Bilstein play?

BT911 · 03-28-2008, 08:19 AM

hi. i was inspecting my 88 carrera before i went to the track when i came across some play in the front suspension. it felt like wheel bearing play. when going further into the inspection i found that the play was coming from the shock inside the Bilstein assembly moving back and forth. i installed the Bilstein struts a year and a half ago and it's hard to believe that they both have play already with only 5 track events. checked my friends SC with Bilstein's and same thing but even more play. i found out that there are 2 brass sleeves in there to take up the play. my question is has anybody seen this and whats the allowable play to have in the assemblies? thanks

ps. i have front strut monoball plates and so does that SC

gr8fl4porsche · gr8fl4porsche's Garage

I have the same problem on my '87. I was thinking about sending the insert back to Bilstein for a rebuild. Mine have a few thousand miles of non track use and one side has the play you describe.

barndoor · barndoor's Garage

BT911
are you getting any noise,like a "knocking"? And what brand mono-balls do you have ?
thanks,
Mark

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

There are two 40mm Teflon lined bushings, one at the top and one lower in the strut, I have replaced many of these, we use a 10mm longer bushing for added support. If they get real bad and work thru to the bronze backing shell it will start to scar up your insert.

BT911 · 03-28-2008, 11:55 AM

there is no noise and i have Wevo monoballs. how do you replace those bushings? what type of tools do you need? thanks for the help

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by BT911

there is no noise and i have Wevo monoballs. how do you replace those bushings? what type of tools do you need? thanks for the help

Getting them out is the hard part, I made a tool that goes inside then expands to drive them out.

BT911 · 03-28-2008, 12:24 PM

cgarr, where do you get the bushings from?

Jay Auskin · 03-28-2008, 03:38 PM

I had cgarr replace the bushings in my Bilstein inserts. It was half the price of Bilstein, and they came back with nice new paint on them. Turn around time was two days.

When I took the strut assemblies out, it was obvious just how much play was in there.

cgarr · cgarr's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by BT911

cgarr, where do you get the bushings from?

Will look up at the shop tomorrow, as I remember I needed a min order of 60 pieces for the bushings, seals not so many..

jazzbass · 03-28-2008, 09:53 PM

I have this exact same problem on my < 1 yr old RSR struts with 4 track events on them. Bilstein sent me replacement bushings, but I'll be damned if I can get the old ones out. Craig, any tips/pics of the tool you use would be appreciated.

BT911 · 03-31-2008, 02:52 PM

cgarr, do you know the cost of the bushings? and can you send a picture of the tool you used. thanks again

g rad · 06-07-2008, 07:45 AM

I'll join the list for info on pulling out the strut bushings..... thanks,, g rad

LM3929 · 06-08-2008, 11:33 AM

me too.

g rad · 06-21-2008, 07:28 PM

bump

jevvy · 06-22-2008, 02:29 AM

same problem here - been chasing the play for ages and never imagined it would be the fairly recent bilstein inserts.

Would love details on the bushes and how to get the old ones out...?

chrisp · 06-22-2008, 04:45 AM

you can also just slide down the existing bushings and install new ones. that's how I did mine. I suspect it's a one-time thing since the existing bushings took some effort to push down (two sets might be REALLY hard) and there's probably not enough room for three sets.

mine had a little play with 115k on the clock. I figure there's little chance I would wear out a second set and it'll be time for new strut housings by then anyway so I went the DIY route.

i got the bushings from Bilstein.

luckydynes · 02-07-2009, 07:45 AM

Hey all,

I didn't want to wait the 2 weeks Bilstein quoted for replacing these bushings so I made a tool to get these bushings out ... came up with something pretty simple.

If this is still an issue let me know and I'll post some pic's.

I also made my own rear monoball setup and was able to install some grease fittings in there

... I'll start another thread and post some pic's of those if anyone wants.

Cheers,

Sean

LM3929 · 02-07-2009, 10:44 AM

Yes please do.

Lorne M.

chris_seven · 02-07-2009, 11:06 AM

The busings are just standard DU Buses 44mm OD and 40mm ID.

The ones Bilstein now sell are only 20mm long - In the past they were longer and lasted quite well.

I always change them for 40mm long parts. The cost in England works out to around $5 from a bearing supplier and around $10 each from Bilstein but may dealers charge much more.

The metal clad double acting wiper seal at the top of the leg is a bit more dificult to find and is a 46mm OD x 40mm ID around 8mm total length. Again they are around $5 from an engineering supplier.

I have been thinkg about trying DX bushes as an alternative as I think they may last longer.

luckydynes · 02-07-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LM3929

Yes please do.

Lorne M.

Here's some pics. Drop it in sideways with the flats orientated to clear the bushing ... rotate into place (magnet helps) and use a press (what I did) or thread the thing and use a puller. Once I was done with it I thought of a few ways to make it better but it works.

Any source for DU bushings/alternates online or atleast a catalog online?

Cheers,

Sean