Bilstein Roll Pins

[Charles Freeborn]

Is it necessary to replace the roll pins when re-installing front shocks into struts, and if so where do I find them?
Thx,
-C

[na2ub]

Roll pins can be reused. Make sure the open side faces away from the center of the strut. I tried to get new ones, but it is difficult to find them. I believe they are 7mm, and most hardware places only have 6 and 8mm.

Wedge bolts for the balljoint to strut, should be replaced.

[Charles Freeborn]

Many thanks. I'll ask the folks at Bilstein when they're re-building my shocks, but otherwise if they're not damaged I'll re-use. Yep, got all the other bolts, nuts, washers new for the (complete front end) re-build
-C

[Zeke]

Dress them on a bench grinder so the flat is smooth but don't take much off.

[Nine9six]

Originally Posted by milt

Dress them on a bench grinder so the flat is smooth but don't take much off.

Milt,
I may be wrong, but I believe the question is in regards to the roll pin, and not the wedge pin associated with the ball joint. New roll pins if needed can be sourced from Mcmaster-Carr.
If it were me, I would not use a bench grinder on the wedge pins, but rather a 400 grit sandpaper on a surface plate or piece of glass (flat surface) to dress any imperfections that may exist.

[KTL]

Some safety wire on these pins is not a bad idea. These have popped out before on my racecar and the previous owner's shop now makes it a point to wire them. Simply wrap the wire around the strut tube and pass the wire thru the roll pin. I suspect the pin came loose on because it was well used or lost its springy-ness. Not a bad idea to wire them and requires little effort. All sorts of things come loose on racecars you wouldn't expect to come loose.

[mossguy]

I needed contact pin sleeves for the ECU on my 82 Volvo. Turned out to be simple roll pins. Check out this link for info and sources.


http://mossguysgarage.blogspot.com/2010/05/guide-sleeves-and-roll-pins.html

[mossguy]

Here is a better link:

https://sdp-si.com/eStore

Type in roll pin and you will see 8 single-spaced pages of roll pins. You should be able to find what you are looking for. If you have to buy too many, you could always give them out at trick or treat, or for door prizes.

Best,
Tom

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Nine9six

Milt,
I may be wrong, but I believe the question is in regards to the roll pin, and not the wedge pin associated with the ball joint. New roll pins if needed can be sourced from Mcmaster-Carr.
If it were me, I would not use a bench grinder on the wedge pins, but rather a 400 grit sandpaper on a surface plate or piece of glass (flat surface) to dress any imperfections that may exist.

Nope, I missed that. Thanks.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by KTL

Some safety wire on these pins is not a bad idea. These have popped out before on my racecar and the previous owner's shop now makes it a point to wire them. Simply wrap the wire around the strut tube and pass the wire thru the roll pin. I suspect the pin came loose on because it was well used or lost its springy-ness. Not a bad idea to wire them and requires little effort. All sorts of things come loose on racecars you wouldn't expect to come loose.

That's a pretty good idea.

I had some spare rollpins. I can't recall where I got them. Could have been Elephant Racing, but I'm not sure.

[Charles Freeborn]

Mc Master... I had forgotten about them. We've got a few bearing supply houses around here as well, so failing that I'll get through McM. I realize it's minutiae, but as long as it's apart I figure I may as well change out as much as possible.
Wedge pins, nuts, washers I've got new.
-C

[jmohn]

Originally Posted by Charles Freeborn

Many thanks. I'll ask the folks at Bilstein when they're re-building my shocks, but otherwise if they're not damaged I'll re-use. Yep, got all the other bolts, nuts, washers new for the (complete front end) re-build
-C

I would expect they can/will provide new pins; new roll pins came with my new Bilstein shocks last year, which was a good thing as the old ones were quite "messed up" after removal.

Jerry M
'78 SC