At a track day last week I clipped an apex too tight. The LF wheel had to soke up the hit, which was minor, but was a godd bump none the less. From that point on I have a slight clunk out of the strut.

With the car loaded (on the ground) I can grab the strut and barely wiggle it inbound and outbound. It makes a sound and wiggle that the other side does not.

I don't know if I need to tighten the top nut, or how to do that (since the whole thing is wanting to spin).

What does a scenario like that and wiggle like that usually mean?

Any help greatly appreciated.

M

I would check the a-arms and all joints. The hit transfers to a lot of parts.

The shock is supposed to spin (think turning the steering wheel).

Checked all other bolts and arms connecting points, loaded and unloaded. Seems to be a sound in the strut itself, and even more specifically in the body. If I listen, with a screwdriver handle to my ear and tip on the shock the strongest sound come from the body, not the top mount.

I don't know if I need to tighten the top 17mm nut and if so I suspect I need a special tool, to hold the shaft (8mm open end) and then turn the 17mm.

However I suspect something in the strut may have broken. Is there anyone with knowledge of the those MR Bilsteins and how they work inside that could say it is or is not common for those to fail upon a decent impact at speed?

If I need to purchase just one MR Bilstein replacement, what would a recommended place be? Is it worth getting them repaired or rebuilt? And where?

Any strut gurus....
Thanks

M

If you are worried about the top nut being lose, leave the car in the ground and try tightening the nut. Even though you aren't holding the shaft with the special tool, you should still be able to tighten it as long as that axle is fully loaded.

You can get those bilsteins rebuilt fairly easily. You'll have to send them to Bilstein USA (takes around 1-2 weeks though).

Bilstein Shock Absorbers
14102 Stowe Drive
Poway, CA. 92064

Check here for prices

Gotta fill out one of these

As for purchasing a single one, that's dealer item and it won't be cheap. You might as well buy an entire Bilstein HD set (around 700$). If you are in SoCal, and really need to get your car back up and running again, I have a full set of Bilstein MR's for 450$ (used, 12k). You can then send your old set for a revalve / rebuild matched to the springs you are running as a spare.

They seemed pretty tight. With the car loaded the other day I tried to tighten the 17mm, but first it was squishy, but then even with lots of force it didn't move. I had pretty good leverage on it, and didn't want to over due it.

I guess I will send them in and have them rebuilt. The forum may have them pretty cheap, but I only need one. So far anyway. I wasn't expecting them to go out that after one track day.

I am curious to figure out what is wrong with them though. Is something actually broken, or worn out, of can I prove that it just came lose, etc.

Thanks for the links and info.

M

Always use a torque wrench, but from you are saying, it's tight.

As for getting one strut - kinda hard to get just one (nobody selling a used set will part theirs out, as it'll be hard to sell the remaining struts) without going to the dealer. Going to the dealer will mean you'll be raped price wise. If everything is tight, and your wheel looks straight - then it might be the top hats bearings, or the actual strut itself. You might want to remove the strut and see if there's play on the top hats bearings - if it doesn't, then I'd look at the strut.

Well, I had a similar sound in my own BIlstein PSS9 Coilovers, and it was the top nut that came a little loose. The only way to tighten was on my craftsman aircompressor air gun on the medium setting and just tighten it down.

Also, Bilstein West (the address mentioned above) is one of the best revalvers in the country - they revalved my suspension, and they're awesome to deal with.


If you're looking for a strut - the best thing to do is call GTWORX.Com (an evolutionm.net vendor) - they can help you out.

Bilstein will rebuild the struts. Just go to www.bilstein.com and click on services. You may as well have all of them serviced (yeah, I know $$$$) but at least the front pair.