Urgent: Bilstein install help please!

dan1911 · Apr 22, 2017

Ok so i am in the middle of my install and getting to the point where i am ready to compress the spring.
The Macphearson compressor I rented from autoZ is not allowing the cotter pin to fit since my coils are apparently too fat??
Went to napa, and oreillys... all the same stuff.
Initially was thinking i could get some bolts and use those but not sure how safe they are, and going without cotter pins seems to be asking for trouble.

Any suggestions?? I was not intending on this being the bottle neck of my project so any suggestions are welcome.

In the pic, i know the cotter pin is backwards but wanted to give you guys an idea of what it looks like size wise since the other direction doesnt fit. If i owned this thing i would probably get the grinder out and shave a section of the cotter pin so it would fit, but cant do it to a rental POS

AFMoulton · Apr 22, 2017

I had the same issue when I did mine Thursday, we just pressed forward without worrying about the pins. Didn't have any issues.

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dan1911 · Apr 22, 2017

you didnt get any sliding of the compressor at all? Did you find another way to secure it or just went as is?

Thanks for the quick reply btw!

quietpeen · Apr 22, 2017

I don't remember there being a cotter pin on the ones we rented from autozone. Didn't have any issues with it slipping

AFMoulton · Apr 22, 2017

Nope no issues

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AFMoulton · Apr 22, 2017

dan1911 said:
you didnt get any sliding of the compressor at all? Did you find another way to secure it or just went as is?

Thanks for the quick reply btw!

Sorry had to load the picture

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dan1911 · Apr 22, 2017

thanks fellas!

Got it compressed just fine.

Now im on the super rusted top strut nut and cant get it to budge and there is absolutely no room to get a wrench in there with any leverage.
Thinking about taking an impact gun to it but im guess it would just spin like crazy.
Any suggestions to this would also be welcome. I read a few other threads about it, but short of cutting the strut in half, not sure what else to do

AFMoulton · Apr 22, 2017

dan1911 said:
thanks fellas!

Got it compressed just fine.

Now im on the super rusted top strut nut and cant get it to budge and there is absolutely no room to get a wrench in there with any leverage.
Thinking about taking an impact gun to it but im guess it would just spin like crazy.
Any suggestions to this would also be welcome. I read a few other threads about it, but short of cutting the strut in half, not sure what else to do

Take an impact to it, it will loosen it enough to get it with a wrench. Mine were a super ******* pain.

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AFMoulton · Apr 22, 2017

How goes it?!

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LB3711 · Apr 22, 2017

quietpeen said:
I don't remember there being a cotter pin on the ones we rented from autozone. Didn't have any issues with it slipping

there was but we had no issues. Rams springs are pretty beefy.

dan1911 · Apr 22, 2017

Oh it goes.

I have replaced UCA on other trucks but this is a huge PITA!!
Top nut took about an hour and half, these Alaska winters with all the salted roads made for a VERY stuck on nut.
I started at 930 this morning and its 5pm here.... almost done with one side. I am not a noob when it comes to fixing stuff on my own either, but every bolt had to be countered since it was just spinning and/or rusted. The end product will make it that much sweeter i guess haha. Gonna finish off this one side, then go in the house and drink (lots) of beers

dan1911 · Apr 22, 2017

Stabilizer bar nut toque to 20 or 75???

Seeing online very conflicting numbers

AFMoulton · Apr 22, 2017

dan1911 said:
Stabilizer bar nut toque to 20 or 75???

Seeing online very conflicting numbers

27 ft lbs

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dan1911 · Apr 22, 2017

AFMoulton said:
27 ft lbs

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I used a jack to get it into place and threaded a few times, dropped it and took it to 27 but looks like this.

That normal?
I appreciate all your help (to all that responded)

AFMoulton · Apr 22, 2017

dan1911 said:
I used a jack to get it into place and threaded a few times, dropped it and took it to 27 but looks like this.

That normal?

I appreciate all your help (to all that responded)

That's what mine looked like before and after. Still on there too.

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dan1911 · Apr 22, 2017

AFMoulton said:
That's what mine looked like before and after. Still on there too.

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Awesome thanks a bunch man.
You have been invaluable in getting this done.
If you are ever in Fairbanks, AK i owe ya a steak and a few beers

LB3711 · Apr 22, 2017

dan1911 said:
I used a jack to get it into place and threaded a few times, dropped it and took it to 27 but looks like this.

That normal?
I appreciate all your help (to all that responded)

looks fine as long as the bar doesn't move in between the rubber bushings

AFMoulton · Apr 22, 2017

For sure!!!

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Guinnesslaxer · Apr 23, 2017

Mine were the same way. Pins didn't fit. Used em anyway and was just careful upon moving around.

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dan1911 · Apr 23, 2017

ALL DONE!!!

Looks fantastic.

Pretty rough ride from what i remembered and kinda clunky over frost heaves, but assume its just settling. Took it around the block and then re checked all the torque setting and all is where it should be and the strut tower is facing the right direction. Gonna get an alignment and if it still have problems i will take it back down.
Thanks for the help fellas!!

I did the work on a very slightly not-flat ground so my measurements are kinda funky, but did the measurements in the same spot so it should all be relative (and 3/4 tank of gas)

RF: 37.0
LF 37 1/8
LR: 40 3/16
RR: 39 3/4

NEW:
RF: 39 1/4
LF: 39 1/4
got tired and wanted a beer so i did not measure the rears lol

Here is a before and after, lighting is kinda odd today and the "after" pic is kinda dark:

Urgent: Bilstein install help please!

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