Strut Insert

[HB Chris]

Anyone ever have this happen? I removed the struts in the NK to replace springs, used an impact driver to remove large nut on top (it's impossible to hold the shaft and turn the nut, same strut bearing as an e9). Everything was fine, put it all together, picked up strut by the bearing, and the insert came apart! I believe the threaded rod below the piston screws into the small bottom cap but it takes a special tool to remove. I called Bilstein, they are 2 hours away, yuck!

 

[bavbob]

no and..............I always wanted to know what it looked like inside! I used the same method for the same reason and had not issue.

 

[HB Chris]

Drove down to Poway today to the Bilstein shop. They fixed it in 15 minutes, no charge. The rod is threaded into the bottom cap and secured with Locktite. It backed off when I removed the bolt on the strut bearing, I think the impact gun was too weak, it needs a fast/strong spin to get it off. The nut is so deep in the bearing I don't know of any other way to do it though.

 

[bavbob]

When I was young and dumb, I would use a vice-grip and a towel and grab the shaft in a place I knew would not be an issue....cannot bring myself to do that now. . I wish they had the center Allen wrench like others I dealt with. Still, I used an electric impact wrench and it was fine.