Donor Car: Front sub frame removal

[GreatOldOne]

More questions from the new boy.

What steps are involved in removing the front sub frame? I'm just thinking that to speed the process of stripping the parts of the donor to whip the front and rear sub frames off the car, Much as Pactrick has done. Whilst Patricks pics are helpful, they don't tell you the actual steps involved - and neither do the Haynes or Bently manuals.

I've found this which seems to cover the rear sub frame:

http://www.bmwe30.net/cgi-bin/datacg...00098&Section=

But not come up with anything for the front...

Sorry if I'm asking to many / stupid questions, and sounding a bit anal in the process. I just want to get all the info together so I can get the breaking done in as little time as possible. This leads to a quiet life from her in doors - which is always a good thing!

[Patrick]

From what I remember I put the body up on axle stands and the jack under the sub frame. Then undid all the bolts that hold and it drops right out.

The rear sub frame was much the same only getting the sub frame off the bushes once everything was unbolted was a brute force exercise.

I needed a big breaker bar to get some of the bolts out.

[peterux]

Hi GreatOldOne,

(you can't be that old?)

I undid each part whilst fixd to the car. Whilst it might take a little longer to strip the chasis this way, it easier to undo tight nuts and bolts whilst they are still fixed to the original chassis.
Loosen the hub nuts while the car is still on its wheels before you even jack up the car.
Similarly, you'll struggle to loosen the drive shaft and propshaft nuts and bolts without the back wheels or engine and gearbox still attached!

Far easier than try to chase them round your garage.

It's quite easy once you get started..........

A 24 inch breaker bar and a good set of 1/2 inch sockets are the best dissmantling tools.

best of luck.

Peter

[MartinClan]

I agree with peterux. You dont need the front suspenion arms anyway - just the struts and ARB (not even that if you listen to Marlin) - so why bother removing them?

[GreatOldOne]

Fair enough - I just thought that a larger sub assembly would have been easier and quicker to remove, and that the sub-frames could then be stripped at my leisure in the Garage rather than out in the weather on the drive.