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Cut and Weld to remove stuck shock in front strut?


Alec

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What I hope to be the last major obstacle before putting her back together, is that one of the front shocks is stuck in in the strut housing. I got the other one out pretty easily, but this one has endured several sessions of soaking, heat, and a mfh (medium hammer, since I don't have a big one). I asked the auto body shop down the street to try and remove it and they say they've had no luck. The manager said that they could cut it open to get it out, and then weld it back in. Is this a reasonable approach, or is there something else you all would recommend? I'm in a bit of a time crunch, as I need to move at the end of the month and also don't want to spend the $1050 getting a new one from BMW.

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Where. You. At?

 

A used one sounds like the ticket, here.

 

If they're well and truly wedged, sometimes they just don't come out.  Cutting and welding would scare me just a little bit... says the man who routinely does things like that.

 

Don't throw it out- it'd be a prime candidate for a re- tube with a bigger tube, later on  (for a bigger, damper shocking experience)

 

t

 

"I learn best through painful, expensive experience, so I feel like I've gotten my money's worth." MattL

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2 minutes ago, Rozz said:

Is the Nut that holds the strut in stuck, or the strut cartridge itself stuck in the tube? If it is the latter, can you attach a slide hammer to the strut rod?

 

It's the latter, but because of the former, I don't think I could screw a slide hammer on. I can get a nut on it, only about 1/8 inch. I'll call around to my local auto parts stores and see if I can find one on loaner. I'm having a hard time visualizing what it would lever against though? 

 

8 minutes ago, TobyB said:

Where. You. At?

 

A used one sounds like the ticket, here.

 

If they're well and truly wedged, sometimes they just don't come out.  Cutting and welding would scare me just a little bit... says the man who routinely does things like that.

 

Don't throw it out- it'd be a prime candidate for a re- tube with a bigger tube, later on  (for a bigger, damper shocking experience)

 

t

 

 

 

Toby, I imagine you have lots of used parts hanging around your garage :). I'm in Providence, RI. I looked around online and couldn't find anything used, thus my aversion to paying the full price. I'll definitely try the non-invasive methods first.

 

 

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hi,

  if is not a tii strut housing i have many for you

they are universal side for side but knowing which

side gets you less work. $75 plus shipping.

let me know what you would like to do. from phila pa

stone

stone racing co

phila pa 19123

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I stuck a basically new Bilstein HD in tube last summer... The guys at Terry Sayther's shop in South Austin made some surgical cuts with a side grinder and saved the Billy. They retrieved another strut from the bone yard and I was back in business. 

 

Love these guys. 

image.jpeg

 

Came to find out the lower part of the strut tube was bent. You might put a straight edge on yours and see if it's true. 

 

Good luck,

 

Ed Z

 

'69 Granada... long, long ago  

'71 Manila..such a great car

'67 Granada 2000CS...way cool

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10 hours ago, zinz said:

I stuck a basically new Bilstein HD in tube last summer... The guys at Terry Sayther's shop in South Austin made some surgical cuts with a side grinder and saved the Billy. They retrieved another strut from the bone yard and I was back in business. 

 

Love these guys. 

image.jpeg

 

Came to find out the lower part of the strut tube was bent. You might put a straight edge on yours and see if it's true. 

 

Good luck,

 

Ed Z

 

 

 

Brandon (right) and Paul (middle) are two of the reasons I was able to keep up with my 02ing when I was young and broke. Good people; salt of the Earth.

ClayW
1967 1600-2 - M42 - 1521145          Follow my project at www.TX02.blogspot.com          E30 DD Project Blog

 

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Last one I had stuck in a tube I put a pipe wrench on the only part of the body I could grab and twisted the crap out of it (pipe wrench). Came out with a bit of a fight, but it came out.

-Nathan
'76 2002 in Malaga (110k Original, 2nd Owner, sat for 20 years and now a toy)
'86 Chevy K20 (6.2 Turbo Diesel build) & '46 Chevy 2 Ton Dump Truck
'74 Suzuki TS185, '68 BSA A65 Lightning (garage find), '74 BMW R90S US Spec #2

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Had a similar issue with an e30 front strut assembly.  Not often I resort to hillbilly methods, but I attached the housing to a tree with a chain, and shock nut to the tow hook of my car with a chain.  Didn't take too much force and it separated.  

1017001701.jpg

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7 hours ago, e304lyfe said:

Had a similar issue with an e30 front strut assembly.  Not often I resort to hillbilly methods, but I attached the housing to a tree with a chain, and shock nut to the tow hook of my car with a chain.  Didn't take too much force and it separated.  

1017001701.jpg

This wins my favorite post of the day right here!

-Nathan
'76 2002 in Malaga (110k Original, 2nd Owner, sat for 20 years and now a toy)
'86 Chevy K20 (6.2 Turbo Diesel build) & '46 Chevy 2 Ton Dump Truck
'74 Suzuki TS185, '68 BSA A65 Lightning (garage find), '74 BMW R90S US Spec #2

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