Jim, Can you provide me with a part number?

Sorry, the memory isn't what it used to be.

Correct PN is SK175-9 or SK175-9D

According to my book, that is the wheel fork and strut tube. The tube alone is not sold. SK175-9 is superceeded by SK175-9D. Retail is 801$. My serial is 172574XX The plane is a K

My options so far is to replace new for 801$, buy a salvage part quoted at 650$, or cylinder grind the old plating off, send it for chrome, and regrind and diamond lap it back to original diameter and surface finish. I own a machine shop, so the grinding is not a factor. If there was a repair shop who rebuilt these units, I would rather pay to have it done. The 800$ for a 50$ piece of chromed pipe is appaling to me.

I'm intruding here but, trying to find out if there is any trick to removing that lock ring on the lower end of the upper strut on a '59 172. The manual says to sue a small punch in th hole, which I can do but nothign "springs out" for me to get anythign on the lock ring. ??

Try a straight blade screwdriver and see if you can get the corner started, then the rest should follow.