Bilstein strut insert question

[Breeang]

Hey there suspension gurus, I am confused.
I am replacing the front strut inserts (Bilstein) and I have found that one of the existing inserts has a thick rubber washer/spacer around the shaft underneath the big cylindrical dust cover at the very top end of the strut assembly. (Like a short piece of very heavy duty hose pipe which fits perfectly over the shaft of the insert and acts as a seat for the cylinder to stop direct metal against metal contact with a shoulder machined on the plunger shaft)
The other side has nothing.
I can find no trace of anything like this in the parts catalog, so which is it-with or without the rubber washer/spacer/vibration isolator thing ?

[JAR0023]

Photo? The Bilstein front inserts are inverted so the bump stops are internal for Boge struts and on the lower shaft for Bilstein struts. . I installed a set last fall and can't think of any spacer I installed up top. -J

I was looking for photos and I think I found your answer here.

1987 911 Bilstein inserts for Boge strut housings - rubber bump stop Question

[gamtart]

I just put new Bilstein strut assemblies on my car and they arrived in the box with those rubber washers on top of the dust cover. I just assumed they were there to hold the dust cover on for shipping. My old assemblies did not have them on the car, so I just discarded them.

[Breeang]

Okay thanks guys, I shall dispose of the rubber hose piece, and see what happens.

[theiceman]

yup its just for shipping. they should put a "discard" tag on it

[Jeff Hail]

Sounds like you have an early Bilstein strut like the one on the left. The early struts housings are longer and have a hard plastic bushing just inside the strut tube under the large gland cap. I hope you didnt throw that bushing away, you need it in there! The early struts have a much smaller cap than the later housings. Same inserts fit both early and later strut housings. The bushing is built into the gland cap on the later housings.

[Jeff Hail]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hail

Sounds like you have an early Bilstein strut like the one on the left. The early struts housings are longer and have a hard plastic bushing just inside the strut tube under the large gland cap. I hope you didnt throw that bushing away, you need it in there! The early struts have a much smaller cap than the later housings. Same inserts fit both early and later strut housings. The bushing is built into the gland cap on the later housings.

Large cap / late
Short cap/ early
Late has the wiper bushing in the cap.
Replacement Shorty caps have wiper seal in the cap
Original equipment short caps have wiper bushing (hard plastic) inside the strut tube.

If I am correct this is the Bilstein part number for the wiper bushing only
E4-B36-800A