Rear Strut Tube Repair
Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:04 pm
Hello,
For the second time in one year I have had a problem with one of the rear strut tube of my S3. The thread on the top of the tube is badly damaged and the cap is no longer properly fixed on the tube allowing the damper to move out of the strut tube. Twice I have had the cap welded on the tube but I would like to fix it definetely.
The thing is that I doubt it is possible to remove the tube from the bearing housing as it is a heat shrink fit assembly. I don't want to have to buy a new bearing housing (and I am not sure I can easily find one for an S3: Paul Matty mentions only spares for 68 on models and mine is 2 years older) and I am looking for a cheap but proper fix.
Any suggestion?
Any comment on my idea: why not cut out the damaged threaded extremity of the tube have a new extremity machined with the proper inside thread (or maybe even easier buy a new strut tube and cut the extremity) and after that having a good welder (pipe fitter for example) welding the new threaded extremity on the assembly. Together with a new cap, it seems to me that it could do the job. What do you think?
Thanks for your comments.
Olivier
For the second time in one year I have had a problem with one of the rear strut tube of my S3. The thread on the top of the tube is badly damaged and the cap is no longer properly fixed on the tube allowing the damper to move out of the strut tube. Twice I have had the cap welded on the tube but I would like to fix it definetely.
The thing is that I doubt it is possible to remove the tube from the bearing housing as it is a heat shrink fit assembly. I don't want to have to buy a new bearing housing (and I am not sure I can easily find one for an S3: Paul Matty mentions only spares for 68 on models and mine is 2 years older) and I am looking for a cheap but proper fix.
Any suggestion?
Any comment on my idea: why not cut out the damaged threaded extremity of the tube have a new extremity machined with the proper inside thread (or maybe even easier buy a new strut tube and cut the extremity) and after that having a good welder (pipe fitter for example) welding the new threaded extremity on the assembly. Together with a new cap, it seems to me that it could do the job. What do you think?
Thanks for your comments.
Olivier