runet

Hi.

I'm in the process of dismanteling all four struts on my 996 GT3 to have them refurbished at Bilstein, and after a challenge with the front top nuts (stripped one of the torx) I am now down to the 3 adjustment rings and the link bracket on each shock.
They are of course not willing to move, even after a lot of spraying with rust solvent and a couple of other fluids.
Any tips and tricks? Heat them up? Hit them hard?

Thank you.

dan212

Can you use an impact wrench here? If adjustable, use low torque range to start.

ninerguru

I never removed the link brackets when I sent mine out to Bilstein. Additional postage was a non-issue instead of struggling with them... I bought a pair of ring wrenches for about $20 when I did mine. Can get you url of where I got mine...

runet

I got the ring wrenches, but they are no use whatsoever with the rings as stuck as they are.
If Bilstein accepts the shocks with the rings and brackets on I really don't need to make a big deal out of it, but it would be nice to get them loose and be able to corner weight the car after the refurb.

Mike K.

Flat chisel , hammer and a bench vice. Sometimes you just gotta be mean!!!

They will come loose and you mark up the collars a bit. It's full of fine grit and has to be cracked loose.

runet

Thx.

Usually heating also helps, any comments on that?

Mike K.

Never used heat but you could try it. Not sure what affect it will have as it is the grit stuck in there that is gumming up the works. Work it in both directions and it will come loose.

spare tire

I just did put on new springs this July and all my perches were frozen with corosion. The fix was easy though. After they are off the car you just have to buff the threads of the shock body with a work bench grinder that is spinning a wire wheel. Trying to use a wooden wire brush did not work. PB blaster is good fluid and the wire wheel will put a shine on the threads but not damage them. The rings will spin like new.

Atgani

Try wire brushing the threads on the damper bodies to remove all the road dirt and corrosion. Then soak in penetrating oil overnight. The apply heat, a hot air gun should do the trick, but be patient and ensure you get the rings really hot. If all else fails, cut them off, it's not worth risking damaging the threads on the damper case when you can buy new adjusting rings.

spare tire

Hey Runet, any luck?

runet

Hi.

Yes, the rings are off.
I used some penetrating oil as suggested (had also been done some days ago), and a steel brush to clean as much of the threads as possible.
Then the hammer and flat chisel got to work, and the rings loosened up after a few solid hits. The top rings is best to do first, as I used the stabilizer bracket in the wise to hold everything down.
I spun the rings a little bit back first, cleaned the threads some more with the brush, put on some more oil, and then everything spun off easily.

I did not use heat.

Thanks for all the help guys, Bilstein refurbish next:-).