Help on shocks 101
 

This sounds dumb, I've just rebuilt the top end of my motor so I'm pretty proud of myself but I've never been so confused by what type of shocks I may need to replace my existing ones. From all the threads I've read it looks like I have standard Boge struts (black)and I assume oil filled.
Q1; On another site somewhere I read that the orientation of threaded retainer cap on the top of the strut cylinders determines the year of the strut. Some were external threads and others internal, Is this true?
Q2; Although my car is a 69 I don't know what is original and what isn't. If I was to replace with Boge shocks do I have to make a choice between oil and hydraulic?
I've deduced that Bilstiens are the fan choice in most situations and they are purely gas. I would like to order these parts before I take the whole assembly apart so I'm not off the road too long.

The Bilstein front struts has a roll-pin in the bottom of the strut body that others don't.
Hope that helps...

Yes, The only pin I have at the bottom is the bolt that clamps up the lower ball joint. I assume the roll pin goes though the strut cylinder body

My '88 has the threads on the outside of the strut. I believe earlier years had the threads on the inside but I don't know what year the change was made.

If you want Bilstein inserts (and it seems most people do, including me) you remove the Boge innards and oil and just slide the Bilstein insert in to the dry strut (at least this is how it worked on my '88; I can't swear it's the same for '69's). The Bilstein comes with its own strut cap; make sure you ask for the special tool to tighten this cap (it should come free with the inserts, but sometimes they forget to include it).

If your Boges are worn out, you'll find that the new Bilsteins will raise the car between 1/2" to 1". You might plan on a lowering and alignment in your future.

Argo
88 Targa

Sounds straight forward. I'll go with Bilstiens Thanks, The issue now is to determine if I have a newer type strut on the 69. It appears the strut body has the thread on the outside, so the cap is a female cap. Anybody know what year I should be ordering? Since I'm north of the border I hate to order something across the border ,pay all the freight and customs only to find I have to return and replace. I don't know that our boys at the border give refunds on returns.

Did some more checking on the inside/outside thread issue and it seems that it might be the original type of shock/strut used that determines where the threads are, not the year (my bad). Here's the threads I found here that might help you figure it out:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62242&highlight=strut+c ap+threads

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=33360&highlight=strut+c ap+threads

Hope this helps; others might chime in that know lots more about this than I do.

Argo
88 Targa

This is great, thanks, now I'm wondering, having read the thread if the previous owner put the wrong inserts in without a spacer 'cause I have a knocking that I have traced to the shocks. When I jump on the front bumper a can feel and hear something inside the assy is not right on both sides. I guess the only thing now is to open the patient up and go in for a biopsy!

I found this site to be pretty helpful in determining correct part numbers. Once you've decided on what you want, then give our host a call to place the order.


Kevin