installing front struts
 

finally getting around to swapping out my front struts. Going from Boge with Bilstein HD inserts to Bilstein raised spindle struts with sport inserts. The ball joints are in good condition, so didn't replace them. Trying to slip the new struts onto the ball joints, and they don't want to seat all the way down, can't get them on enough to put the roll pins in.

Any tips or tricks? does the diameter vary between Boge and Bilstein?

Are they the inverted ones? I had to kind of smack mine with a rubber mallet to seat them. The originals leaked oil and I'm assuming they pooled a little where the shaft goes. Pushing slowly doesn't do anything, as the strut just compresses. A sharp hit built the force in the shock needed to transfer it to the shaft.

I will try that!, I haven't tried any percussive persuasion to get them to sit, just pushing on them. I'll remove the inserts tonight and hit them with a dead blow hammer to see if I can get them to seat correctly.
They are stock ball joints, and the strut housings are bilsteins that have been modified by Rebel S Racing, spindles raised 19mm and their bump steer kit, brace, and some extra gusseting welded on.

http://i.imgur.com/0ddyxFYl.jpg

Did your Boge struts use the wedge pin at the bottom to hold the balljoints (same as Bilstein), or did they "pinch"?

/Johan

I suspect there is a coat of paint inside the hole where the ball studs slides . Either scrape or sand it out,then a smear of grease on the stud to ease entry and reduce corrosion so you can remove it down the road. The bottom hole is for the pinch bolt on the ball stud. The Bilstein strut inserts you have don,t use the roll pin as the insert is a boge replacement design which isn,t upside down like a stock Bilstein