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Old 05-21-2013, 08:26 AM
Nevadan Nevadan is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Reno, Nevada
Vehicle: 740/745 D24T will be mine again soon
Posts: 253
Default Strut interchangeability

Just this month I took a pair of front struts off a 1991 745 (Wagon/5 door) and put them on my 1985 745. They were different but they did fit. The differences I noticed were: the newer struts with the axle and hub were set up for ABS brakes and the axle nut was much larger (It's likely a different bearing per this "brickboard" link:
http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-90...PartHubRebuild). Despite these differences the old brake rotor still fit perfectly. I just left the hole for the ABS sensor empty. The brake caliper attached to the spindle even though the 1991 brakes only had one piston whereas my 1985 has two pistons.

I've driven the car over 1,000 miles since the swap and all seems just fine.

I got both complete struts with spindle and hub for under $100 at my local Pick-n-Pull. I've saved the originals for a rebuild and will put in new struts, dust boots and bump stops once it's necessary.
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J.D. in Reno
1958 Mercedes 180D (rebuilding now)
1985 VW Jetta 1.6TD
1985 Volvo 745 Wagon 2.4TD (sold but still maintain it)
1987 VW Quantum Syncro 2.2 (converting to 2.0TD)
1996 TDI Passat
1997 Chevy 3/4 ton 6.5TD
2006 V10 TDI Touareg
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