So I would like to remove the shock to bead blast it clean. But I cant seem to pull the shock out from the struts. What am I doing wrong. What is trick to remove it ?

Thanks in Advance.

Ted

Pull, should come right out

I had a vise hold the shaft of the shock and I was pounding down on the strut and it would not come out ?

gotta a torch?

heat the end to expand the bottom socket and pull it out.

Problem solved. So basically I drained all the fluid of the strut by inverting it upside down in a catch pan. Then I clamped the strut straight up/down on my vise by the threads of the strut. Without the fluid in the shock I was able to basically yanked down on the strut and it eventually came out. What was holding it was a black seal around the cartridge to the strut housing. I guess you can try to pick it out but it was easier yanking the strut down. Total time was probably less then 15 mintues for both struts. I re-threaded the strut cap and the threads were not damaged. Hope this bit of information helps the next guy.

Ted

2 questions: Were they original shocks (i.e, not self contained), or were they inserts? Did you replace the oil when you reassembled the strut?

The Cap'n

I believe they were the original. They were not self contained. I dont plan on using that shock again so I am not replacing the oil.
I have a set of drop in Bilesteins to replace it with.
Will that not work ?? Do I need to fill it with some oil as well with the Bilestein ?

Ted

You need oil in there to help with heat transfer. ATF works, I think.

The Cap'n

Can someone please explain the non self contained shock?

All 914s I have worked on had inserts that were installed dry?

Thank you!

Cap'n,

Is oil required? I have Koni red's up front with no oil around them. Havent had any issues...

I don't know about any of the other years , but I had 2 sets of struts off of 73 MY , and both sets had holes in the bottoms - from the factory all the way through to where the balljoint pin inserts leaving the idea of putting any type of fluid / coolant in there very questionable.

My observation / $ .02.......

Jack / Jaxdream