replace a strut mount and noticed my CV Joint now looks like this. It was already on the to do list (or at least the "get someone else to do" list), but does this look like its popped out of place now?

CV joint
Trying to figure out why Im having such a hard time getting the knuckle back on the end of the strut.
Thanks in advance!

 

It's hard for me to tell using my phone but it looks like you tore the boot. Am I seeing grease on the shaft? If so, you pulled it out and it needs to pushed back in bit you're gonna need a new boot, CV joint grease and clamps. I did a thread on how to change this. Look it up.

it's not hard. Just messy.
​​​​

 

It looks to me like you need to push the axle back in some. Getting the strut back into the knuckle is a bit of a bear. It helps to have another set of hands to help keep everything lined up. A knuckle spreader (or a big screwdriver) to help open the knuckle helps too. My technique by myself is to put my floor jack under the hub/control arm, get it all lined up, and hold it with one hand, while i pump my floor jack. You don't want to force it, and it becomes obvious if it's not lined up, but that's how I do it.

You might also just make sure that your replacement struts are the same diameter as your originals. I want to say I remember someone getting a bad batch of struts that were just big enough to be impossible to go in the knuckle.

 

It looks like he tore the end of the boot off when he pulled the shaft out of the joint. The shaft is out too far out, that's why nothing lines up. He needs to replace the boot, at which point the shaft will be back inside the joint and everything will line up.

 

Thanks for the help and advice, I managed to get everything back together, nothing seemed torn. Once I got the strut in place and the knuckle back on with some judicious use of the jack everything kind of fell back in place and it drives OK, but replacing the CV joints has moved up the "to do" list for sure.

 

I'm looking at your pic using my computer rather than my phone and its obvious that you tore the end of the CV boot. The grease will start oozing out until its all dry.

You're gonna need to take it off and repair it my friend.

 

Will do