Captainpeter
Member II
Thanks to all who replied to my request for info on removing the strut bearing from my E38 strut bearing. The yard tried to do it with the special tool (mentioned by some who replied to my original posting) and with the shaft still in the strut bearing. It didn't work because the bearing was so stuck in the strut that it compressed and got lodged in even harder. The yard then removed the shaft, which took several hours. They used the technique of forcing the two flanges together with longer bolts and a small socket between the two and placed so as to push the shaft out as the flanges came together. This took several hours of gradually tightening up the bolts after soaking the shaft/flange joint in super penetrating oil. The yard recommended replacing the bearing more often than once every 19 years to avoid the problem! Smooth sailing, Peter