Grandpabill10

Have had two prior 96 LT4 convertibles; one was a Collector Edition. Both had the Ride Control Option (Tour-Sport-Performance). The shocks were the Bilstein yellow shocks. Just purchased another 96 Collector Edition convert (an automatic) with Ride Control and the shocks are black. The car only has 16,000 miles on it and the shocks look original. They do have the electronic connection for Ride Control attached to them. Anyone know why these shocks are a different color? Not satisfied with the ride and am wondering if they need replaced in order to get a more comfortable ride.
Thanks

1984Z51auto

Pics of the current set-up?

rocco16

Pull the connector off the shock and make sure the shocks themselves actually have plug-ins for the connector. I know of no Bilstein that is black. Sounds like someone may have sold the original electronic Bilsteins and replaced them with something else.
This is probably a dumb question, but since you didn't say....have you checked the shocks for identification? It may be stamped in the shock body and hard to see on a black shock.......

Silver96ce

They're black because they are not FX3 but the F45 system. In 1996, Corvette had a one year system using Delphi sourced parts. So the black shocks are correct as they are not Bilsteins.

Here's a link to a shock for sale on Ebay as an example -
http://www.ebay.com/itm/C4-Corvette-...-/271540978184

Are you sure you had an FX3 system on your prior cars and not Bilstein shocks without ride control? To my knowledge FX3 ended in 1995 and F45 was a one year system on '96s.

c4cruiser

All of the Bilstein FX3 Selective Ride Control shocks were yellow. The only black shocks that I know of that came on a C4 were the base suspension shocks and those were AC Delco.

Does the car have the RPO F45 Selective Real Time Dampening System? This is an upgraded shock system from the earlier FX3 Selective Ride Control system. But both systems have the rotary selector ****. The FX3 shocks were yellow and made by Bilstein. The F45 shocks may be a different color simply because it's a new system.

1996 coupes could also be ordered with the Z51 suspension. The shocks that came with Z51 were a HD Bilstein unit that was specifically valved to work with the stiffer Z51 springs and larger sway bars.

If the Service Parts Identification sticker (also called the PRO sticker) is on the car, check to see if F45 or Z51 is listed.

Grandpabill10

Thanks for the good response. I cannot find the Service Parts Identification sticker you mentioned. Can you tell me where it is located. This car has spent most of its' life in someones garage so I think all of the original stickers must be on it. By the way, I am
trying to get to the source of what I am sure is just to much shimmy in the front end. I know the C4's do not have the most comfortable ride, but I have had 2 other 96's and I do not remember this much shimmy when going over bumps or on minor road rash. The tires are new Continental Extremes and all balance out perfectly, however, one is a little
wobbly and they are going to replace it. Since you have a C4, can you give me some idea of your experience with what I call shimmy? I feel it in the steering wheel so I am convinced it is in the front end somewhere. Again, the car only has 16,000 miles on it.
Thanks,
grandpabill

PLRX

The F45 does not have the top actuators. The F45 has a connector on the side, and those shocks have been discontinued for a long time.

The FX3, and F45 are two total different systems.

Marlon

...what was the moral of the story on this...does Bilstein rebuild F45 or not...? I found a 41K mile 96LT4 with F45 4 miles from my house for 13K. Do I buy or not...

ChumpVette

Bikstein did not make the F45 shocks. Delphi made them.
F45 shocks are not serviceable.
If your F45 shocks are bad, you throw them in the garbage and replace them with standard shocks.