Bilstein strut - too long? wtf?

[Supertim]

Hi Guys,

1987 325is

Got the whole suspension setup from Turner... things were going great, got the rear shocks installed, put a strut in the driver side housing, good to go, putting one in the passenger housing - the strut appears to be too long!! WTF?! Anyone ever experience this?

If I place the strut into the housing, and flip the whole thing upside down and press it against the floor - as hard as I can (~150lb) I can BARELY see the yellow portion of the strut but I can't catch a single thread using the strut collar. I didn't anticipate this so when I put in the driver side I wasn't paying much attention, but I don't remember it being as difficult as this one.

What are the chances that the struts are too long for the housing? Has anyone seen this before? Help?!

[IronFreak]

It's not to long, the top of the shock should be flush with the strut tube. Get some brake cleaner and clean the threads on the locking collar and inside the strut tube.

[Supertim]

IronFreak - thanks for the reply. The thing is that the first one I put in I didn't have nearly as much trouble.

Here's a picture of it sitting in the housing - it gets a tad bit deeper, to the point where there is barely any yellow sticking out, but not nearly close enough to catch the threads on the collar. The only way it gets that deep is when I flip the whole thing upside down and sit on it. Not normal.



The inside of the housing is pretty damn clean too



The only thing I could think of being in the way is the tapered end of the strut itself (which I never noticed until now).. picture again:



Why is this so difficult? I am incredibly surprised. As you can see in the last one I pressed it in pretty deep (the little black grease line just as the tapered end begins).

What am I doing wrong??

[IronFreak]

Hmmm....Pull the other one back out and compare? I haven't played with billies, just koni so I can't answer this thoroughly.

[Supertim]

Thanks IronFreak but man I REALLY don't want to pull the other one out.. i put the spring on it and everything, the self locking nut is locked lol and the collar is torqued. Shit.. does anyone have a spare billy who could please measure it's length? Its beginning to really frustrate me

[jlevie]

Something is wrong and it could be the cartridge or the strut. There is nothing in the yellow part of the strut that can compress, only the shiny part moves. You are going to have to break down the other strut, compare parts, and try that cartridge in this strut to figure out where the problem is.

[Supertim]

Aw faak.. i just measured the strut and it looks like it is exactly 42cm long... which is about 16.5 inches. Please please anyone have another strut they can measure for me? :puppy:

I understand my options here but I would really regret taking apart the other strut assembly.. I put it all together and took it to the garage

[IronFreak]

Where did you get the shocks from. Look up that part number on the shock and make sure you have the right one. Also, look down the shock from one end. make sure it isn;t bent.

[Supertim]

I got them from Turner (just sent them an email as well). The part numbers on the boxes match for both of them, unfortunately no part number on the strut itself... it looks pretty straight as well. WTF I'm so upset...

EDIT: Found some part numbers:

26 12 P36 0335H1

[IronFreak]

Just shot in the dark. pull out the shock and turn the strut tube upside down and pound it on the ground, see if anything comes out.

[ak-]

I think your strut tube is bent near the bottom somehow.

Your shock is tapered because I think it's good practice to put some oil in the tube itself for some internal shock rod heat exchange black magic stuff.

[E30_fiend]

^^^^
I'm with stupid


Seriously though, there's no reason it shouldny go in so long as nothing is in the bottom of the strut tube and the base of the strut is on all the way.

I think you should put the insert in the tube, grab a block of wood and set it on the top of the strut insert. Give it a couple hard whacks with the hammer then see if you can start the gland nut. I feel like its just a tight squeeze in your particular housing.

Good luck.

[einstein57]

I think your strut tube is bent near the bottom somehow.

Your shock is tapered because I think it's good practice to put some oil in the tube itself for some internal shock rod heat exchange black magic stuff.

Make sure you never use shock oil on a bilstein sport/hd though.

[E30_fiend]

Make sure you never use shock oil on a bilstein sport/hd though.

This.

ATF only

[IronFreak]

ATF around the shock before inserting? Hmmm, never heard of this black magic before....Benefits?