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BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > Technical Forums > Suspension | Chassis | Brakes > Hit a pot hole - Strut has pushed down into knuckle
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      04-27-2022, 05:04 PM   #1
SilkySmoooth
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Hit a pot hole - Strut has pushed down into knuckle

Driving the other night and then boom, on a road I always drive, a magical hole of abyss appeared on the road.
Just two weeks ago I replaced my front tension struts with the Meyle HD what a big difference. I hope they are okay.

See pictures of my 2013 F30 335i - With M-Adaptive suspension and Dinan springs.

You can see the passenger side the strut has pushed down a bit into the knuckle.

Can I pull the knuckle down in the the correct position, replace the bolt and then tighten it back more that factory specs and move on? Or do I need a new knuckle? My shock seems okay, no fluid leaking.

https://ibb.co/nQ1R4CX -- Driver side normal

https://ibb.co/YX4ncpm -- Passenger side, not normal

Last edited by SilkySmoooth; 04-27-2022 at 05:08 PM.. Reason: links for pictures
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      05-14-2022, 01:23 AM   #2
casualDIYer
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SilkySmoooth View Post
Driving the other night and then boom, on a road I always drive, a magical hole of abyss appeared on the road.
Just two weeks ago I replaced my front tension struts with the Meyle HD what a big difference. I hope they are okay.

See pictures of my 2013 F30 335i - With M-Adaptive suspension and Dinan springs.

You can see the passenger side the strut has pushed down a bit into the knuckle.

Can I pull the knuckle down in the the correct position, replace the bolt and then tighten it back more that factory specs and move on? Or do I need a new knuckle? My shock seems okay, no fluid leaking.

https://ibb.co/nQ1R4CX -- Driver side normal

https://ibb.co/YX4ncpm -- Passenger side, not normal
You'll have to remove the knuckle bolt first, then open the knuckle clamp with a knuckle spreader tool. You may not be able to push the knuckle down with your hands. Suggest you take a block of wood and a dead blow hammer to slowly knock it back into place.

This think this example shows why BMW chose this method of attaching the strut to the steering knuckle using a clamp. Had the strut been bolted to the knuckle you could have blown out the strut tower instead.
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      05-19-2022, 08:05 AM   #3
Jimmert
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True, however this way of mounting makes it a pia to remove / replace the shocks. Bolted shocks are 100x easier to replace. However here it might just have saved you from worse...
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      05-19-2022, 11:14 AM   #4
cfm56d7b
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SilkySmoooth, in the first picture - is that a crack in the metal?
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      05-19-2022, 04:46 PM   #5
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I thought the same, but I think it's the 'split'-line of the cast.
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      12-02-2024, 09:51 PM   #6
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Its been a while, but what did you end up having to do? I am going through the same problem. Thanks !
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