BOGE Struts Help!!!!

ron69912t · 10-22-2003, 05:06 AM

When I bougt my 69 I got boxes of new parts which I have been installing a few at a time over the last two years. Now it's time to replace the rear KONI shocks which I can do.

But the front Boge Automatic Gas filled struts (32-388F) have me puzzled. There were no instructions like the KONI's have.

How do they attach to the car? There are no lower attachment points like a shock. I have read they may be inserts that fit into the existing strut shell but I can't find any referance to how this all works.

The SACHS BOGE of America web site is no help either. I called their CS dept and am waiting for an answer.

What exactly do I have?? How do they fit in the car??

Thanks for your help.

Ron D

eki912 · 10-22-2003, 12:32 PM

Well , I might be wrong , but I replaced mine a while ago. The top of the strut has to be opened.It (just) makes it under the fender.The top of the strut has threads.Open those.The old ones just come out.Put new ones in.Watch out for that oil INSIDE the struts.And so on.... I think I read the instructions from WAYNES 101 book.The most difficult part was opening that top nut of that strut....

e k i

ron69912t · 10-22-2003, 01:16 PM

eki:
What kind of a wrench did you use on the top nut on the BOGE strut??? Can you do this without dismantling the ball joints and tie rod ends??

Thanks,
Ron D

eki912 · 10-22-2003, 01:33 PM

That is good question , they were stuck.I believe the PO has damaged the threads, they were SO stuck.But anyway , I used a plumbers wrench.... and added about 6 feet long metal bar to it for leverage! A friend of mine was holding against this movement from another bar , fitted to brakerotor using wheel nuts !!! Brutal method , but it worked!! I did not dismantle anything from lower parts of struts.Only opned it from the top.It came nicely under the fender.

Hope this helps...

e k i

ron69912t · 10-23-2003, 04:48 AM

eki:
One final question please. Did you have to remove the front calipers and brake lines to be able to get at the top of the strut?

I hope not and that the strut will swing clear of the wheel well so I can get at the top nut.

Thanks,
Ron

eki912 · 10-23-2003, 05:11 AM

I did not take out any of those. Just opened the top attachments.Then swinged it under the fender.Then opened the top nut holding that shockabsorber.As you might have now noticed , that shock absorber unit does not have any bottom fitment as such.It just slides in to the strut , and is held there by the top nut.Ofcourse , my car is -76.I hope these instructions still apply.

e k i

Morrie · 10-23-2003, 05:31 AM

On my 67 you can swing them clear while attached. Tronman and I did this a few weeks ago to stiffen up the struts a bit- too much bounce at light setting.

You only need to take off the top bolt Ron. Jack up the front, remove the front wheels, loosten the top strut bolt, then compreess the strut and slide it out into the open outside the fender well. Should work just fine.

Morrie

ron69912t · 10-23-2003, 06:10 AM

Morrie:
Wondering how will I compress the new strut.

It's a gas filled cartridge and fully extended as you can see from the pictures. Not confidant I can compress it to get it back into the bolt hole. My experience with the deck lid gas springs is that a lot of force is required to compress them.

What do you think??

Were yours BOGE gas strut cartridges too??

Thanks,
Ron

Morrie · 10-23-2003, 06:44 AM

I had Boge struts with new Koni inserts in them. They wern't spring loaded, just dampened. When pushed down, they stayed down. My rears (KYB Gasadjusts) are another story.

If your Boge struts are adjustable, you'll need to fully compress them to lock them in and set the stiffness anyway. If you need to take them off the car, then its remove caliper, remove disk, remove hub to get to the 3 bottom bolts if I remember correctly. Pretty obvious when you look at the bolts, do what it takes to get at them, nothing more.

Morrie

ron69912t · 10-23-2003, 11:11 AM

I called Sachs BOGE of America and talked to one of their techs about my gas filled automatic strut cartridges.

He said I will need a special wrench to unscrew the top cap but also a strut compressor to compress the gas charged strut so it can be installed in the stud hole. I don't have either and he said it would be cheaper to have a shop do it than invest in these special tools. My gut tells me that he is 100% right and it would be a nightmare for me to try to do it with a pipe wrench and some other compression gizmo.

He said he would fax me the installation instructions to confirm his suggestions.

Bummer!!

Thanks to all,
Ron D

Morrie · 10-23-2003, 12:29 PM

he he he... maybe my Koni's are shot then... you can compress them ... just takes effort and they pretty much stay put.... maybe different designs between manufacturers....bummer though, you are right...

ron69912t · 10-23-2003, 12:46 PM

Morrie:
BOGE makes various kinds of struts and mine happen to be the "Automatic-Gas-Filled" type. Which are harder to install. But if you look at their catalog listing for 68-71 911's (read 912's) that is what they recommend.

I dunno!

Thanks again.

Ron D

Morrie · 10-23-2003, 05:01 PM

Me either... oh well... as long as they both handle okay... just too bad you have tyo hire it done.... more fun to DIY

Big D · 10-25-2003, 04:25 PM

Although it looks like you haven't enough parts this operation is very easy. The hardest part is getting off the top nut that's supposed to have a cap but usually does not and is rusted up. I used an impact wrench without problem. The cartraige is held in a housing with a big nut . There is a spacer that fits down the cartrage before you put the strut in to take up space so the nut screwed down makes everything tight. The biggest problem for me was that once in there I found everything else was bad,ie ball joint, tie rod, brakes, and ended up replacing everything. If I remember compressing the strut is not a problem. The bottom of the ball joint can be jacked into place and the three nuts attached. Good Luck DG

ron69912t · 10-27-2003, 04:58 AM

Big D:
Thanks for the info. I already replaced the tie rod ends, ball joints and suspension bushings. THe brakes and rotor are in great shape too.

All I have with my BOGE struts are the struts and two flange nuts(?) that have notches in the flange for somekind of wrench. There are no spacers you mention.

I hate to start a job not knowing what parts I'll need.

Thanks for your help.

Ron D

ron69912t · 10-28-2003, 04:44 AM

On a 69 can you adjust both the Camber and Caster or is the Caster fixed and not adjustable?

Thanks,
Ron D

Morrie · 10-28-2003, 04:46 AM

both are adjustable Ron, from 67 on.

Morrie

ron69912t · 11-04-2003, 04:55 AM

On a 69 is it possible to remove the front struts and install the new ones into the exact same top position if you do not disturb the Step Bearing with the rubber ring at the top of the mount?

Or is the hole in the Step Bearing so large it is not possible to do this and an alignment must be done or some other means to reposition the strut as before.

Can strut alignment (caster & camber) be done with a very accurate magnetic protractor attached to the strut before and after removal??

I know they make digital protractors accurate to minutes.

Thanks for your help.

Ron D

ron69912t · 12-03-2003, 09:46 AM

Morrie:
Will the front strut swing out the wheel well so I can get at the strut insert without disconnecting the linkage??

This picture looks like it could.

Thanks,
Ron D

Morrie · 12-03-2003, 11:34 AM

It will on a 67. That's all I can say for sure.

Morrie