Hi!
Ive bought two oem stype R front struts (CATS), brand new, but ive got them very cheap as in my country no one would have got them. I paid $30 for both, and i was expecting some trouble... (no visible damage though)

well here we go:
- one strut is completely stuck.
- the other strut's shaft is shorter and can be pushed and does have rebound.


maybe there is an easy fix like giving them 12v to reset them?
is this locking usual?

Both are identical part no. So the longer shaft is stuck frozen The shorter one can be pushed


many thanks!

 

 

hi, anyone with experience on CATS suspension that can tell me how to unlock them? maybe just a 12v signal? i will soon want to install them. thank you

 

I have them, but I've never seen one stuck. Why don't you email or contact bilstein. They make them and would know.. Good luck.

 

yes. Ill do just so. Good idea

 

I had a new set of Bilsteins for my 635 BMW that were also frozen, I was told from laying on a shelf. We finally used a press and that broke them loose.They were not electric.

 

Followed your advise today and here's an update:
These are not magnetic, they act like regular suspension as far as i understood and another path opened by a solenoid allows more flow and thus a less firm setting, and the computer operates this solenoid.
Anyhow, here's what i did:

(The shorter one is the correct lenght 130mm)
Did the following:
- Gave it 5v, just a few quick shocks.
They both measure 0.56 ohms so the solenoids sre most likely good.
- i tried rotating the shaft with an allen key (30 degrees and back) and the one with the longer shaft was almost stuck. It did unstuck. The normal one roatated without hesitation
- i pressed it with a jack against a wall, and shaft pressed nice. So it is NOT stuck, but its still longer and harder to press.

I will do some more research, but i think im going to install them, and see how they will react under the car's weight
Again, these struts are new... what could have happened to them...