Bilstein Advice

[78sc]

Hi guys,

I think I've come across the Bilstein Play problem on my 78 SC. Like others, I thought it was the wheel bearings, but after taking things apart a bit, it looks like there is some slop/play between the strut housing and this large nut.

Those who have had this issue with Bilstein's, do you think it's the internal strut bushings that are worn? Does that nut look correct with so many threads showing? The passenger side is tight, but I haven't taken it apart yet to look at it.

Thanks ~ Phil

[chris_seven]

Interesting strut.

The construction doesn't look like any Bilstein I am familiar with as piston diameter seems small.

This looks more like a conventional 'wet' damper' such as a Boge so I am not sure that the 'internal bush' question is relevant.

The common 911 Bilstein strut doesn't have a gland nut holding the insert.

The insert in a Bilstein is normally 40 mmm diameter and is secured by a roll-pin at the base of the strut body.

All that is visible at the top of the leg is a wiper seal and there are two different designs.

Obviously marked as a Bilstein but does look odd.

I suspect that the strut has been fitted with a cartridge insert of some description and with the nut being loose the cartridge is not being held correctly and is clattering around in the body.

I would be interested to see what is inside the casing.

[universeman]

That does not look anything at all like the Bilsteins I removed from my SC, nor the new ones I put in. Get in touch with Chuck from Elephant Racing and see if he knows what this might be.


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[78sc]

A mystery strut...or strut insert.

Thanks for the thoughts Chris/Jason.

This does have a split pin at the bottom which I removed while following Waynes book. Calling Elephant is a good idea.

In the meantime, here are a few more photos if anyone recognizes what I have here.

Phil

[gtc]

Frankenstrut lives!

[gtc]

Looks like someone removed the wiper seal and threaded in a boge-style insert. Hard to believe that would work at all.

[rching]

Interested in the remedy.

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by gtc

frankenstrut lives!

ha!

[Elombard]

dude if you lift up on that will it just pull up? it looks like its just laying in there? Not attached?

[78sc]

Originally Posted by rching

Interested in the remedy.

Me too! I will post when I find out something. I have a call into Chuck @ Elephant Racing. Hoping to hear back next week. My main question is, what parts do I need to buy to get this back together again. Or buy a new insert that will work with this strut. These shocks (whatever they are) have been on the car a long time and I want to replace 'em

Originally Posted by Elombard

dude if you lift up on that will it just pull up? it looks like its just laying in there? Not attached?

If you mean the threaded nut piece? It looks like it's fairly solidly in the strut housing. Was thinking of trying to span the notches on that nut and trying to back it out. I've taken the split pin out from the bottom of the strut, but it seems like that didn't release anything. Perhaps if I take the nut off first....I'm headed out to the shop now to play with it some more.

[Driven97]

Holy crap. Looks like someone jammed the wrong strut into that housing.

A Bilstein is supposed to be inverted - aka the shaft points down, and is secured with the roll pin. The body of the shock is up at the top, and slides against a (missing) wiper at the top of the housing. You have a conventional non-inverted strut installed somehow.

I'm not super familiar how a Koni/Boge would mount, but I'm pretty sure there should be gland nut holding it in, which is clearly not present. At this point I'm hoping it's not JB welded or something in there.

Good luck!

[78sc]

Originally Posted by gtc

Frankenstrut lives!

Frankenstrut was right! Looks like a Koni shock in a Bilstein strut...cool! haha

I've never messed with the shocks/struts on this car. The rear shocks are red/Koni....I bet someone ordered 4 Koni's not realizing the front struts are Bilstein and then just made 'em work. I didn't see any JB weld in there.

I was able to move the threaded nut part, but then realized it wasn't doing anything. I put the washer/nut back on the shaft and gently tapped it up and out.

What do you guys think now...will two of these Bilstein inserts get me fixed up?

[chris_seven]

The inserts you have highlighted are correct inverted type Bilsteins.

What is the diameter of the bore of the strut casing you have?

If it ran the original Bilstein inverted inserts it should be around 44mm ID.

This would allow you to fit the 2 x DU bushes needed for this type of insert. One was installed towards the bottom of the case and the other towards the top.

The DU Bush is 44mm OD x 40mm ID and were 50mm long. The current replacements offered by Bilstein are 25mm long and quite expensive.

They are readily available from most bearings shops and are beer money.

They don't need oil or grease although Bilstein used to assemble them with a very low cost red assembly grease.


If the Koni insert is 40 mm OD then the DU bushes may still be in place but they may be in a poor condition and need replacing.

To pull out the DU bushes would need a special tool.

You will also need the upper wiper seals and ER make a suitable replacement as the originals are clearly long gone.

[78sc]

The ID of the Bilstein strut casing is 44mm.
The OD of the Koni insert is 43mm.

There's nothing left in the strut casing at all...basically an empty tube.

Based on your description, it looks like I'm missing two bushings that go inside the casing and some sort of wiper seal cap. I saw cgarr talking about those bushings in the 'Bilstein Play' thread.

[chris_seven]

DUŽ Self-Lubricating Bearings, DUŽ Bushings - Metal Polymer | GGB

These are the bushes - 44 OD x 40 ID 40mm long would be OK.

[rching]

Not hijacking thread but I cant find contacts for Bilstein Customer service to get the tool for the collar nut that wasnt included with strut inserts? I called Poway Bilstein and cant get anywhere and all the mailboxes are full so cant leave messages either. Several contacts and numbers were on this thread I thought but cant find it again.
TIA