Last year I bought a FL estate, 2 shocks and a handbrake cable later it has a years MOT, 1 weeks holiday later it is a basket case due to massively overheating from an oil cooler leak (my recovery had a crap 25 mile limit so I drove it most of the way rather than pay 600 quid).

This week now the better weather is here I book the 3 days off and start stripping, most parts are 'just in case' spares but the Elite is getting soft at the front so i'm planning to reuse the 1 week old shocks. That was until the internal splines on the shaft sheered as I went to remove the top bolt.......

I'm just amazed that a part that has such huge torque applied to it can strip so easily, and yes I used the correct sized star bit and plus gassed it. I'm really thinking this car has some voodoo jinx on it and i'm tempted to just call the pikeys in to get rid.

I think I must be losing my mind, that and the pizza guy arrived as I was typing 

The missing part was of course referring to the Bilstein B4's that I fitted to the front end of the facelift. The main shaft on OEM shocks is topped with a hex bolt that you lock in place with a normal socket while undoing the main securing nut, the Bilsteins have a spline in the centre of the shaft that takes a star key.

On removing the B4's to swap to my other car the internal splines all sheered off under pressure while trying to loosen the main nut. I am seriously considering avoiding Bilstein for any future shock purchases.

Or try and get hold of an electric one. Either type should 'shock' the nut off if you'll excuse the pun..

Thought I was going mad so just went out and checked, the internals of the good shock are definitely some kind of star. Tried to take a pic but cant get the angle right to show it.

That's a good point actually, i'm sure I have the receipt somewhere, nothing ventured nothing lost.

No, sorry, your mig isn't jinxed. I know that because it's mine that is.......

Good Luck with the warrenty claim..