Shortening Bilstein cartridges.
 

Is this done internally with a spacer to keep the piston rod from extending fully, or is the top shoulder of the piston rod trimmed down on a lathe?

Either way, I need mine 2" shorter. Bilstein's east coast rep is in Mooresville, 'bout 150 miles from me. I'll be inquiring with them on Monday about how's it done, and what's it cost, but to satisfy my curiosity on their day off, I wondered if this had been done for, or by someone on the forum.

Thx. :)

hello yeti,

is done the second way, but not from the top but from the bottom of the piston (inside the cartridge, where the piston attaches to the valves). The rod is cutted to the lathe to the desired lenght, retapped and attached again on the valve. Meaning that the cartridges have to be dismantled and closed again. Not an easy job for someone without specific tools, parts and skills (the rod is very-very hard to work on it, probably you'll need some fresh seals, the special red paste for the bilstein for greasing the parts-not plain grease- so in my opinion the best way is to get them to some specialist and better though a bilstein specialist (to be able to have the spare parts in hand). Be attend to the reinstalling, probbaly you will need some shorter bump stops (or cut the existing ones). Good luck with your project

JIMP

Thank you JIMP. I figured the shortening was done internally.

As for bumpstops, that's actually my reason for inquiry. The bumpstops are inside the cartridge housing, and would be less effective if the piston rod was shortened at the top. Sourcing external bumpstops for 34mm piston rods wouldn't be easy.