11 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
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YOUR RESEARCHFeal front coilover issue
Leading reported evidence
Clean inside very well
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
First I cleaned the inside very well to remove any corrosion or dirt.
Leading evidence: 'Clean inside very well' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Clean inside very well' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
Source reports, not a diagnosis or a success probability. Counts refer to discussions and can overlap.
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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I used a file to lightly remove a few burrs on the edges.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I have done 2 Feal coil-over installs, have alway used a flat angle punch to remove and install the lower ends, doesn't need much spreading but makes the removal and install so much easier.
Use some plastic wedges (for door frames) and hammered two
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I then used some plastic wedges (for door frames) and hammered two from opposite sides, parallel to the strut, into the split on the knuckle (where the bolts go through; but a tiny bit, it didn't take much.
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I have done 2 Feal coil-over installs, have alway used a flat angle punch to remove and install the lower ends, doesn't need much spreading but makes the removal and install so much easier.
Use some plastic wedges (for door frames) and hammered two
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
Reported fixes
0
Unsuccessful attempts
1
Discussions
Read evidence and context
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I then used some plastic wedges (for door frames) and hammered two from opposite sides, parallel to the strut, into the split on the knuckle (where the bolts go through; but a tiny bit, it didn't take much.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
11 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T213932Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Over the past several weeks I have been doing various maintenance updates/upgrades to my 2002 C4S, including the installation of Feal coilovers. Would that it were that straightforward. An issue has arisen with the front coilovers that is stumping me. (Note for those following along at home that my car is a C4S, meaning it has all wheel drive. This may not be an issue for the C2 variation, as those cars have an altogether different strut/suspension assembly.)
The OEM front strut attaches to the frame at the top of the wheel well, and the bottom of the strut is inserted into an opening in the suspension knuckle; a bolt clamps this opening tight around the strut, thus securing the bottom section. Pretty simple.
In theory, the front Feal coilover should attach the same way.
But the bottom section of the Feal is the same diameter as the knuckle opening
.
More detail:
Bottom of OEM front strut: ~52.5mm diameter (measured: 52.44)
Bottom of Feal front coilover: ~55mm diameter (measured: 55.10)
Knuckle opening: ~55mm diameter (measured: 54.89)
The OEM strut slips easily in and out, but with the Feal I can't get any more than the tip in without forcing it. And I don't want to force anything into a cast aluminum part. (Yes, I have put a little lube in there.) (And I'm trying very hard not to write something like "That's what she said...")
Frankly, it makes no sense to me to have a 55mm part going into a 55mm hole. But Feal assures me that I have the right coilover and they have sold hundreds of these for 996 AWD like mine.
So, I'm hoping someone else has encountered this issue and can point me in the right direction.
Thanks,
AEP
I have no real world experience but just DIY advice . Take a round wire brush in a drill and clean out the interior of the strut holder . Could be enough dirt/grit/corrosion in there to stop the insertion . I agree with your math that's a very tight fit .
I would also consider putting the coilovers in the freezer if possible to shrink them . Between the cleaning and the cold shrinking if you gain a few thousandths it could be enough . I would definitely lube them because getting them out in the future could be a real bear . This assumes that you really have the correct parts .
I have done 2 Feal coil-over installs, have alway used a flat angle punch to remove and install the lower ends, doesn't need much spreading but makes the removal and install so much easier.
I installed these. It was very tight.
First I cleaned the inside very well to remove any corrosion or dirt.
I used a file to lightly remove a few burrs on the edges.
I then used some plastic wedges (for door frames) and hammered two from opposite sides, parallel to the strut, into the split on the knuckle (where the bolts go through; but a tiny bit, it didn't take much.
The shocks slid in without concern.
Edit: I like the heat, cold, and lube ideas too. I just didn't think or need those at the time.
Try the above measures but leave the lube out.
It will lower the resulting 'grab' of the knuckle onto the shock absorber also once seated because the lube reduces the friction (obviously!).
The effect is like not tightening the clamping bolt to spec.
it�s called a strut spreader tool or similar. Pulled up on generic one on Amazon.
https://a.co/d/eaQeXcg
Tex suggests the Schwaben, I have no idea what brand mine is.
