Jump to content
  • Welcome to 205GTIDrivers.com!

    Hello dear visitor! Feel free to browse but we invite you to register completely free of charge in order to enjoy the full functionality of the website.

Sign in to follow this  
meggy6620

Bilstien Struts Problems

Recommended Posts

meggy6620

Hi every one i need a little advice, Iv tryed stripping my billys for inspection and cant get the damper tubes out, they were brand new befor the event and still felt good after it too but like to make sure.

My problem is the bottom spindle wont budge, the nut come off but when you put a screwdriver in the slot it just tyes to snap the slots off so i gave up for naw is there a nother way fo getting them out with out fking them?

 

Any help would be great cheers for looking steve.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
EdCherry

I know of someone with this exact problem at the minute! You could try heating the casing and using an impact driver but id be careful. As a last resort drilling was spoken off and making a insert.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
pug_ham

I think the Billies he means are already an insert from the discription given.

 

I have one in the exact same state which I've yet to sit down & have a proper go at but I've tried using heat & it still wouldn't move.

 

The one that did come apart has I can see the bushes are in a bad state.

 

I need to find out how to get the body apart so I can replace them but its not obvious at first glance.

 

Are yours the fixed platform type (pictured below) or adjustable ones?

 

post-71-1243089179.jpg

 

Graham.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
EdCherry

I mean using an insert after drilling to make the thread again. I do realise they are inserts already.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
meggy6620

I would try heating them up but i dont want to softern the steel and cause my self more issues lol and yep there the fixed platform type ah well ill keep scraching my ass and see if i can do somthing.

cheers any way.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
EdCherry

You wont do that mcuh damage with a blow torch unless your really giving it some, use your sensible hat and give it a go.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
meggy6620

Dam it ill have to try and find that hat naw

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
pug_ham
You could try heating the casing and using an impact driver but id be careful. As a last resort drilling was spoken off and making a insert.
I mean using an insert after drilling to make the thread again.

How would you use the impact driver & what part are you mentioning drilling & then making an insert for? ;)

 

Graham.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
EdCherry

Instead of a screwdriver, the shock might free it - Impact Driver

 

Drilling the insert out of the threaded part, and making an insert to re thread for a new insert. This is really a last resort and was only mentioned as the gravel damper insert in there at the moment is not needed (different persons strut).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
swordfish210

Should probably post here as it's me that Ed is talking about. Yes i recently bought a set of Bilstein dampers that are the same as the ones in your picture Graham (and not in the good condtion that the seller described them :angry: ) They came with Forest inserts in them and a set of Tarmac ones as spare so i wanted to fit the tarmac ones. I tried to get the forest ones out but the thread on the bottom of the insert was a bit damaged and instead of having a hole for an allen key it just had a slot hacksawed in it so i had to try and remove it with an impact driver....which didnt work. So i tried a mixture of, lubricant, heat and a serious battering with the impact driver and it didnt budge at all. So now the only option is to cut the dmaged part of the thread off and then drill it out and tap the thread in the body.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Craigb

A couple of options .

 

get some heat in the base and then cool it rapidly , this may work , or leave the whole unit soaking in some release agent for a couple of days .

 

then try the impact driver

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
meggy6620

has any one had a go at cutting the spindel off and turning a nut into a sleevenut and doing a way thith all the stress of having crap slits that brake and alankeys that rounds out?

 

I think that will be my only option if i (we all) get them out with out to much damage.

 

thanks all steve.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
EdCherry

Thought you would post here soon mark! keep forgetting they are forests not gravel.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
pug_ham
Instead of a screwdriver, the shock might free it - Impact Driver

Yeah, I know what an impact driver is :angry: but still can't see how it would work when trying to split a seized in insert.

 

How would you use a screwdriver on this part anyway? Its a tube stuck inside another tube.

 

Drilling the insert out of the threaded part, and making an insert to re thread for a new insert. This is really a last resort and was only mentioned as the gravel damper insert in there at the moment is not needed (different persons strut).

But the strut body has no thread into drill out, the insert piston rod just slots through & is clamped by the two nuts mentioned.

 

Any thread you drill out is on the insert / piston rod so imo an insert is impossible on a rod. Gravel or tarmac the inserts are the same just internal valving & springs used differ.

 

This body is simply a guide for the insert with (originally) phosphur bronse bushes to keep it lubricated & an external spring platform but due to the condiitons a rally car sees the phosphur bronse bush has a tendancy to seize from water & dirt ingress once its stood for a while unused.

 

The end of the piston rod that has the nuts fitted doesn't usually have any slot or allen key, at most it might have a flat across two sides for holding with a spanner as you tighten the nuts up.

 

I think whatever method you use to split these apart will render the insert scrap & you seriously risk the same for the body.

 

Graham.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
EdCherry

Ok right, mark might be able to post picture. He split one insert from the casing and the casing is threaded. Therefore after you got the nut off you have to wind out the insert. Therefor and impact driver would spin it out. The insert is not needed anyway and to mark I believe could be scrap for all he cares as he just wants the tarmac inserts in there.

 

If you still dont get it I can make a drawing for you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Jrod

From the way I see it the piston rod which screws in the bottom of the body siezed yes?

 

If so then I understand the impact driver but good luck. :angry:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Craigb
The end of the piston rod that has the nuts fitted doesn't usually have any slot or allen key, at most it might have a flat across two sides for holding with a spanner as you tighten the nuts up.

 

I think whatever method you use to split these apart will render the insert scrap & you seriously risk the same for the body.

 

Graham.

 

Graham , if i am reading this right the insert is still screwed into the body.

The bilstein forest and tarmac inserts are screwed into the base of the body , and then an external lock nut is fitted.

 

I think we are at crossed purposes here ,

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
pug_ham
He split one insert from the casing and the casing is threaded.

I get you but thats not the case on the one I have which I managed to get apart. The body has no thread in, just a plain hole.

 

From the way I see it the piston rod which screws in the bottom of the body siezed yes?

On mine its the insert body which is seized in the bush inside the outer strut body.

 

Graham , if i am reading this right the insert is still screwed into the body.

Not on the one I have apart its not, the piston rod from the insert just slides through the holle in the end of the strut casing & is held by two locknuts.

 

Graham.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
EdCherry

sounds almost like yours has been drilled before to a clearance hole...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
meggy6620

Hi all iv tryed the impact driver to try unspin the rod but the rod is to soft and no mater haw hard or soft you try it snaps the slot end off

dam it .

 

pugtorque have you tryed useing a slide hammer on the top spindel you may have to make somthing up to fit the hammer and the strut tho?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
205Rallee

The genuine PTS bodies that are stamped with Bilstein do have a threaded bit at the bottom which the insert screws into. I know as I couldn't get an insert out that had the allen key fitting in the end of the thread. Yes it was soft as s..t and I rounded off the allen key bit when it seized as I had it halfway unwound into the body. I then decided to try and "help" it with a tap from a hammer, that screwed the threads on the insert.... My mate sorted it out by re drilling the insert effectively tightening it into the body he then sorted the threads and wound it out again. needless to say i chucked that insert.

 

When I reassembled the strut I put loads of copaslip on the threads of the insert.....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
pug_ham
pugtorque have you tryed useing a slide hammer on the top spindel you may have to make somthing up to fit the hammer and the strut tho?

I haven't yet but I did manage to compress the strut before my initial attempt at removing it just time ran out that day & I've not been in a hurry to have another go at it yet.

 

My bodies are marked Bilstein but the one I've got stripped doesn't have any thread in the end so maybe it has been drilled out before. :lol:

 

When I have another go at the one thats still got the insert stuck in I'll see if that one has any thread but iirc it didn't have when I last tried it.

 

Graham.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Jrod

Both my adjustable and fixed height ones had the tread in the bottom so they should have it afaik.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
pug_ham

I can confirm that neither of my fixed height strut bodies have a thread in the base of them, I had a quick look at getting the bashed nut off the bottom of the stuck insert earlier.

 

I also remembered a way to hold the piston end when all else fails to hold it still for getting the nut off.

 

I filed each opposing side flat so I could put an open ended spanner across them & hold the rod to undo the nut, luckily I had enough thread to get the nut past the end of the flat so I could get it right off.

 

Graham.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

×