Bilstein insert in BOGE strut question

[Tommy Z]

Happy Saturday Pelican Parts! I'm working on replacing the front struts in my 79' SC. Turns out their are Koni's in the BOGE insert already so they may not be as old as I thought. The rear Woodheads get replaced tomorrow. My question is the Koni's have a rubber bushing at the top of the strut insert and the Bilsteins did not come with one. Am I supposed to re-use the bushing? Obviously I can't use the one pictured below but If I need a new one is this a standard bushing or unique to either Bilstein or Koni? The new Bilsteins are used with only a few thousand miles on them so no literature to consult. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Tommy Z]

Sorry for the double post

[john walker's workshop]

No bushing with the bilsteins.

[Tommy Z]

Thanks John, I finally found a post searching yesterday saying the same thing. Actually, I think it was a post of yours. Now I'm struggling with the rear shocks trying to keep it from rotating when I turn the top nut. Any tips on how to do that? I put vice grip on it and turned the nut with a ratcheting wrench but it's still not preventing the whole shock from spinning.

[RetroSC]

Hi Tommy, responded to your PM as well, but I was incorrect in that the Bilsteins don't have the stop like Koni's, so you're good there.

For the rear, I've had best luck using an air impact ratchet. It just zips the nut off fast enough that the shaft doesn't turn much. Some shocks have a allen key in the top that you can hold, some just flat sides to put a small wrench on. It's tight back there if you have CIS injection.

[john walker's workshop]

I do the rears with the car on a lift. The hanging weight seems to help. 3/8" air ratchet and a medium height 17mm socket. Most times they just unscrew without needing to hold the shaft.