Bilstein install (NM) - Help Please!

[Endorphin]

I did as you and Pat suggested and tightened them up until there was no more thread. The Lovells were the medium duty CFR90's. I've since helped a mate do his and all we had to do was remove one of the control arm bolts.

[Ridgeback]

Good work. No more knocking about up front anymore?

[Endorphin]

All good now. Thanks for the help.

[Endorphin]

For info you can slip the pre-assembled strut out and back in without removing the lower wish bone i.e. all you have to do is undo the three bolts holding the upper wishbone to the upper ball joint then slip the assembled strut through the upper wishbone. Some don't like doing it this way, your choice. Beats cracking the wishbone bolts undone.

Ok guys, having issues again. The Bilstein "seat" which came with the strut is rubbing against the spring bracket assembly (which is causing it to squeak). Seems I can't tighten it as far as yours because the collar is preventing it going any further.

Can you confirm the order of assembly. I've gone with the following in order from top to bottom:

• Nyloc nut
• Bilstein "seat" (not OE seat)
• Collar
• Upper bush 1
• Spring bracket assembly
• Spring upper pad
• Upper bush 2
• Cup assembly
• Strut

The instructions that came with the strut are useless . As the strut is type 2 it just says to use the original mounting parts + the Bilstein mounting parts (the only part that came with the strut was the metal disc which I've assumed is the replacement seat based on your photos).

Either the collar goes or the Bilstein "seat" is used to replace the cup assembly (as in the Type 6 illustration). Any ideas?

[Endorphin]

Anyone got any advice? Need to put the car back together again...

[Ridgeback]

Ok, it appears you have the 'upper bushes' 1 and 2 reversed. See another photo below. This is the exact order of assembly. It appears to be different to the Mitsu service manual diagram but in fact it isnt: it is just the depiction of the bushes which is misleading.

Note on my photo below the pattern of the bumpers against the Spring Bracket Assembly. Yes use the new Bilstein seat.

So according to your legend on the my old photo order is:

- Nyloc nut
- New Bilstein seat
- Upper Bush No. 2
- SBA
- Upper Bush No. 1
- Cup (inverted)
- Strut.

That is it- sounds like this was the prob. You will be smiling in a few hours. Let us know how you go.

[Ridgeback]

Here is a better quality photo. NOTE THE PATTERNS OF THE BUMPERS ON THE SBA AND ASSEMBLE ACCORDINGLY.

[Endorphin]

Thanks Ridgeback. I actually meant the other way around. Problem between chair and keyboard...

So basically you just replaced the seat with the one that came from Bilstein and used all the other part from the original setup. Correct?

[Ridgeback]

The only new components were:
- Nyloc nut
- Seat
- Spring
- Strut

Yes the instructions are crap. Like I said earlier, you really need to compress the spring sufficiently to allow all the bushes and so the nut to sit nice and comfy.

[outbackogre]

Hi everyone, I'm about to order the Lovell/Blistein combo from BushSkinz, and would like some clarification about installation (I expect to have the coil-over-strut install done by a local mechanic). This thread is most helpful. However, in Endorfin's order of assembly list there seems to be no mention of the spring upper pad (item 6 on the strut schematic in the workshop man). This item is also absent in Ridgeback's list. Is the pad necessary in a Lovell/Bilstein setup?

[Brettm357]

Just had mine done and they used the original seat in place of the cup and they didnt use the lower spring pad so the spring is sitting on the aluminium - is this going to be ok

[outbackogre]

Brett, that doesn't sound right to me, but I'm a novice with this myself. Hopefully someone can answer both of our questions. Cheers.

[green monster]

i used the original ones in the rear, but after a lot of heavy work ,one of them split and the spring was on the metal, I replaced it with a 10mm Urethayne spacer from the local 4by shop, worked a treat and gave me an extra bit of lift too,,,,, But i think you may be refering the front ones ?
cam

[Brettm357]

Yes front shocks is my concern

[renth]

Just out of interest, what springs did you fit up front? If they were CFR90HD's which are thicker diameter springs than the CFR90's I fitted, then perhaps this is why you had issues fitting them through the wishbones. If so we can let everyone here know that CFR90 Lovells can fit through the wishbones and CFR90HD's are not worth trying.

I'm attempting to fit the CFR90HD's tomorrow (plus SD Lovells at the back, Lovells Gas Legend struts/shocks all round).

Any update to whether they will fit through the wishbones?

In any event, if I'm successful in installing them, either through the wishbone or by removing it, I'll let everyone know whether it's possible or not.

Also, you take the coil compressors off the assembly before offering it up for installation don't you? I know after doing the job this will seem like a stupid question. That little nylock nut has to take a lot of tension, I can just see it flying off as soon as the coil compressors are removed without the weight of the car on them.