[Vwdiesel] New strut inserts

[Bryant Baecht]

Hi all,
     Tearing down the front struts on my '81 rabbit diesel.  Got the spring
off easy enough with the compressor, and had to fight like heck but managed
to get the nut  ( the big spot welded on head strut nut, holds the strut
insert in the strut bottom tower )  off that holds the strut insert in the
bottom of the strut tower.  Took out the insert and put another one in and
using the nut that comes with the strut insert, went to crank it down.  The
thing is the new strut is a bit thicker at the top and the nut doesn't fit
around the strut, it just matches up against the top of the strut, leaving
1/3 of the threads showing before it bottoms out.  The strut fits snugly in
the strut bottom column.  The strut insert box says it fits the model I
have, but the strut nut doesn't screw down flush in the bottom of the strut
tower, but it is definitely tight.  After realizing that the strut nut was
bottomed out, it took a lot of effort to free it up again and loosen it.
Anyone else seen this when they have changed out the strut insert?  Is this
possibly OK?  When I say 1/3 of the threads are showing, inch wise it's
between 1/8 and a 1/4 of an inch that it sticks up higher now, but there are
1/2 to 2/3 of the threads in the strut tower.

    Just looks weird compared with the way the old strut looked but thought
I'd bounce it off the group and see what people thought.  Thanks,

Bryant