I’ve recently due to a snapped front spring changed the rears, and set about changing the fronts (driver side first) took my time and soaked all relevant nuts etc and all went well with the removal……. Upon refitting strut was fastened with the x3 13mm top mounts screws tight but not torqued, thanks to the splitting tool bottom of strut fixed into hub….. But for the life of me the splined cv won’t go into the hub, the top drop link looks about 1.5-2 inch short of the mounting and the driveshaft seems to touch bottom of strut. Any ideas ? Got soaked trying to sort 😭

Are they the correct springs? Also on mine there is a specific direction marked on the top mount. Cant see it affecting the strut that much though.

The driveshaft should be be refitted to the hub before the strut is located into the steering knuckle, the reverse of how you disassembled.

I don't remove the driveshaft for strut removal, if I cannot get enough downward movement I may remove the nut and slide it back slightly but always leave it in place.

It sounds like you have removed the drop link, are you raising the car on one side only? If so the torsion on the anti-roll bar will prevent you from lowering the hub as far as it can go, I always raise the entire front end.

7 hours ago, J.R. said:

The driveshaft should be be refitted to the hub before the strut is located into the steering knuckle, the reverse of how you disassembled.

I don't remove the driveshaft for strut removal, if I cannot get enough downward movement I may remove the nut and slide it back slightly but always leave it in place.

It sounds like you have removed the drop link, are you raising the car on one side only? If so the torsion on the anti-roll bar will prevent you from lowering the hub as far as it can go, I always raise the entire front end.

7 hours ago, J.R. said:

The driveshaft should be be refitted to the hub before the strut is located into the steering knuckle, the reverse of how you disassembled.

I don't remove the driveshaft for strut removal, if I cannot get enough downward movement I may remove the nut and slide it back slightly but always leave it in place.

It sounds like you have removed the drop link, are you raising the car on one side only? If so the torsion on the anti-roll bar will prevent you from lowering the hub as far as it can go, I always raise the entire front end.

exactly this and I’ll try your method on the other side thank you 🤝

I'm working from memory having not done the job for at least 4 years, bits may not be correct, as soon as I have the job in front of me it jogs my memory and the correct method becomes apparent, all my learning has been through struggling the wrong way!