New Bilstein strut assmblys- inserts are loose

[jason2guy]

installed them 2mo ago. just took back the psnger side the other day and they exchanged it, installed everything- nice and tight. today working on the driver front suspension, this one is loose too?! i checked my strut mounts and they are good, top bolt is snug. my old struts never came loose like this. what do u guys think is going on???

[CaptainCalf]

Lots of variables come into play, but my guess would be the wedge bolts weren't seated properly. Can you give us any more details & pics?

[jason2guy]

na thats not it. the play is between the insert and the strut housing. im thinking the play might actually be my top mounts, but my old ones didnt do it so im baffled

[tazzieman]

Jack it up , pull it apart and you will find the answer!

[jason2guy]

ur right. but pull apart a brand new assmbly? wtf?! so i pull it apart, find the problem and then i have to FIX something thats new- that sux. id rather return it for a differnt one at least once. i get some parts from a really great place in glendale ca and they would exchange it. seems highly unlikely that 2 new struts would have the same problem right out of the box, doesnt it? hmmmm

[Flieger]

I think DRACO-A5OG or whatever his name is has the fix.

[vancouver86/911]

This is the thread Flieger is talking about with the fix that Draco did..
loose front strut cartridge - i need a cure.

[jason2guy]

i think his situation was different- boge housing/blstn insert. these are blstn/blstn. either the roll pin wasnt properly installed by bilstein or ??. the only other things in there are the seal and those "bearings" more like a sleeve of sorts that keeps things where there supposed to be

[DRACO A5OG]

Hey this is WHNI (Whatever His Name Is) JKD

My issue was the inserts itself widening at the insert's upper housing due to the cap not being torqued properly by PO and over time it deformed it but it did not damage my BOGE housing.

If I may suggest, it appears you have not torqued the cap tight enough, you have to torque the HELL out of the cap to the BOGE housing. When I had my spindle fixed at Johnson's alignment Steve Alarcon torqued the literal crap out of it, I was amazed.

So when I implemented my fix I took a 2" pipe wrench, placed my feet against the inside of the fender and pulled with all my might using my leg. No worries it can take it

I know it seems brutal but it has to be done. I still can't figure out how PAG torqued these suckers.

Jim

P.S. did you measure the old struts to the new one?

[jason2guy]

u talkn to me? so, drago=jim ? cool
yeah i dont have boge housings. its the whole bilstn enchilada. its a beautiful green!!!
its crazy thats its loose. i mean they put it together. ill check it in a couple days to see if its gonna require attn.
ur right down the street, we should grab a coffee sometime

[DRACO A5OG]

Sounds Good Brother Jason Sounds Good

I can take a look at it too if you want???

Jim

[cgarr]

You need to replace the upper bushing in the strut housing.

[jason2guy]

so u think i should take apart a brand new strut or exchange it?

[tazzieman]

Originally Posted by jason2guy

so u think i should take apart a brand new strut or exchange it?

There are 3 connections , wedge pin from bottom to balljoint , rollpin to bottom of strut insert and the top mount. If it's not those , rarely the rubber sleeve at the top of the strut can be worn. But yours is new, so I doubt this.

Taking apart a new strut is not exactly a lot of work. Take pics as you go if you need proof of poor workmanship.

[cgarr]

I thought you just replaced the inserts. If you purchased a complete strut assembly and they are not right then I would return them.

[Eagledriver]

Originally Posted by tazzieman

There are 3 connections , wedge pin from bottom to balljoint , rollpin to bottom of strut insert and the top mount. If it's not those , rarely the rubber sleeve at the top of the strut can be worn. But yours is new, so I doubt this.

Taking apart a new strut is not exactly a lot of work. Take pics as you go if you need proof of poor workmanship.

There is another connection you missed. Inside the strut housing are 2 bearings that ride on the insert and keep it centered. It sounds like these bearings are not the right size for the inserts. They look like brass bushings on my car and I've done temperary fixes on old strut housings by adding plastic tape to take up the space.

-Andy

[tazzieman]

Originally Posted by Eagledriver

Inside the strut housing are 2 bearings that ride on the insert and keep it centered. It sounds like these bearings are not the right size for the inserts. They look like brass bushings on my car
-Andy

Hey Andy , mine are just tubes , with the top wiper seal. Do you have the rollpin insert or the other flat bottomed type?

This is a good prior thread Bilstein strut inserts wiggle?

[Eagledriver]

I have a roll pin type.

=Andy