Help with stuck Tein SS perch

[Skippy]

I wasn't expecting that you would interpret it that way, just wanted to make sure I didn't come off sounding rude.  Unfortunately as for a tape recommendation the only idea I can come up with at the moment is green or teal colored duct tape.  You can fix mostly anything with duct tape and it should hold up well.  I would prepare the struts in the following fashion: Apply a light coat of anti-seize lube to the threads and rub it into the threads to coat all thread surfaces.  Gently wipe away the excess and clean your hands.  Apply the duct tape starting at the bottom of the locking rings (wrapping a few turns at first to get a good top seal) and then wrap your way down to the strut body.  Finish by wrapping several turns at the bottom to create a good seal.  Overlap onto strut body slightly to ensure the protective tape layer does not slip or sag.

Using teal or green duct tape will minimize the visual impact of the protective tape.

[Mike]

Great suggestion Skip, do you think that the water proof thread tape that plumbers use would work for this I believe that it's teflon tape actually.

[Skippy]

Well that's teflon tape and it's more to create a seal than protect against the elements.  Teflon tape is extremely fragile and it would be a mess to take off.  I would suggest something a bit sturdier and manly...like duct tape!

[CrackerTeg]

Let me throw in my .02 here. I work with electronic connectors for radios and RADARS and shit like that that is exposed to some of the harshest conditions you guys can imagine on a daily basis. What I would recommend to fully weatherproof your threads without leaving a sticky residue behind is vulcanizing tape (its that stretchy rubberized shit). Wrap your shock body the same way Skip described with this tape, making sure to overlap at least half of the prior wrap. If you want to throw that teal colored duct tape over it to minimize the visual impact, go ahead. If you try the vulcanizing tape under the duct tape, I guarantee your threads will remain protected, and not have any of the sticky residue of tape.

[striktlyaccord]

Yeh Z brings up a good point... wouldn't duct tape leave a mess behind once it needs to be taken off?  But on another note, the green tape would be ideal if you own TEIN coilovers like me because the tape would then color-match the shock body.

[CrackerTeg]

That's the great thing about vulcanizing tape. It has zero adhesive. The way it stays in place is by pulling it tight and it bonding to itself. You may not need the tape over it, but if you're worried about aesthetics, then use the green tape.

[timot_one]

If the vulcanizing tape is black, I'd just use that.  That would reduce the "visual impact" the most.  You really don't see much of the green on the shocks as it is.

[CrackerTeg]

Most times, vulcanizing tape is black. That's all we use here. But if anyone wants to be anal retentive about their Tein green shock bodies, I'm sure they wouldn't mind rewrapping green tape over the vulcanizing. Otherwise, the duct tape is not necessary.

[Skippy]

Yeah the vulcanizing tape is a GREAT idea and I'm all for it.  Scott showed me some of that stuff and it's WICKED because it sticks to itself when you pull it tight.

About the sticky mess, that's why I wanted to have the threads coated in anti-seize before the tape is applied.  The idea is that the tape does not stick to the threads, it only has a chance to stick to itself since there is anti-seize on the threads and tape doesn't stick to that stuff.  You would overlap onto the strut so that the "cast" you have put on the threads does not slide down, since it would want to because it's not actually sticking to the threads....it's only sticking to itself like a sleeve.

[thisaznboi88]

going to do this to my GC sleeves.

[striktlyaccord]

Well, the vulcanzing tape seems to be hard to find in stores, but I think Harbor Freight Tools carries something very similar, so I'm gonna try to pick some up there.  On another note, is there are difference at all between the usual grey duct tape and the blue or green versions that we've been discussing?  Or is it just a color difference?  I just ask because there was a ton of red and blue duct tape at Home Depot, but the blue kind was painters tape, and I figured that that wasn't what I needed.

[CrackerTeg]

You couldn't find the vulcanizing tape in the electrical department at Home Depot? And as far as the duct tape, its just a color difference.

[timot_one]

I think there is some confusion between duct tape and painters tape.  Dave, I think you're looking at blue painters tape, and not blue duct tape.  You should be able to tell the difference between the two.  They may not have blue duct tape at the place you're looking.

[striktlyaccord]

Well forget the duct tape.  I found a few brands of the self-adhering tape at Harbor Freight Tools, so I grabbed some today.  It's a kick ass store.

[striktlyaccord]

I applied the tape yesterday.  Let me tell you, it's a pita to do, especially because the anti-seize makes a damn mess.  We'll see how it holds up on the threads.