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Bilstein Shock Absorbers

Started by antelopeslr5000 , Mar 22 2009 08:09 PM

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47 replies to this topic

#26 antelopeslr5000

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Posted 23 March 2009 - 09:07 PM

Split the top and bottom arm away from the stud axle..remove it....put the shock inside the spring...fit that as a unit...jiggle the bottom around to slip the tongues through the bottom hole...top pin in shock through the top arm hole...refit the stub....jack it up to get the nuts on it top and bottom of the stub....
Easy...well..sort of...
R

Hey Rory,

UC lower control arms are slightly more relieved where the shock goes through to help insert/remove the shock absorber. Do you know if the opening is big enough to feed the shock through or are the shocks just way too big regardless of what lower control arm is used? I'm not sure whether you're running LH/LX or UC lower control arms.

How was my price's

Daryl,

Price isn't too bad. I was quoted $800 for a complete set (front and rear) of Bilstein shocks from a seller on eBay but that was about a year ago. How confident are you that the rear shock is the correct one for a LX Torana? I've asked a few people and they are all under the belief that there isn't anything suitable for the rear end.

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#27 _memorylane-spare-parts_

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Posted 23 March 2009 - 09:25 PM

Hey Rory,

UC lower control arms are slightly more relieved where the shock goes through to help insert/remove the shock absorber. Do you know if the opening is big enough to feed the shock through or are the shocks just way too big regardless of what lower control arm is used? I'm not sure whether you're running LH/LX or UC lower control arms.

Daryl,

Price isn't too bad. I was quoted $800 for a complete set (front and rear) of Bilstein shocks from a seller on eBay but that was about a year ago. How confident are you that the rear shock is the correct one for a LX Torana? I've asked a few people and they are all under the belief that there isn't anything suitable for the rear end.

In the catalogue there is no listing but when i go to my other catalogue's there is list of 8 other car the take the same skock and when i gave the wholesale the part number it x/over to a torana. The price is with frieght. USA dollar is bad sorry

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#28 _memorylane-spare-parts_

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Posted 23 March 2009 - 09:27 PM

In the catalogue there is no listing but when i go to my other catalogue's there is list of 8 other car the take the same skock and when i gave the wholesale the part number it x/over to a torana. The price is with frieght. USA dollar is bad sorry

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#29 _rorym_

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Posted 23 March 2009 - 09:57 PM

UC Lowers on that car....they still dont fit...and I didnt want to grind them.
R

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#30 _memorylane-spare-parts_

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Posted 23 March 2009 - 10:04 PM

UC Lowers on that car....they still dont fit...and I didnt want to grind them.
R

What about bolting them on top is that still the same

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#31 _ass308_

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Posted 24 March 2009 - 06:40 AM

the price isnt to bad memory lane spares.
the price i got includes enlarging the holes,and resetting the drop on the rear shocks.

rory,im takeing a spare lower arm in today,to have the hole enlarged.im going to see what one ends up like,and how good the job they do is.

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#32 A9X

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Posted 24 March 2009 - 11:34 AM

When we fitted the Bilsteins the first time, we didn't grind the lower out, we fitted the shockie top mount first, slipped the spring in and did the arm up that way.

After the issues we went through swapping springs a few times, we quickly got jack of that idea and ended up grinding them out. We actually 'bench tested' a spare arm, as we were worried about the amount of metal taken away from the captive nut area.

If you are really carefull and a good hand with the die grinder and file, it actually doesn't impact that much. Get sloppy, and you will do a nut. We looked at a number of different things as options but inthe end, it wasn't too bad a job.

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#33 _cruiza_

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Posted 24 March 2009 - 05:42 PM

I Had Konis all round on a street car and I thought they were fine, front set to firm setting and rears fairly soft, I had the good fortune to meet Harry Firth and ask him about setting up a A9X ie the best base line setup for street track day fun and he asked if I had 'Bilsteins' I said "no" he told me to get them then come talk to him lol waste of time otherwise.

He was refering to Bilsteins with remote mounted oil reservar, Front shocks on Torana are so small there is insuffient volume of oil gas in them.

Question do all bilsteins come with remote oil reservars, are the one being quoted for here like that, are you talking street or performance / race bilsteins
thanks
curious

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#34 _memorylane-spare-parts_

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Posted 24 March 2009 - 10:20 PM

I Had Konis all round on a street car and I thought they were fine, front set to firm setting and rears fairly soft, I had the good fortune to meet Harry Firth and ask him about setting up a A9X ie the best base line setup for street track day fun and he asked if I had 'Bilsteins' I said "no" he told me to get them then come talk to him lol waste of time otherwise.

He was refering to Bilsteins with remote mounted oil reservar, Front shocks on Torana are so small there is insuffient volume of oil gas in them.

Question do all bilsteins come with remote oil reservars, are the one being quoted for here like that, are you talking street or performance / race bilsteins
thanks
curious

Hi i was talking about street performance i can fined out about remote oil if you want.

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#35 _rorym_

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Posted 24 March 2009 - 10:44 PM

When we fitted the Bilsteins the first time, we didn't grind the lower out, we fitted the shockie top mount first, slipped the spring in and did the arm up that way.

Thats it...If you get the RIGHT springs the first time..(not like some people) ...you only do it once and you are away.

cruizin...Doubt Harry was talking remote reservoir ones....they didnt make them until 10 years after the A9X and L34 were gone. All the ones I saw were std fitment type in those days, 50mm body compared to 36mm Koni ones.they were the biggest thing around in 1976/9..
R

Edited by rorym, 24 March 2009 - 10:46 PM.

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#36 _Ray's LX Hatch_

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Posted 25 March 2009 - 01:26 PM

Using big bore Bilsteins from a low ride Chev truck, (they were new for $80.00 on eBay and I was going to reset them anyway), I carefully relieved my UC lowers arms with a die grinder.
Yes you could get carried away and stuff the lower arms.
Not sure if RTA would be impressed either.

From what I hear:
If it�s for the track, use Bilsteins. Greater oil volume with the ability to cope with more heat.
If for the street, Konis are more than good enough. Konis are adjustable too.

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#37 _darkone040_

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Posted 27 March 2009 - 07:01 AM

i recently bought bilsteins front and rear..
part numbers are:
B46-0289 for the front 170 each
B46-0154 for the rear 200 each

they are supposed to be "standard" height for a 6cyl LX..

ive got standard height king springs to match..

ive got the back ones in so far and the rear end is up pretty high..

a question, what determines the ride height of a car.. is it the spring or the shock?

as in if i keep my shocks (they were more exp than the springs) and get shorter (lower) springs would that bring the arse end of my car down.. and if that would work how much lower could i go before needing a lower shock.. or would i have to get lower shocks and springs for it to work..

cheers..

Edited by darkone040, 27 March 2009 - 07:01 AM.

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#38 ls2lxhatch

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Posted 27 March 2009 - 11:33 AM

Shocks only affect the maximum and minimum suspension travel, the ride height is determined by the spring.

The rear springs are held captive (under load) by the shock when the suspension is at maximum travel (diff hanging down, wheels off the ground). If your rear springs are loose in this position then you need a shock with a shorter travel.

With the rear springs removed and the shocks fitted you should be able to jack the diff to the bump stops and still have travel left in the shock. If there is no travel left in the shock when the diff is on the bump stops then you need a shorter shock or bigger bump stops.

Edited by ls2lxhatch, 27 March 2009 - 11:36 AM.

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#39 _ass308_

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Posted 27 March 2009 - 05:54 PM

i got my springs,shocks,and lower controll arms back 2day.

someone said back in the thread,uc lower controll arm holes are bigger.i can confirm this is the case.all though the bilsteins still wont fit in.but its close,real close when compared to lx

i paid $1101 for 4 bilstein shocks,the rear shocks to have the drop set and i had 4 lower controll arms,modified for the bilstein shocks(2 lx,2 uc)

Posted Image

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#40 _cruiza_

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Posted 29 March 2009 - 10:16 AM

Thats it...If you get the RIGHT springs the first time..(not like some people) ...you only do it once and you are away.

cruizin...Doubt Harry was talking remote reservoir ones....they didnt make them until 10 years after the A9X and L34 were gone. All the ones I saw were std fitment type in those days, 50mm body compared to 36mm Koni ones.they were the biggest thing around in 1976/9..
R

When Harry told use Bilstein's I asked is that because with the remote reservoir they handle the heat better? he said yes, but in hindsight you maybe right I have had a chance to have a nosy around a few group C toranas and do not recall any with remote resovoirs. then again he could be talking about what to use today rather then what he used back then.

Just to add to that I have heard that Chevron and Harry may be doing a video on building a hot A9X race car

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#41 _clarkyslx_

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Posted 10 August 2012 - 04:07 AM

i know this is an old thread but can anyone provide the koni front and rear adjustadle shock part numbers? Its for a street LX so i think the bilsteins will be abit much.
Cheers.
M

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#42 _Spark Eater_

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Posted 21 August 2012 - 12:55 AM

So if you only need to change shocks/springs once (or twice) with the a9x front setup, you buy the right springs (and shocks) first time, and you don't mind doing this the long and difficult way...
you shouldn't have to worry about the hole in the lower control arms at all??

does anyone have the part numbers for the bilstein shocks when using Standard Height (Firm) a9x King springs?

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#43 its Paul

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Posted 21 August 2012 - 12:33 PM

You HAVE to clearance the lower controll arm for Bilstein's, not a big deal, just use a die grinder, easy.

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#44 _Spark Eater_

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Posted 21 August 2012 - 01:17 PM

ok awesome.
but I still need the actual bilsteins before anything can be altered on the lower control arms, I'm looking for part numbers for the right type for an lh/lx sedan so I can order them and do that, and I can't find this using the forum search.

does anyone have the part numbers for the bilstein shocks?
I'm using standard height firm a9x springs

(the a9x front setup with harrop arms, HZ stubs/calipers, RDA rotors UC UCA's etc etc)

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#45 A9X

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Posted 21 August 2012 - 02:17 PM

i recently bought bilsteins front and rear..
part numbers are:
B46-0289 for the front 170 each
B46-0154 for the rear 200 each

Part numbers are around here ED, this one above is a starter

Are you talking with Quantum suspensions ?

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#46 _LS1 Hatch_

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Posted 21 August 2012 - 02:38 PM

With those above part numbers..the rears are half that price over here.. I paid $92.29 each actually. I used a different front part number though , and were $89 each. (and they fit through my lower control arms with no grinding)

I ordered them through shockwarehouse.com

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#47 76lxhatch

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Posted 21 August 2012 - 03:04 PM

You HAVE to clearance the lower controll arm for Bilstein's, not a big deal, just use a die grinder, easy.

Why? I didn't, just makes it a bit of a mission getting them in and out. If I made the hole big enough to pass the shock body through there would be nothing left to bolt it to

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#48 Peter UC

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Posted 20 February 2014 - 09:24 PM

Bit of a thread mine, but looking at front shocks now as my Koni reds are now stuffed, the rears are still OK. From what I can gather the old part number was B46-0289 and now the part number is 24-002899 and it actually suits a Volvo 144/164 according to Summit. Can anyone confirm that this is correct before I place the order?

Also has anyone got there is Bilsteins revalved to suit their spring rate and if so where, how much and would you recommend them.

Thanks