Identify Front Strut Conversion
 

Just been helping a guy out with a very tidy '87 NA. Bit puzzled by this front strut. He has an invoice saying front strut was rebuilt in 2014 but it doesn't feel too great now. (Damping seems poor) My understanding is that '87 struts would have been sealed Boge/Saachs units and the typical rebuild is either the koni insert with bottom bolt or Bistein with threaded insert welded to the top. The Bilstein cartridges require the body of the shock to have external threads (like the early 944 rebuildable units) ... but this one seems to have a welded section with an internal thread ... I'm not sure what type of insert would suit that set up ... do some Koni insets have an internal thread? I'm familiar with Bilsteins but not with Konis.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1462395882.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1462395897.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1462395921.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1462395939.jpg

I thought there were two insert types - one that used a housing with a cap with the outside thread with no stud at the bottom (early type) and one that used the inside thread with a stud at the bottom (later type). I don't think the insert itself has any threads - just the housing...I thought you could replace the insert for either by removing the cap and replacing the strut insert with the appropriate type. Feel free to clarify/correct me as I am most familiar with the early style...

Kyb maybe?

It could be a sealed strut or an insert type strut. The two little holes could be a strut cap allowing an insert. It is definitely different than most of the sealed struts or conversion pictures (or my own) I have seen.

Might even be a "Gabriel" or "Monroe" parts-store brand shock.

Thanks for the input. I'll check if it has a 'stud' at the bottom. Maybe it is an after market complete unit but the 1st and 3rd pic made me think it was some form of welded conversion.

So you don't think those 2 holes in that cap are for threading the insert into the body of the strut?

I think that's exactly what they are...

So am I right in thinking that the koni type insert has a threaded cap that screws into the body of the strut and a stud and nut that goes through the outside of the strut to locate ans retain the insert. The Bilstein inserts that I'm familiar with just sit in the body of the strut and are retained by a nylon collar and the retaining cap at the top.

Is it just the Koni type inserts that have the caps that thread inside the body of the strut or are there other inserts that do that?

This is what I'm used to:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1462408383.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1462408418.jpg

That's what i'm thinking as well. either way looks like a low dolla strut.

+1 on the garbage strut from the corner tire store.

Are you thinking the whole strut has been replaced (with a cheap aftermarket unit) rather than just the insert? So that top welded section is not a conversion. It is part of the 'original' cheap replacement?

If so I'm in the market for some shot OEM struts and I'll rebuild them with Bilstein inserts for him.