Damaged suspension after hitting a block of wood

DIVIDES

MEMBER
2013 BMW 328
4 CYL
TURBO
2WD
AUTOMATIC
123,000 MILES

My son was driving his car and hit a block of wood that ruptured the front right tire, broke the rim and fog light, and I saw that the strut itself was pushed down pass where it's supposed to sit in the knuckle. I took it out and compared to new ones online but I don't see a different. I thought there is a place in the knuckle where the strut goes in where it sits and won't allow it to go any lower based on how the strut looks on the bottom. But I don't see like a little lip or anything that holds it in place other than the bolt. This used knuckle is how it looks, this is also how mine looks, and this is how the strut looks. I am trying to figure out whether the strut is only thing that was damaged or bent or the knuckle as well. As after I replaced the wheel and dropped the car the strut hits the tire right below where the spring ends. And there is a scuff there, so I bought a new strut. The first picture is for my knuckle.

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DIVIDES

MEMBER
898 POSTS

Here is a picture of my strut, the scuffing is how much it was pushed down pass where it should. Where does that pin stop? In the middle of the knuckle where the opening is?

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Thursday, October 28th, 2021 AT 11:58 AM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

These struts are held in place by tension so the way you install it is to mount the strut/spring assembly in the top mounts first. Then you pull the knuckle and strut forward to get the bottom of the strut inserted into the knuckle. It will then settle into a position that is snug and as you tighten the pinch bolt down it will hold it where is should be.

Take a look at the pictures below. Most would think this needs to go towards the bottom of the strut where I marked in red and number 1 but this needs to go higher up in the area marked in blue or number 2.

Take a look at the last page as well and that will give a good idea how it sits in the knuckle.

I would suggesting having just the lower ball joint connected and have the tie rod off when installing it so that you have enough movement to get that strut inserted.

Then you may need to use a floor jack on the lower ball joint in order to get it into place.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-suspension-strut-and-spring

If after this is installed and you are still having contact between the tire and suspension, then something else is bent.

I attached the rest of the installation from the manual as well which you may not need but it has some good info in it.

Let us know what questions you have.

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Damaged suspension after hitting a block of wood

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