shortened strut housing solutions.

[DSP74]

What is available. I know G/C will shorten and powdercoat for $180.

Some people have talked about doing it themselves.....How are you screwing the strut insert retainer back in?
G/C last I looked mentioned something about NOT cutting threads into the housing......Does everyone else somehow run a huge tap to cut threads?

[JRKOUPE]

I am wondering if you are thinking about this the wrong way or its me.......Ive researched this AND have spoken to GC.....you dont re thread anything. You cut 1-2 " out of the housing by the orig perch area.....and re weld....you are still using the existing oe threads up top......

Am I misunderstanding you?...sorry if so.


.......there is a great thread here or on e 30 tech..........and its clear.

There are some who prefer cutting the top of the housing by the threads, thinking its easier, but then you must re thread...and GC( Jay) thought that was asking for trouble.

[DSP74]

so they must be cutting the housing in half and rewelding it with a sleeve over the joint. And that sleeve is what the threaded collar sets on.....

EVERYONE else I've heard of re-threads the top.

If the GC way is structurally sound, I like that route.

[backtrail69]

I cut 1in out of the housing, welded it back up and then welded a perch onto it. It's not rocket science really. You don't need to worry much about reinforcement because you have a strut tube on the inside that acts like a sleeve.

[jtb_29]

If you feel uncomfortable cutting and rewelding, any machine shop should be able to re-cut the threads into the strut housing for you. I know a lot of 510 guys that would do it that way.

[moatilliatta]

Ive herd herd rethreading it is better.. I dont think it matters as long as its done right.

[Teaguer]

Cutting/sectioning/welding is cake if you have a welder and a grinder .
Really is super easy .

I think GC is the only ones who try to make a big deal out of rethreading the housings , plenty of other shops/suppliers do this on all sorts of makes .

Plus the shortened housings that Jason provides with his C3 coil-over kits are just cut and rethreaded/tapped .

Either way is fine but he sectioning and welding is easier for the DIY guys .

[AlarmedBread]

If you have the tools, cut and re weld.

If not, just grind off the perch and use the old welds.

If you want to lower more than this allows, you will need the tools to do the cutting and re welding, but could alternatively shorten the housings and re-tap. Taps run around $50 which is a lot cheaper than buying a welder.

[backtrail69]

The Taps for the gland nut is several hundred dollars BTW.. Look it up.

[rsafier]

Yeah I would think, plus how often are you gonna use it? If you picked up a welder its far more useful.
You could also just rent one, or for the same price just get a local guy to do it for you, I doubt anybody would charge you more then 75 bucks to do it.

[JRKOUPE]

..when you order from GC...ask for the weld kit....and they send perches, just simple rings really. And like stated..many use what remains of the the old grinded off perch as the new perch.

[318isbmw]

sorry, kinda off topic, but curious about what shocks to use with the shortened struts? I searched and couldn't find them so figured I'd ask...
I know GC makes the koni's but i vaguely remember corrado ones or something of the sort.

[JRKOUPE]

sorry, kinda off topic, but curious about what shocks to use with the shortened struts? I searched and couldn't find them so figured I'd ask...
I know GC makes the koni's but i vaguely remember corrado ones or something of the sort.

GC and TCK make the shorties...I dont know the VW app.

[Teaguer]

The OP asked specifically about shortened housings ...so I'm not sure telling him that hes able to just slide the collars over the existing perch is going to help him .

[AlarmedBread]

The Taps for the gland nut is several hundred dollars BTW.. Look it up.

I meant having them tapped at a machine shop.

The OP asked specifically about shortened housings ...so I'm not sure telling him that hes able to just slide the collars over the existing perch is going to help him .

Yes, but judging from his other threads he is building an autox car, which means shortened housings are not entirely necessary. My car will bottom out on the oil pan before the struts will bottom out on the spring perches.