STRUT ISSUE...Arrrrggh!
 

PLEASE HELP!!! I rebuilt the front-end of my '88 911 Carerra...New or refurbed everything...The large nut that holds the shock insert in the Strut keeps backing off (3 times now on the Driver's side)!

When I installed the new Bilstein sport shock inserts (Boge Struts), I didn't have the special tool to crank the large nut onto the Strut housing. So I did it as best as I could. The "nut" backed off, but I thought I had just under torqued it.

A buddy and I really cranked on it with Big Azz Channel Locks...but it backed of again...

After sourcing the special too locally, I tried it again...the tool wasn't a perfect fit, but we got it on there tighter than the first two times...IT STILL BACKED OFF!!!

I am at my wits end, but don't really want to pay a shop at this point...Any ideas?

-Trent

Get a pipe wrench.

I have an earlier car, but my Bilstiens have a lock washer....did yours???

What Souk said. Seriously.

Lock Washer? I don't recall seeing one, but the original install was in the Summer...where would it go?

Could it be that simple (Pipe Wrench)? The other side seems to be fine after the original install...

I used a pipe wrench on mine. Still working fine. There was no lock washer on mine ('88 with boge originally)

I used a very large electric impact gun, did the trick.

He is talking about the big nut/retaining ring/collar that threads onto the actual strut housing. Not the nut at the top.

Mine did the same thing, but only loosened up once. Some thread lock and big channel locks did the trick for me.

I had the same issue. Turns out I had the wrong struts in the insert. The insert may be 3-4mm too short for your housing as the nut on the strut tube is supposed to compress the insert to the bottom. I ended up putting a 4mm thick steel spacer (big washer) in the bottom of the housing, then tightening the nut. Hasn't come loose since.

I got this solution after reading all the part numbers of what I had to a tech at Bilstein in Charlotte, they were very helpful. It was either that or replace the inserts.