New HD Bilsteins Struts don't fit

GRKOALA

GRKOALA

Peter K
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South Australia
Ive gone to replace the original front struts (maroon in colour) to replace them with new HD Bilstein struts (P360024) but the struts are identicle in every way but the original struts (maroon) recess inwards about an inch from the top allowing the nut to screw on. The Bilstein nut would not go into the threads in the tube, as there is no room at the top of the shock (bilstein) between the OD of the shock and the ID of the tube, for the nut to thread down in.

(I will upload some pics to help with my question).

Has anyone had a similar experience? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 

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Yes, the original collar nut will not work. If I remember correctly, my Bilstein's came with a the correct collar nut. Of course installation required a different tool to tighten than was required for the removal of the old nut. La Jolla Independent in CA may be able to get you the correct nut.
 
I posted my discussion with La Jolla BMW on the other forum where this issue was also posted but will reply here. Good chance, as mentioned, that your housing is not original. Sent La Jolla the image and they think the housing is from an e12 and not an original. This would take P36-0026 and not P36-0024.
 
I have a New England Bavaria that I bought and the front strut housing spring perches were gone. I bought used housings from California and put in Bilstein 36-0024's as called for. Well one side of the car is about .25inches lower than the other and I rebuilt each twice. I called La Jolla BMW and learned that these housings are not all the same length and were used on many models.
 
Trial and error

Thanks everyone and much appreciated,

The trial and error continues, I purchased some new e3 Struts (AL-KO 8553G's) and will try them out on Tuesday. I dont know what AL-KO is like but until I work out what the problem is, I'll ride on them. (Anybody heard anything about AL-KO's?)

I took the measurements down for the P36-0026 and if the E3 struts dont fit then I'll try the e12 struts.

These AL-KO e3 struts are 3.2mm narrower than the e9's so I'm hoping that's why I had trouble with the P36-0024 Bilsteins.

We'll see what the story is on Tuesday
 
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