Bilstein rear dampers - fooled?

Hi folks, I hope all is well and everyone is able to enjoy the sunshine!

So I contacted Bilstein online asking if they sold their B6 Escort rear dampers in Australia and who would sell them. They kindly had one of their dealers contact me - whom in turn were great to deal with.

I let the gent know that I had a standard 2 door mk1 escort etc, and the deal was sealed. They arrived the next day and I went to install them. I then noticed the packing note specified they were a pair of VW Beetle HD rear dampers with the part number B46-0032. I jumped online and checked the part number across a few UK Escort part suppliers and they all had B46-0773 listed as the Escort part.
I re-contacted the store I bought them from, and mentioned this asking if it was perhaps a packing error. He kindly took my details, said he would contact the supplier and get back to me, which he did soon after.
He mentioned that they were slightly better than the Escort damper and a more suitable valve setup for the escort. He then mentioned that the supplier advised that if the bolt didn't fit the inner diameters of the ferrules, to simply drill them out to fit.

So today, I went outside to fit them with this advise. I removed the old Munros and went to install the Bilsteins. But before doing anything I took measurements.
Here's what I found:
There is a length difference between the two units of 1.5".
The upper ferrule is slightly undersized, there would be enough meat for me to drill this out a tad.
The lower ferrule inner diameter (where it mounts to the leaf spring bracket) is significantly undersized, drilling this out would result in the complete removal of the ferrule and perhaps even part of the rubber bushing.

So...my question is, has anyone else had this issue? Because to me, alarm bells ring with warranties and perhaps a reflection on the retail mentality of Sell Whats Available Today. Due to my working experience in mining/manufacturing and now rolling stock....when Germans build something to a spec - be it Liebherr, Kuka or Siemens...it fits as its been engineered to, and you'd never ghetto modify it.



Cheers!

I honestly am not sure if the Munroes are the original unit used. About all I know is that they look as old as the car.
The difference of 1 1/2 inches in eye to eye length is when the dampers are extended.

Both the upper and lower ferrules on the Bilstein have an inner diameter of 12mm.

The upper mounting bolt is 1/2 inch (which if I drilled the Bilstein ferrule would be fine as the difference is minor), but the lower mounting bolt is significantly larger, and though it is a little beaten up looks to be 5/8 inch (nearly 16mm) which as may have mentioned would mean that if I drilled it out, would mean me removing the ferrule completely and some meat off the rubber bushing.

Thoughts?

Hey Blue74,

Will check, and let you know within the hour.

You're right, perhaps its a case of overstock of VW dampers/lack of stock of Esky dampers at the importer (Sydney Shock Absorbers). The dealer I spoke to who organized the transaction, was genuinely helpful (as he owns/rallies a Mk2 himself). I'll give him a holler.

Best to promptly return the shocks and explain you have no engineering capabilities, and that should you modify the shocks yourself it WILL VOID WARRANTY and any success of future claim for product failure, and/or vehicle safety related claim against you.
 
Firmly, but politely, ask for them to carry out the modifications promptly and at their own expense.
 
You have approached and paid for shocks to suit an Escort. You have not asked and paid for something that creates headaches and uncertainty.
 
All of these suspension places have the routine ability, either in-house, or by an engineering company they know, to carry out modifications and alterations for special orders.
 
If they even blink an eye immediately ask for a full refund and go elsewhere.