Crazy Bilstein Struts - they turn forever??
 

I can't seem to tighten my front struts. I am talking about the locking nut. I have the vise grip holding the dust cover but the nut just turns with the (piston) thread. Are my struts broken or is there a trick to lock these at 59 ft lb? Now I do have the Rennline monoballs so the factory rubber portion (which I think use to supply some friction) is no longer there.

Thanks.

What it sounds like is going on is that the piston rod itself is turning along with the nut, its common when using the nylock nut that holds the assembly together. Once the nylon ring reaches the thread, the friction will also turn the entire rod along with the nut. What your supposed to do it have a special socket that fits onto the rectangular tip end of the rod and use a wrench to tighten the nut. Snap On makes a socket that will fit it, and you can then use a crows foot on a torque wrench to tightne it. Real world solution though if you cant use that method, use an impact gun judiciously to zap the nut down and tighten it....I know its not perfect, but if you can keep it in your pants with the trigger on the gun, you can get it pretty darn close and it will be tight.

I did it with a pipe wrench holding the big washer that has the notch and a socket wrench with a pipe to give me more leverage. Don't have any pictures, but it does work.

Dave

Unfortunately, with the Rennline monoballs I do not have the big washer anymore -- Dave's route used to be my route.

Christian,

My tower (rod end) is not rectagular. It is basically like a regular round bolt with a notch (key hole) on the side. I think what I need is an adapter for my 'head stud remover tool' which would fit the size of the piston tip.

just tight it as much as you can. When you are done, drive your car to a nearest shop and ask them to use their air gun.

I've got Rennline monoballs too, and an air wrench is the best way imo. That's what I do anyways (only one of a couple of places where I will use an air wrench (for tightening) on a 911).

Same as mine. I imagine that a "Bilstein strut insert tightening tool" probably exists :) to take advantage of that notch.

Not ideal, but if you don't have an impact wrench try some rubber jaw vice grips to hold the shaft while you tighten the nut with a standard wrench. Careful though. As far as tightening with a torque wrench to get the proper torque - I have no idea how you could achieve that while holding the shaft to keep it from spinning, whether using the "special tool" or some vice grips.