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Frequently asked questions about cars and motorcycles

Front Shock Absorber Replacement

Model: BMW Serie 3 E36 - Years 1990-2001
Part: Shocks

The shock absorber consists of a damper (or gas spring) and a coil spring: when referring to replacing the shock absorbers, it means the gas spring. To perform this maintenance, lift the vehicle on a lift and remove the front wheel; then, free the cable guides attached to the shock absorber tabs, remove the mounting pins of the shock absorber from the hub support, and access the engine compartment to complete the removal of the support connected to the body strut; at this point, you need the appropriate tool to compress the spring and release the damper, remove the support, and transfer everything to the new damper before proceeding in reverse for installation on the vehicle.

Updated on 15 February 2026 by ScegliAuto

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