Front strut assembly

[jefflit]

Part of the Blue EV build. Putting front suspension back together and ran into an issue (or two) that I'm sure the forum can answer. Looking at the OEM drawing, I am unclear on parts #13 and #14. #14 appears to be a "helper spring" that I'm 99% sure my car did not have. Nor #13 either. So, first questions are: did all cars have those and are they necessary. If not, does the top spring plate (#3) sit directly on the ridge of the shock shaft or is there supposed to be some wort of washer below it to help distribute the load?

Next, I seem to have lost the dust seal/gasket #4. I'll purchase a couple 31331108927. I definitely have the original washers (#5 and #7) for above and below the bearing. However, the ID of washer #5 will not slip over the shaft of the new Bilstein shock. It fits over the threaded portion but is just slightly too small to get over the non-threaded portion down to the top plate. I can clearance it (the washer ID is 19.04 and the shaft is 19.11 so it won't require much) but has anyone encountered this before? I'm assuming the new shock shaft is slightly larger than the original?

 

[HB Chris]

Item 14 is a big rubber bumper that is not used with the Bilsteins. As I recall, there is only the cupped washer which faces upwards to the strut bearing, the washer sits on top of the bearing under the locknut.

 

[aearch]

rigth you have to ream it out as i did

 

[sfdon]

Famous bad picture...
Use the later pic.

 

[sfdon]

Small thick washer (9) under nut above strut bearing
Thin cupped washer (3) faces up below bearing
Big washer (2) below cupped washer and above spring plate
No bump stops (13) with Bilsteins

 

[sfdon]

And to be clear-

The gasket ring (4) is NOT a gasket. It is a washer

The washer (5) is NOT a washer. It is a grease shield.


04 Gasket ring 2
31331108927 $2.50
05 Washer 2
31332750139 $0.57

 

[jefflit]

Thanks @sfdon. I now see the past threads on this. I swear I searched first. Anyway, to summarize:
The old pic is wrong, in that it has the order of 31331108927 and 31332750139 wrong -- the cup gasket ring installs directly below the bearing (cupped side up) to keep it dry and the grease in, then the large washer goes below and is important to prevent the thin cupped gasket ring from conforming to the ridges in the upper spring plate, thus locking up the steering.
The large washer needs the ID opened up about .08mm to slip over the shaft of the current Bilsteins.
The plate (13) below the upper spring plate is really there solely to serve as the mount for the bump stop (14) but neither is necessary when using Bilsteins since they have an internal bump stop.
The smaller diameter, but thicker washer goes above the bearing, below the top nut.

I will also mention that the CN lowering springs are shorter than stock and therefore go together without need for a spring compressor. And that the shaft on the new shocks does not rotate when using an impact gun to tighten the top nut. Assembly therefore very easy.

FYI, I was unable to find 31331108927 for $2.50 per...

 

[aearch]

4 IS A BOLT 5 IS THE BEARING HOLDER?

 

[jefflit]

The studs (4) come pressed into the bearing assembly (5).

Fyi, if you use cn's camber plates you knock those studs out and bolt the plates to the bearing assy. This moves the top of the strut in and back, adding negative camber and some caster.