Gents,
I am replacing the front Bilstein shocks on my '79 930- The passenger side came off no problem, the driver's side however is a different story:
I cannot get the insert out.
Yes the pin is out, I have cleaned that area as much as possible, the insert still compresses and expands, and it even spins when turning the threaded head.
I have pulled and pulled, I even hooked up my come-a-long but the anchor bolt started to give before the insert even moved. It is stuck and so am I.
So what is a guy to do?
Thanks,
Jim Greenleaf
jg@midcolumbia.net

 

Hi Jim

Just completed the same job, your insert sounds to be a lot stiffer than mine.

I got mine out with a thin drift through the hole in the bottom of the leg, you are hitting the bottom of the rod of the insert that you are binning anyway.

I realise that you have probably tried this but clamp it up in a vice and give it a go.

Barry

 

Jim, I had the same predicament, one was simple, one would not budge. Mke sure you loosen the bolt with the wedge in it, too. I think it clamps a bit no matter what anyone says. I ended up using an old bumper jack(!) with the base against the housing, and the hook, or tongue, of the jack itself under the nut and big washer. A few ratchets later, boom! the insert let go and nearly came out of the housing.

 

I had the same problem with the front driver's side when I installed Bilstein sports last fall. I couldn't pull the insert straight out either but wiggling and pulling eventually freed the insert.