The Project Pad

So, I was asked about making some BBSE's. Can anyone tell me how long to make them? I do not have access to any UrS inserts, or I could figure it out myself. Any insight would be much appreciated.

What is a bbse?

Big Bore Strut Extender. At least that's what I can find it being called. It's an adaptor to weld into the from B3 strut housing to run revalved UrS inserts. I think that's how it worked. Either way, it allows us small chassis guys to run the larger diameter struts up front. Mance used to make them.

Mance didn't provide any measurements on 12v or QW?

If my UrS4 fronts weren't destroyed in the accident this winter I'd have shipped them off for credit toward a coilover conversion.

I do have two sets of Bilstein/H&R rears tho! haha

Honestly, I had no clue where to look. I'll search around more.

If you're not in a huge hurry, I can cut the perch off one of my urs housings, hack off the top 4-6" and send it and a front urs insert out to ya. I won't be able to get to it for a week or two though. I know for sure I'd be in for a pair or two.

I appreciate the offer. I think all I really need to know if the length difference between the UrS strut frknt- strut, and the B3 front strut. I have the other measurements I need.

I'll grab some measurements and pics for ya tomorrow. I've got spare b3 stuff here to compare with.

Awesome. That will help a lot.

Here's some pics and info in this link:

http://forums.quattroworld.com/9080/threads/3413.phtml

Thanks. I skimmed through it quickly. Ill go over it better in the morn. At work now.

I don't have a loose B3 strut at the moment. I imagine you've got one or two kicking being as you've got a set a nekkid housings.

Is that a UrS housing you are showing it stick out 7/16" from?

Yes it is. I put that up because I couldn't find an accurate way to portray through the interwebs, the depth of the cap that screws on. Figured just showing you what sticks out would work easiest.

OK, look like I have to measuring, and comparing to do. As luck would have it, I have a trashed(new) b3 bilstein port front insert. This should work well.

Will let you know what I do.e up with.

So, here's something kind of interesting. The body of the B3 bilstein is 1/8" longer, but sticks out of the strut housing 1/8" less. So, to make this work correctly, I need to make the over all housings length 1/4" shorter. Hmm... I'll see what I can figure out.

At some point I'll be replacing a strut in my 90 and could grab a measurement. If it helps, the length is "the same" as a urQ strut. I know this because I have a urQ strut in there now.

Mcstiff wrote:At some point I'll be replacing a strut in my 90 and could grab a measurement. If it helps, the length is "the same" as a urQ strut. I know this because I have a urQ strut in there now.

Interesting. Koni lists the front UrQ strut to be the same as the B3 rear strut. I have a pair of those for my coilovers, I'll have to check into this.

Thanks

So its been a while, but thanks to deaner, I have a pair of B3 front housings, and a well blown UrS bilstein. I needed the housings as a sacrificial offering to the Audi gods to allow me to get the sizes I needed. And here is the result


When I cut off the same 50mm length off of the B3 strut housing, this is how it looked with the UrS bilstein insert.


A little too tall. I cut another 3/8" off the strut housing, and all was good. I got the 7/16" stick out I needed as per the UrS housing. I'm going to check the housing against a B3 rear(aka UrQ front) koni insert, and see what needs to be changed. I'm thinking I may need to make a change to them to use the koni inserts. I know the koni inserts use a spacer not only for alignment, but its also what the gland nut pushes on to keep the insert down.

Nice work

Thanks, they are not very complicated, just semi time consuming without the correct tubing. My plan is to order tubing with the ID and OD much closer to the finish sizes.

I also think I may need to shorten the BBSE, so that they can be run with the factory spring perch if so desired.

So here is the final product. Came out well, I just need to reblast, and paint them before shipping them back to their home.

Nice! Looks great! Im stoked to get these things together! I got your text BTW, no cell service in the house and I'm chasing kids around so I can't go outside to text ya back haha. Effing iPhone.... I ordered up a set of CompBrakes 3 piece solid mounts so I'm curious to see how those work out too.

Thanks Dave!