323 front legs

[bealo]

No All cleaned and a bit of grease on the insert to help it

[Wilmo]

Hmm, have you measured the old inserts and compared that to the new ones?

[bealo]

No I’ve cleaned them out and tried some grease on the insert to help it in but stuck halfway

[bealo]

Yeah the new ones are 2.5mm bigger but everywhere I look they say this is the correct insert for a 51mm leg

[Jeroen]

Really weird this. I Know it can be tight at the bottom part, but halfway? Could it be a bent strut housing or something?

[bealo]

I don’t think so, it seems to be the same on both sides

My friend has a hydraulic press I can use to press them in but the problem is I probably won’t be able be able to get them out in the future

[bealo]

Morning!

A frustrating night in my garage confirmed that the bilstein b8 does not fit in my 51mm struts

The only thing I put it down to is a bit of heat distortion where the lower spring hat it welded to the leg as it seems to be the point in the tube where you visibly see a slight ripple inside.

The b8 is very tight with around a 1mm clearance so at this point it will not move

Any ideas on any other shortened shocks that might be smaller in diameter???

Cheers Iain

[Jeroen]

At least you've found a cause. Any signs of the lower spring hats being re welded at some point? I know fitting the wide Billies is a tight fit, but this issue is new to me. Perhaps you can have them honed, then you can still use everything as planned, or get different struts. As an alternative you can also fit the 45mm Bilsteins I believe. The top nut centers it so it won't be going anywhere.

[bealo]

Might give honing a try, I’ll update with results

[bealo]

Quick update....

Spent a bit of time honing one of my struts and got rid of the visible ridges. With lots of grease got the insert to over half way and then spent an hour twisting it and gently hammering on the securing ring.

It’s pretty much there just got to get it down the depth of the thread on the securing ring

Think it’s safe to say when these shocks eventually need replacing that I’ll be doing the struts as well!!!!!!

[Jeroen]

Haha yeah I think these won't come out anymore!

[uwbuurman]

Hahahaha, yup.... and my advice is to just start looking for them, because whenever you'll need them, there are none for sale....

[bealo]

I’ll be posting in thewanted section shortly then!!!!

[Jeroen]

Not selling anymore haha

[bealo]

Haha they don’t have to be the 323 legs that can be the 316 45mm struts