Bilstein sieze up question

Post in this forum for topics relating to suspension, steering, and brakes

Moderators: GRNSHRK, ron, bfons

Post Reply
User avatar
LandShark
Posts: 210
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2013 6:38 am
Location: Soccoro NM USA

Bilstein sieze up question

Post by LandShark »

https://youtu.be/e-uWiBqhrAY
^at about 4:15, he says Bilsteins can sieze up and damage the strut towers.

Has this happened to anyone and is it a characteristic failure mode of most Bilsteins?
Karmann, German for extra rusty.
User avatar
hornhospital
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Posts: 2929
Joined: Sun Jul 11, 2010 6:46 pm
Location: Silverhill, AL
Contact:

Re: Bilstein sieze up question

Post by hornhospital »

That's a risk with any shock or strut if it's allowed to sit long enough and rust the shaft. No more so with a Bilstein than any other higher quality product.
Ken Kanne
'84 633CSi "Sylvia"; '85 635CSi "Katja";'85 325e "Hazel Ann"; '95 M3 "Ashlyn"
User avatar
Brucey
6 Series Guru
6 Series Guru
Posts: 10077
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 7:17 am
Location: Cambridge, UK

Re: Bilstein sieze up question

Post by Brucey »

if you are stupid enough to run the fronts in wet weather without dust boots, water gets into the bushings and can cause them to seize.

Boots are not optional on front bilsteins; they need to be intact, well secured at the top, and fitted to the correct nylon piece at the bottom.

cheers
~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
User avatar
LandShark
Posts: 210
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2013 6:38 am
Location: Soccoro NM USA

Re: Bilstein sieze up question

Post by LandShark »

Thanks for curing my paranoia, in my auto repair experience I have seen most old/high mileage dampers simply go limp (no rebound).
Karmann, German for extra rusty.
Post Reply