Bilstein strut problems - Brindabella Motor Sport Club

Necx0 · 12-02-2009, 10:41 PM

Hey guys,
having pulled the struts (Bilstein coilover sort) out of the Charade I discover the inserts are shagged to put it mildly. Is it terribly difficult to rebuild these things (will have experienced mechanics overlooking the operation)?? estimate of rebuild cost by a workshoip, given worst case scenario? May work out cheaper to buy new ones. Any help or advice more than welcome

Cheers
Scotty

Kaptainballistik · 12-02-2009, 10:46 PM

Heasmans do a good job but take time, Quadrant Are quicker, not quite as good But im happy with their work. Its about $150 a shock to rebuild.

Spac · 12-02-2009, 11:50 PM

DIY Bilstein Shock Rebuilding

Necx0 · 14-02-2009, 10:32 AM

Cheers for the help guys. If its in the region of $150 a strut to rebuild I will be satisfied provided I can find someone in Tassie that will do a quality job. My struts are a little different from yours Spac. I have the casing which the strut insert just threads into the bottom of it. No messy oil anywhere and the case isn't pressurised as seems to be the case with yours. May make things easier. The bit that needs rebuilding is the strut insert bit

Kaptainballistik · 14-02-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Necx0

Cheers for the help guys. If its in the region of $150 a strut to rebuild I will be satisfied provided I can find someone in Tassie that will do a quality job. My struts are a little different from yours Spac. I have the casing which the strut insert just threads into the bottom of it. No messy oil anywhere and the case isn't pressurised as seems to be the case with yours. May make things easier. The bit that needs rebuilding is the strut insert bit

Quadrant are Victoria, Book a currier, there next day. Express post can do it in the same time too!

Spac · 14-02-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Necx0

My struts are a little different from yours Spac. I have the casing which the strut insert just threads into the bottom of it. No messy oil anywhere and the case isn't pressurised as seems to be the case with yours. May make things easier. The bit that needs rebuilding is the strut insert bit

Pics?
If its a Bilstein, it will have basically those same guts inside, although things might be different colours/upside down/smaller/etc.

Or is it the bearings that are shagged?

Necx0 · 14-02-2009, 08:56 PM

The pic attached (stolen from the other thread) is what my strut insert looks like. The red circle shows where the bottom of the insert is threaded. I have strut cases that are filled with grease (not oil and not pressurised) with a ring seal on top and the strut insert just winds into this. Will try and get some better pics in the next couple of days. However the insert shown, thats what needs rebuilding as they are leaking and all the damper-y-ness is gone.

Oh and cheers for the info Ballistik, might give them a call next week. Probably no more expensive to send it there than Burnie (where I sent them once before for a different problem). $150 is quite reasonable and certainly cheaper than buying new ones.

Spac · 14-02-2009, 09:15 PM

Did you follow the link?

The 'how to' in that link is for exactly the bit that you want to rebuild (ie: The damper). The outer strut body is not relevant.

Necx0 · 14-02-2009, 10:40 PM

I did but all the business about drilling holes in the outer shock body etc. confused me mightily. Now that I read it again more carefully steps 6 to 10 look like what I need to focus on! Might as well pull it apart, see whats what and if it looks too hard wrap it up and send it somewhere!

Spac · 14-02-2009, 10:50 PM

Quote:

this is a rear shock rather than a strut. If you picture the yellow bits in my pics as being shiny chrome plate, then everything else works the same.

The eyelet on my shock (near where I drilled), is replaced with the threaded stud at the top of your pic.

All steps are important - just stop confusing the painted shock body in my pics, with your lower strut leg, and it will all be a lot clearer.

Necx0 · 14-02-2009, 11:12 PM

Still pretty confused about what is needed, being a rally driver is hard when you are mechanically retarded (no joke!). Thanks for all your help Spac, will show your steps to my fellow rallyers who are actually mechanics and it will no doubt seem very simple.

Buerckner · 15-02-2009, 06:04 PM

Your inserts look exactly the same as the ones in rays charade. When reassembling them don't forget to put the bump stop back in the strut tube.

Necx0 · 15-02-2009, 08:53 PM

Cheers man, good advice. Can disassemble and assemble them in my sleep as I clean them regularly but never opened the actual insert itself! We will see soon I guess!