Dear All,

I'm new here. My first post.

I just bought a set of new-old-stock PSS9's for my 996 C2.

On the rear shock, covered by the blue plastic boot/covering, is a black rubber bump stop. Above this is a washer. The washer is similar to those usually used above and below strut mounts.

I've seen some pics of PSS9 installs on 996, and from some pictures, I can just make out that sometimes this washer does not seem to be present for those owners.

Anyway, this washer is not held down by anything, it just sits there free to move. I find it very strange, as I am very sure it would rattle like crazy when the car is running.

I have attached a picture of it for you guys to see.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Double check with Bilstein but I believe this preload washer is there on the last generation PSS9s to keep the clunking sound from happening. The pregeneration PSS9s did not have this and owners had to remove the washer from the stock struts to use on all 4 to keep the clunking sound from happening...and then this was not a 100% solution. Bilstein started to include these preload washers on the last Gen PSS9s. Someone had mentioned that Bilstein has these preload washers available for PSS9 owners that have clunking issues - typically only from the front end

Clunking sound - from preloading the struts that is.....

Can someone else elaborate and or correct me on this?

 

This is normal...

slide the bump stop all the way up, and the washer will then sit at the top and won't rattle on the chrome shaft.

 

Thanks for the quick responses!

I'll push it up and hope it doesn't rattle.

At least I know the washer is supposed to be there.

 

Interesting..on my PSS9s the rubber bumpstop will not travel down the chrome part of the strut rod, it is firmly stuck at the top, and formed, what I thought, was the bottom fixed point that you tighten the rear strut mount against. I would have said that your struts are broken. I have that same washer in there, and actually, never noticed it until this post. The strut rod is fixed inthe RSM by the top double nut at the top, and the large OE washer and the blue boot at the bottom. Can your blue boot travel down the chrome shaft? I will call Bilstein and find out if that is normal, for both of us..

 

The blue boot/cover sits on a step on the shaft and will not go all the way down, but in the picture it is pushed up so that I could take the pic of the stuff underneath. Under the boot is the washer and rubber bumpstop on the shaft. I moved the rubber bumpstop down to the position you see, so that I could take a pic. It is very hard to move down the shaft, almost impossible. After install, when the suspension is working, I am sure it will go up again.

Deos yours have the rubber bumpstop and washer above it as well?

 

Yes, it is the same. The diameter of the inner hole of the washer indicates that it goes on the chromed shaft, which is a larger diameter than the upper threaded part. The Bilstein instructions do not show either the bump stop nor the washer, so it can be assumed that they are both under the boot, which is shown. As JJBravo indicated, this all appears to be normal assembley.

BTW, the anti-clunking washers the Yoops refers to above are available from Bilstein as PSS spring isolators for $1.20 each, they come in 2 diferent diameters, for upper & lower springs, front & rear. Your struts should have one already on the lower springs. 84X60X1.5mm, part number E4-XK6_Z002A00, and 94X70X1.5mm, part number E4-XK6-Z002A01. They are large blue plastic washers (slip rings) that go between the coil springs and the perches, so the spring doesn't wind up against the perch, then "POP", when unweighted. If your struts are used, it'd be smart to also go ahead and get new front top nuts, as they are supposed to be one time use, $0.76 each, part number 2517670.

 

Struts are new with new nuts, so no problem there. The blue washers for the bottom are there too.

As for the washer in question, what do you think if I glue it to the rubber bumpstop, so it doesn't rattle?

 

I wouldn't think a little RTV on it would be a problem. BTW, the washer I listed are for in addition to the one that comes on the strut. WAY too many people complain about the PSS9 clunk, so that's why I'm using them. Let us know how the install goes!