Tackling Suspension- Stillsen Wrench Necessary?

[DaButt]

I'm tackling the my suspension, shocks, springs, tie rods, CABs tomorrow.

Got a bentley and a few websites (e30tech, Pelican Parts) to use.

The e30tech writeup says to use a "Stillsen Wrench" to tighten the collar... never heard of that wrench before? Is it absolutely necessary? If so, can I grab one at Autozone or somewhere?

Any other common screw ups to avoid on suspension, I'm all ears.

Thanks, guys.

[nrubenstein]

Plumbing wrench.

[kronus]

no, don't use a plumbing wrench. You'll ruin your collar.

Are you installing OE-style shocks or Bilstein sports/HDs? With bilsteins you need to use a different collar and a bilstein-specific tool.

[DaButt]

no, don't use a plumbing wrench. You'll ruin your collar.

Are you installing OE-style shocks or Bilstein sports/HDs? With bilsteins you need to use a different collar and a bilstein-specific tool.

Bilstein Sports... where do i get said wrench?

[jlevie]

A pipe wrench works and won't ruin the collar. A Stillsen wrench or pin spanner is ideal but you may have trouble finding one.

If the inserts haven't been changed in a long time liberal use of PBlaster and a day or two for it to work may be required. In extreme cases you'll need to apply a flame wrench to the housings before you can get the gland nut out.

Pay attention the order of parts when disassembling the struts. There is a washer between the strut mount/bearing and the upper spring perch that must be used when assembling the strut.

Oh yeah, replace the strut mount/bearings. You may find that you need new spring pads also. I always replace all of that.

[kronus]

As far as I know, bilstein sells them directly. Not sure if you can get them in regular stores. Looks like this:


part #s:

The tool is PN 420017. $4.
The collar PN is 440951. $18 ea.

from here

[kronus]

also, a "stillson wrench" is a pipe wrench/monkey wrench.

It works for the stock collar nuts which have ridged outsides. The bilstein collar nuts don't have ridged outsides, you'll just mash the cutouts for the correct tool (pictured above) if you use a pipe wrench to tighten them down.

[Wishno87]

+1 on the Bilstein tool. I think they gave me one with some shocks I bought at some point.

[DaButt]

I don't think I got new spring pads...


don't some guys run without these?

Feel like I remember it provides additional drop... I'm running H&R sports and stock 14 weaves, so if no spring pad= more drop, i think I'll be okay on clearance.

And I did get shock/strut mounts/bearings, which is a relief.

What's not a relief is... i don't have that special wrench. It didn't come with the shocks. Goddam germans... drive me insane sometimes- why wouldn't they just throw that into every other box coming off the assembly line? Shit pisses me off.

Is it so important that I should wait till I have that specific wrench? I'm thinking, that since according to Kronus, a pipe/plumbing wrench IS a stillson wrench, I don't have to wait...

[DaButt]

Uhhhh.... thanks for all the help?

I guess if I screw it up, I'll have it figured out lol

seriously, if anyone thinks i'll damage my Bilsteins by using a pipe or a plumbing wrench, PLEASE let me know now, and I'll postpone the job until I can get one of those stupid fucking little Bilstein wrenches...

[jeffnhiscars]

Someone just bought that wrench from Bilstein for under $5 (plus s&h). Depending on what size strut you have the collars are different. My 45 mm struts have outside threads so the collar has lots of meat so a pipe wrench would work fine. FWIW I used a cold chisel in the cutout that the Bilstein wrench fits in and just drove the collar off & on.

The 51 mm strut has an inside thread so I believe there's just a thin rim of the collar to get a wrench on. You are much more likely to damage it with a pipe wrench.

[EyExR]

Uhhhh.... thanks for all the help?

I guess if I screw it up, I'll have it figured out lol

seriously, if anyone thinks i'll damage my Bilsteins by using a pipe or a plumbing wrench, PLEASE let me know now, and I'll postpone the job until I can get one of those stupid fucking little Bilstein wrenches...

I don't think you'll "ruin" the collar when INSTALLING. You might scratch it though... In my opinion, no biggie... But to remove the old collar these usually take an enormous amount of torque to remove (usually to brake a rust bond), so set the assembly in a sturdy vice when you begin too loosen the collar. I used a pipe wrench with a thick towel at the end of the wrench so it didn't put so much pressure directly on my palm. I would put it in a vice and let some penetrating oil get in there before having at it. Good luck

[Northern]

The gland nut gets a little scratched through whatever cad plating or coating it has.
worst case it starts to corrode where it was scratched and would need to be replaced in another 20 years.

[Boise]

I don't think you'll "ruin" the collar when INSTALLING. You might scratch it though... In my opinion, no biggie... But to remove the old collar these usually take an enormous amount of torque to remove (usually to brake a rust bond), so set the assembly in a sturdy vice when you begin too loosen the collar. I used a pipe wrench with a thick towel at the end of the wrench so it didn't put so much pressure directly on my palm. I would put it in a vice and let some penetrating oil get in there before having at it. Good luck

Or if you dont have a vise, bolt it back on the wheel and stand on it to hold it down. I used a plumbers wrench to remove the collar without any problem. Fortunately for me my Bilsteins came with that special tool.

[DaButt]

Done. no issues. took our time, torqued everything as according to Mr Bentley.

Car is riding nice, sitting a little lower- love it.

Thanks for the input, guys.