Two shock replacement questions

pookie · 08-09-2004, 05:22 AM

I am working on replacing the front shocks on my 76 and I have a couple of questions. I want to replace the Boge's on my car with Bilsteins. Wayne's book describes that there is a roll pin that must be inserted in the bottom of the strut. I have no holes in the bottom of my strut for a roll pin. Does the Bilsten insert have a roll pin? Also I was trying to take out one of the old shocks, and for the life of me I cannot get that thing out of the strut housing. Is their a trick to getting it out? I removed the large nut from the top of the shock, compressed it so it was outside of te wheel well, took the dust cover off, and took the rubber bushing off, but I cannot get the shock out of the strut? Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance
Ryan

pookie · 08-09-2004, 06:08 AM

I just looked at it again and it appears that the insert is screwed down into the strut, is this correct?

Thanks

masraum · 08-09-2004, 06:53 AM

Yes, Boge struts don't use the rollpin, they have a large nut at the top of the strut. They shouldn't be screwed in though. Mine weren't. It's probably just the suction from the oil. The insert, oil and all should just pull out of the top of the strut. Make sure that if you are replacing with Bilstein inserts that you remove the oil. It's not supposed to be in there for Bilstein inserts. It was only in there for the Boge because they aren't sealed inserts, they are the actual guts of the thing.

Only Bilstein struts (not inserts) have the rollpin. That's the one addition that I can think of that could have gone in the book. A note about how the other strut types were different. Lots of people get confused by the book when they are working on non Bilstein struts.

pookie · 08-09-2004, 07:25 AM

Well, I did have a large nut on the top part of the strut which held the shock in place. I tried to attach a picture of the nut. But also to my surprise I had KYB shocks in the car. Is this common?

Thanks for the help

Jdub · 08-09-2004, 09:50 AM

No, not common, just looks like the PO replaced the shocks at one point.

The insert is the item that goes into the strut housing. The Bilstein strut and and insert combination utilize a rollpin, but it is possible to put Bilstein inserts in a Boge strut housing: that sounds like what you are doing.

Do remove all of the oil. Be sure to tighten the top nut to proper torque. Don't be surprised if you have a tough time pushing the strut down to get it under the flare. Be SURE to cover the flare, etc. with plenty of duct tape or whatever will protect it from scratching.

Best of luck,
John

Wil Ferch · 08-10-2004, 09:10 AM

When replacing shock inserts ( Koni, say) into older Boge housings, do indeed take the guts out ( watch out for spilled fish oil on the brakes !)....but when you put the new inserts in....also add either a small amount of oil or anti-freeze. Not too much or it'll overfill when the insert goes in. May even impact operation of the shock if it floods the top inner portion. Acts as a buffer and heat transfer fluid.

---Wil