Bilstein shock inserts
 

The question mark in my head lit up this weekend.
I was fitting my new Bilstein inserts into my old Boge struts and everything was going well up until I tightened down the big brass coloured ring at the top of the insert (the ring that holds the insert inside the strut). I screwed it down and tightened it up but there was still some thread showing,maybe 1/4".Is this usual ?, does it matter ?. I don't want to force anything,so any advice would be appreciated.

That's normal. Just make sure you crank down on the gland nut (that big brass nut) so it doesn't back off later. I use a pipe wrench.

Good deal KurtV,thanks for the reply.I was using a pipe wrench as well .
My mother used to own Frog Eyed Sprite convertible when I was a kid in England about 40 years ago,I remember being absolutely thrilled whenever (if ever) she hit 60 mph. It seemed like we were flying, I was scared to death. :-)

this is a long shot but I am out wrenching on my car right now and need some advice quick... I am about to go out and get the car inspected for my MOT in a few hours.

I have taken the old boge shock out of boge strut and am having trouble fitting the new bilstien sport shock. It slid in fine but I can't seem to locate the new insert in the strut.
The green body of the new insert looks slightly longer when compared to the old boge unit.

What am i doing wrong??? The brass collar/gland nut wont locate inside the housing and tighten.

Help!

Did you clean all the oil out the old shock - perhaps that is blocking the new shock.

Also some shocks are held in by a roll pin at the bottom(not sure which) - might you have the wrong shock for your strut?

Hey buddy, Yeah basically I measured the shock body and the new one is taller. Also the old shock had like a 4 pronged castle at the bottom which again the new one didn't.
Looks like I have been sold the wrong bilstien insert for my boge strut.
Not happy and now will miss my MOT.
:( looks like they'll be going back.

Oh bugger, can you not drop the old ones back it just to get through the MOT or are they knackered?

Where did you get them from?

The shocks I got were from Transend. However I found out that they are Heavy duty shocks 115 and not Sports 113 as I requested.

Anyway they are going back.

The old Boge Shock has got a 4 castle nut at the bottom of the shock where has the Bilstein is smooth at the bottom.

They slide in just fine but the top of the shock body is in line with the top of the strut so the securing gland nut will not screw into the strut body (internal thread/female) fitting.

I can't see what I am doing wrong? I don't know if i should just order some stock Boge shocks. Darn..

Any advice or help appriciated.

Al

If you have P35-0115 inserts, they are for '85-'89 Boge housings. P35-0113 inserts are for '73-'85 Boge housings. Both are sport shocks (info from Bilstein application guide). Gary

I was told by another supplier that there are 3 types of Bilstiens for my car:
Sport
Heavy Duty
Clubsport

He told me that these 115's are HD's. Anyway.

Well they are definatly the wrong shocks for starters being for a later 85-89 Boge strut than my 77 strut.

I'll start by ordering the correct pair of shocks.

Thanks for your input.

Al