Bilstein top nut DIY tool

[steve briance]

I'm not quite in a position to fit them yet but I have set of Bilstein B6 dampers and in preparation I had been looking into getting the tool needed to tighten up the top nut to what is really quite a high torque (140nm) without mashing up the aluminium it is made from.

The Bilstein tool is stamped and pressed steel and looks like one of those free spanners you get with bikes. Not that inspiring and from what I have read, they bend and fail very easily and the first supplier i found was on ebay.com and they were £27!!!

I went into the workshop and found the perfect tool there ready but it needed some mods first...

Pictures attached to show you what I did and maybe providing inspiration for someone else to make their own version and live happily ever after with tight nuts.

7/8W swan neck ring spanner I have never used.
Thin Inox cutting disc.
A file.

I don't think this will break or bend easily.

[Nuvo]

IT's certainly more substantial than the standard tool. The only down side I suppose is you can't torque it to spec. Inspiring nonetheless.

[steve briance]

Good point, I guess the square is to put a torque wrench in.

I will probably do it by feel applying force at a set distance.
140nm is 103ft/lb or 46kg at 1 foot away from the middle of the tool.
That is quite a good tug so i will probably extend the spanner to 2 foot long and pull the end with 23kg.
Now, as long as i can calibrate my arm to 23kg all is good!

[Tractor Dave]

Nice job! You could make it torque wrench friendly by cutting off the spanner handle and welding a long head 7/8 bolt into it. Then use a 7/8 socket on the exposed end of the bolt (cut to size).

[steve briance]

Good idea! I may well do something like that. I've got some old Sockets. I may weld it under the Swan neck, my Thought being to bring the wrench more in line with the top nut it is tightening up, should be less twisting motion going on. Weld socket on the 'top' and when it's all clicked together, the drive is quite a bit offset.

[steve briance]

Bilstein tool v.2.

Now with added socket and torque wrench compatible.

[Tractor Dave]

Nice!

[fbatwork]

Very nice!


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