Bilstein B6 confusion

[monkeyodeath]

Sorry if this has been covered, but my searches on the forum have been fruitless.

I've got an '86 3.2 and my struts have degraded to the point where my tires are getting cupped. Time for a refresh.

This is a street-driven car at stock height. Word among the faithful seems to be that the ticket is green-bodied Bilstein HD strut inserts (for the Boge struts my car definitely has) up front, Sports in the back.

Great. Except that "HD" seems to have been renamed "B6", according to many posts I've seen on the topic.

Even more confusing, there are multiple green B6 strut inserts. Pelican shows
- a "B6 Performance" insert (34-001141-M512)
- a "Suspension Strut Insert" (P-36-114-INT) that's a bit more expensive and confusingly has a "Bilstein Heavy Duty" logo
- an even more expensive, green-bodied "Rallye" edition of the previous

A quick look at a more comprehensive parts catalog (rhymes with "cockauto") shows an even wider and more confusing array of strut inserts for Boge struts.

There's a
- 1505/1160 with an outer-threaded strut tube
- 2015/755 with an inner threaded strut tube (US Version with 7mm spacer)
- 2015/755 with an inner threaded strut tube (Euro Version with no spacer)
- 2335/1195 "Sport Street" version for both inner and outer-threaded strut tubes

All are green-bodied, all are labeled "B6", all are for Boge struts, and all have different part numbers.

Any idea where I should go from here? My car is running the same setup it left the dealership with and I'm looking for the firm but streetable ride everyone raved about with the old HD/Sport combo.

[emac911]

From my research just a month or so ago: B8 and b6 are the same strut except the B8 is shorter and designed for a car that has been lowered. Do a google search on difference between B8 and B6 to confirm that I remmbered that correctly.

On my 87 cab, I used Bilstein HD all the way around. I was unable to get them from Pelican. Pelican has very confusing shock info.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by monkeyodeath

Sorry if this has been covered, but my searches on the forum have been fruitless.

I've got an '86 3.2 and my struts have degraded to the point where my tires are getting cupped. Time for a refresh.

This is a street-driven car at stock height. Word among the faithful seems to be that the ticket is green-bodied Bilstein HD strut inserts (for the Boge struts my car definitely has) up front, Sports in the back.

Great. Except that "HD" seems to have been renamed "B6", according to many posts I've seen on the topic.

Even more confusing, there are multiple green B6 strut inserts. Pelican shows
- a "B6 Performance" insert (34-001141-M512)
- a "Suspension Strut Insert" (P-36-114-INT) that's a bit more expensive and confusingly has a "Bilstein Heavy Duty" logo
- an even more expensive, green-bodied "Rallye" edition of the previous

A quick look at a more comprehensive parts catalog (rhymes with "cockauto") shows an even wider and more confusing array of strut inserts for Boge struts.

There's a
- 1505/1160 with an outer-threaded strut tube
- 2015/755 with an inner threaded strut tube (US Version with 7mm spacer)
- 2015/755 with an inner threaded strut tube (Euro Version with no spacer)
- 2335/1195 "Sport Street" version for both inner and outer-threaded strut tubes

All are green-bodied, all are labeled "B6", all are for Boge struts, and all have different part numbers.

Any idea where I should go from here? My car is running the same setup it left the dealership with and I'm looking for the firm but streetable ride everyone raved about with the old HD/Sport combo.

I agree Pelicans info is somewhat confusing

you want the 34-001141 the -m512 must be an internal Pelican reference

for the back
24-001694

[Michael7810]

Call Elephant racing, they will get you the correct shocks. I'm in the process of refreshing my suspension with a kit from Elephant that includes Bilstein HD front and rear (I also have Boge struts).

[emac911]

Here are the box part #'s for the HD's I bought for my 87 cab with front boge style.

[Ok here we go]

I have an '87 with Boge front struts. I went with the same front HDs that @emac911 did: B6 34-001141 (Standard Version 2, 1505/1160 setting, outer threading).

My rears are the B6 Sport version 24-009751 (2335/1195 setting, M14 mounting bolt).

Make sure to note whether your front Boge struts have an inner or outer threaded tube as the insert is different for each type.

[Michael7810]

Originally Posted by emac911

Here are the box part #'s for the HD's I bought for my 87 cab with front boge style.

Those are the same I got from Elephant Racing for my '85 with Boge struts

[tschall]

Just did the same change from above B6 34-0011 for Boge front inserts. By the by, on my ('86 M491 cab) car I had to disconnect brake lines in front to achieve the out of fender pivot. Quick tip: buy a 4' length of 1/2" gray pipe insulation to protect your fender lip. Fast and cheap. My OEM Boge fronts had NO CARTRIDGE, just the oil filled lower housing. Easy peazy. The strut cap, not so easy. Pipe wrench and pb Blaster and a dozen taps on top of retention cap after 2 treatments 20 minutes apart and problem solved. DO NOT attempt to use the new short rubber collar sleeve on top of dust cover before top nut. Throw it away, for packing purposes only. Rears were 24-001694. Much tougher access. One hand operation to remove on drivers side top of shock tower, compounded with muffler interferes with adequate access under the car to remove bolt into trailing arms. Jack the body after to car is resting in an elevated position about 3" to gain clearance for the bottom bolt. Pax side easy under the car and also in the engine bay. Remove air cleaner cover and filter. Remove 3 - 10 mm nuts on horizontal surfaces of air cleaner box. One inside, one outside rear, and one @support bar for AFM. Loosen the screw at the air guide intake and lift off. Simple, no hassle way to clear access to the engine bay forward firewall pax side of the car.
11mm, and 17mm flare wrenches for brake lines. 22mm sockets, deep and shallow for front and rear, and a 17mm for top of shock in engine bay plus a set of vise grips to hold the shaft from spinning. Impact gun for fronts on the 22mm deep to remove and tighten. Have fun!