Bilstein insert?

[crimedawg]

Ok, so it’s been about 13 years since I have posted. Picked my 911 up from a friend for 5k in 2006 as he was terribly frustrated with an intermittent ignition issue. I solved it with the help here by installing an MSD and Magnacore wires. Since then, I have only put 4K miles on it. Basically, just stored it, starting each month and running around the neighborhood. I had been looking for a project, specifically an older Bronco or Land Cruiser. Decide I would make this 78 911SC my project. Enough back story...

Figured I would replace the shocks on all corners. Been reading thread after thread about the front inserts and it is rather confusing. But, after inspection, I believe I have the Bilstein fronts. The strut is green and I have the roll pin. So, want to confirm this is what I have so that I order the correct parts. And need some advice on removing these pins. Gonna try to post a couple pics of what I’m looking at. Thanks for the assistance in advance.

[Fairview]

Been a few months since I’ve done the strut inserts, but read the tutorials and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how easy this is to do.

The roll pin drives out without much drama, just use a punch the same diameter or slightly smaller.

Yes those are Bilsteins.

[crimedawg]

Originally Posted by Fairview

Been a few months since I’ve done the strut inserts, but read the tutorials and you’ll be pleasantly surprised how easy this is to do.

The roll pin drives out without much drama, just use a punch the same diameter or slightly smaller.

Yes those are Bilsteins.

Thank you for the reply Fairview. I had read the tutorial by the host. Wasn’t sure if the pin was directional and had to be removed a certain direction. It also said it could be drilled out. Would rather tap it out, but having not done this before, was looking for the method that would generally work. I appreciate the feedback and will get things ordered prior to removal. Thanks again and take care

[john walker's workshop]

Notice the orientation of the split in the roll-pin. Reassemble just like that. If the split is toward the shock shaft, it can wear and create a knocking sound when the shaft moves up and down.

[crimedawg]

Originally Posted by john walker's workshop

Notice the orientation of the split in the roll-pin. Reassemble just like that. If the split is toward the shock shaft, it can wear and create a knocking sound when the shaft moves up and down.

Thanks for the info John. Does it matter which way to knock the pin out/replace? Is it directional? Appreciate the feedback.

[Walt Fricke]

Wow, John - who'd have thought a roll pin could have an orientation.

[Flojo]

PLEASE properly secure your car!
that quick jack alone is not safe!!

Originally Posted by crimedawg

Thanks for the info John. Does it matter which way to knock the pin out/replace? Is it directional? Appreciate the feedback.

drive out pin in driving direction
when re-inserting make sure closed side is facing towards shock insert to grab the dent and lock it.

Originally Posted by Walt Fricke

Wow, John - who'd have thought a roll pin could have an orientation.

German Engineering.
Everything has a reason.

[crimedawg]

Originally Posted by Flojo

PLEASE properly secure your car!
that quick jack alone is not safe!!



drive out pin in driving direction
when re-inserting make sure closed side is facing towards shock insert to grab the dent and lock it.




German Engineering.
Everything has a reason.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I placed a jack stand under the car after the first pic. Appreciate the advice on the pin. Take care

[Walt Fricke]

FloJo - well, from time to time German engineering on our Porsches hasn't worked out as well as intended. Rubber centered clutches had problems not previously seen. Moving the location of the fuel pump back to the rear torsion tube turned out not to be a good idea. The input shaft seal on the '72-3 915s (or was it the earlier 911 transmission?), which required disassembly of the transmission to replace, did not reflect well on Porsche's engineering.

My favorite is the footwell blower (two of them) on the '84 Carrera: not only was the blower motor prone to failure, but the circuit was not protected by a fuse, so when the motor's plastic fan fused to the plastic motor housing, creating a dead short, you got electrical fire smoke in the cabin. I don't know if this ever led to an actual car fire - wires or other connections probably melted and stopped the process. But it scared the heck out of my wife when it happened to her, and she isn't the kind of person who naturally thinks to disconnect the battery, and where in the car a tool to do this might be.

Problems with later models belong on a different forum.

But I love the cars. And maybe some or all of the problems I recite were the result of higher headquarters trying to cut cost corners against engineering advice. Engineering has to take costs into account just as it has to account for forces.