Bilstein Front Shock Question

feuerbach · 03-17-2005, 06:56 PM

Have been reading this forum for a couple of months. Bought a 1981 911SC about a month ago. I will post pictures as soon as I get time. Need Help Please! I saw something about this in a shock install thread but I can't find it again. Just finished installing Bilstein Sports front and rear. I removed Koni adjustable inserts that had 55,000 miles. I have Boge struts upfront and just removed the Koni insert, looked in the strut housing to make sure it was clean, cleaned some oil from the bottom of the strut and slide in the new Bilstein insert. When installing the new insert nut that holds the insert in the strut I could not get it to seat. I'm about 1/16 to 3/32 off the top of the Boge housing and it is tight. Does the insert absolutely need to seat on the housing. If so, what might be the problem? I know I bpught the right insert.

Thanks, Art

RC-Escape · 05-04-2005, 08:38 AM

I experienced the same thing last night when replacing my original Boge front inserts with Bilstein Sports. This occured on both insert housings, about a 1/16" left to go on the insert nut. I tighten that nut as much as I could. I figured that if the nut is as tight as it will go, and both nuts are out same, then there's not problem. I went ahead and attached the rest of the insert to the shock mounts and everything appears fine.

anthony · 05-04-2005, 09:54 AM

Quote:

I'm about 1/16 to 3/32 off the top of the Boge housing and it is tight. Does the insert absolutely need to seat on the housing.

It's fine. I just encountered the same issue with my Koni inserts.

john walker's workshop · 05-04-2005, 10:35 AM

clarify please. does the insert stick out of the housing 1/16", or does the retainer nut not reach the threads so you can't start the nut? the inserts do stick out a bit normally.

RC-Escape · 05-04-2005, 11:56 AM

My insert was about level with the housing edge. The retaining nut screws in fine until that last 1/16". The retaining nut lip will not sit flush on the housing edge. It's the same story on both sides of my car. Now, before I placed the insert in the housing, I screwed the retaining nut into the housing and there wasn't a 1/16" issue - the nut lip went all the way down to the housing edge. So it sounds like the insert is causing this 1/16" gap.

feuerbach · 05-04-2005, 04:00 PM

RC-Escape - On the old Konis I removed, one was seated all the way down and the other was out about 1/16". So even the Konis didn't fit as Anthony noted on his install. I called Bilstein and talked with one of their engineers and he said that as long as the retainer ring is tight I should be OK. I used a duct tape covered pipe wrench to tighten up the retainer ring because the special wrench was on back order and wasn't going to be in for another month when I did my install. I've put about 350 miles on the shocks without a hitch.

Jascha · 04:24 PM

- Did you replace the oil in the strut housing (or is the base completely dry...?)

- Who was the source for the Sport Bilsteins ( and cost)

Thx
Jascha

RC-Escape · 05-05-2005, 07:54 AM

Art = Thanks for the update. I didn't call Bilstein, but I did tighten the retaining ring/nut as much as I could - I'm sure it's torqued adequately.

Jascha - I put about 1/4 of a cup of anti-freeze in the strut housing. Some did leak out went I inserted the shock. I got my shocks from Parts Heaven in Hayward, Ca. Only a few miles from my house.