Strut: Bilstein or Boge?

[WP0ZZZ]

I'm planning a full suspension revamp in my euro MY80 SC. First I would like to identify what front struts are mounted in the car. Can you identify the type from the pictures?

I believe that the Bilsteins should have a pin which I have been unable to see.

[Trackrash]

Yea, they do look like Boges. No way to know for sure till you take the dust cover off. There is a manufactures stamp on them you might be able to see with a mirror.

Either way, even if they are Boges they could have Bilstein inserts. What rear shocks do you have? That could be a clue.

[911 SLANT]

Mine looked just like yours before I rebuilt the whole front end. Lot of work. Well worth it. Good luck. Here's a picture of mine. Just finished last week.

[faverymi]

Go with Bilstein. You'll be happier

[WP0ZZZ]

Originally Posted by Trackrash

Yea, they do look like Boges. No way to know for sure till you take the dust cover off. There is a manufactures stamp on them you might be able to see with a mirror.

Either way, even if they are Boges they could have Bilstein inserts. What rear shocks do you have? That could be a clue.

Good idea about looking at the rears although the may have been changed in the last 38 years so I would still be in doubt about the brand of the front struts...

So, to know for sure, do I need to take the strut off to remove the dust cover to be able to see the brand?

Originally Posted by 911 SLANT

Mine looked just like yours before I rebuilt the whole front end. Lot of work. Well worth it. Good luck. Here's a picture of mine. Just finished last week.

Is this a Bilstein strut?

Originally Posted by faverymi

Go with Bilstein. You'll be happier

I'll go for Bilstein shocks but I need to know what kind of strut I have before ordering!

[Uwon]

Originally Posted by faverymi

Go with Bilstein. You'll be happier

Why? Are you referring to adjustable or non-adjustable? Just trying to understand reasoning.
Johan

[lvporschepilot]

I hear the Bilsteins are great in that if you ever want to go with stiffer torsion bars they are already sort of set up for a stiffer set up.

[Matt Monson]

Your struts look schizophrenic. RSR racing Bilsteins use a yellow housing. Standard Bilsteins use a green housing (like your top). Boges are black.

What you need to do it jack up the car and remove the wheels. And start cleaning them up prior to removal. If they are Boges, they will clearly have a 911 part number on them and a date. You can buy Bilstein inserts for them, so what housing you have in the first place doesn't matter a whole much. My only concern is it kind of looks like you have one Bilstein in yellow and one Boge in black.

[john walker's workshop]

I don't see any roll-pin holes (bilstein) in any of the pics.

[3rd_gear_Ted]

3rd option - JRZ strut inserts ???

[WP0ZZZ]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

What you need to do it jack up the car and remove the wheels. And start cleaning them up prior to removal. If they are Boges, they will clearly have a 911 part number on them and a date.

Where would the strut part number be?

Is the part number in the same place for Bilstein and Boge struts?

[WP0ZZZ]

So, after removing the wheels I could clearly read the marking showing that the struts were made by Boge. Are Boge struts inferior for a hotrod/track application compared to OEM Bilstein struts?

[Trackrash]

Many hot rodders or track guys prefer the Boges. They can take inserts made by either Bilstein, Koni, or Boge/Shach.

[EdRogers]

I have put Bilstein inserts into boge struts, mine came with the green cover also. Probably has the Bilstein inserts already in there because of the cover. Best way to check is to take them out

[WP0ZZZ]

Originally Posted by Trackrash

Many hot rodders or track guys prefer the Boges.

Why do they prefer them?

[Cory M]

The Bilsteins are preferred by people who are raising the spindles to optimize the suspension geometry on lowered cars. The reason for this is that the Bilstein housing uses a constant cylindrical shape, while the Boge strut tube increases in diameter above the spindle which makes it impossible to raise. If you aren't raising the spindles I don't think it matters because you can get Bilstein strut inserts for either one.