Strut Cartridge Installation
08-03-2005, 09:10 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,920
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Strut Cartridge Installation
I just finished cutting/painting my struts to do the koni conversion, but am having trouble getting the cartridge in.
When the cartridge is put inside the strut, the tabs that are on it stop it from completely going into the strut casing. When in this position, the lower mounting bolt can not reach the threads of the cartridge, it seems like it is maybe 3/4" too far away. What i don't understand is if those tabs should rest on the lip of the strut casing, or if the cartridge should be forced into the strut, thus having the tabs enter the casing and having the tip of the cartridge touch the bottom of the casing so that the bolt can be threaded.
On Paragons tech article for the conversion they say that you may need to slam the cartridge into the strut to be able to start threading the lower bolt. Is this why I am 3/4" too long? Should the tabs be going inside the casing?
Hopefully what I just wrote makes sense.
Thanks
Mike
When the cartridge is put inside the strut, the tabs that are on it stop it from completely going into the strut casing. When in this position, the lower mounting bolt can not reach the threads of the cartridge, it seems like it is maybe 3/4" too far away. What i don't understand is if those tabs should rest on the lip of the strut casing, or if the cartridge should be forced into the strut, thus having the tabs enter the casing and having the tip of the cartridge touch the bottom of the casing so that the bolt can be threaded.
On Paragons tech article for the conversion they say that you may need to slam the cartridge into the strut to be able to start threading the lower bolt. Is this why I am 3/4" too long? Should the tabs be going inside the casing?
Hopefully what I just wrote makes sense.
Thanks
Mike
08-03-2005, 09:38 PM
#2
Drifting
hi,
did the same with my 98 M3. insert the cartridge into the strut as far as you can then just bang the bottom of the strut housing on some concrete floor multiple times and the insert will move to the bottom and seat. once there, tighten the lower bolt.
good luck, it will work fine.
did the same with my 98 M3. insert the cartridge into the strut as far as you can then just bang the bottom of the strut housing on some concrete floor multiple times and the insert will move to the bottom and seat. once there, tighten the lower bolt.
good luck, it will work fine.
08-03-2005, 10:12 PM
#3
Defending the Border
Rennlist Member
Rest In Peace
Rennlist Member
Rest In Peace
Measure twice - cut once. I went way ghetto on this cut by clamping two framming squares together, scribed a line around the housing, carefully sazzalled through the housing and extracted the rod and "guts". The few threads protruding were just enough to draw the new cart. in. Perfecto!
With the rest of the stuff in my sig, my suspension is very street smart.
With the rest of the stuff in my sig, my suspension is very street smart.
08-03-2005, 11:24 PM
#4
Nordschleife Master
I had the same problem getting the strut cartridges into the housing. Infact im still wondering how the previous owner managed to disassemble them in order to get them to me. I did exactly as CT944 said, i basically let the strut cartridge's tabs rest on the housing, i then proceded to drop the housing onto concrete and it slipped right in after 2-3 shots. Low tech, but worked for me.
