Installed my Bilsteins this weekend
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 584
Likes: 0
From: Okemos MI
Installed my Bilsteins this weekend
I installed my Bilsteins this weekend. WOW!!!
I could not believe how they transformed this vette.
I had rebuilt every area of the suspension and the shocks I had used were ok but do not compare to these Bilisteins. night and day...
I took it out on my favorite tight and twisty s and whooo baby I could not stop smiling, and the ride quality I had never felt in any C3 before.
I was always skeptical about why good shocks cost so much, but not anymore... I wished I had done this a long time ago.
I have read many posts about Bilsteins and the only negatives where cost and by guys that don't have bilsteins... in this case you get what you pay for.
__________________
I could not believe how they transformed this vette.
I had rebuilt every area of the suspension and the shocks I had used were ok but do not compare to these Bilisteins. night and day...
I took it out on my favorite tight and twisty s and whooo baby I could not stop smiling, and the ride quality I had never felt in any C3 before.
I was always skeptical about why good shocks cost so much, but not anymore... I wished I had done this a long time ago.
I have read many posts about Bilsteins and the only negatives where cost and by guys that don't have bilsteins... in this case you get what you pay for.
__________________
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Though I've moved on the Koni DA's, it wasn't because I was ever dissatisfied with either of the different levels of Bilsteins I've had. Highly suggest them (for touring or slalom) for any C3 owner who just wants to bolt on an easy and noticeable improvement. Worth every penny!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 393
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, TX
Ive got Bilstein HD's all around and love them, the shocks before were shot so anything wouldve been an improvement but Id used the Bilsteins in the past with great success and highly recommend them. Glad to hear you like yours.
-alex
-alex
Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 545
Likes: 2
From: Peoplez Republik (communist portland) Orygun
Yep. After I changed from the ac delco OEM shocks to the Bilstein Sport shocks I too couldn't believe the difference. It was by far, the best $250 spent on my C3 to date. Hands down. I am continually surprised that more folks here don't make this the first upgrade to their vettes. The difference has been night & day.
I enjoy driving the car so much more.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 337
Likes: 10
Well....you convinced me, guess I will order up a set in the morning. I have good quality gas shocks on now....but I noticed they don't seem to have much down stroke control. When the front wheels (seem to only notice on front) drops into a small depression, or comes off a concrete curb lip at idle speed, you can feel the wheel drop. My front bushing are OK and not the cause, to the best of my knowledge.
Will the bilstiens stop this??
Will the bilstiens stop this??
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Virginia
I installed my Bilsteins this weekend. WOW!!!
I could not believe how they transformed this vette.
I had rebuilt every area of the suspension and the shocks I had used were ok but do not compare to these Bilisteins. night and day...
I took it out on my favorite tight and twisty s and whooo baby I could not stop smiling, and the ride quality I had never felt in any C3 before.
I was always skeptical about why good shocks cost so much, but not anymore... I wished I had done this a long time ago.
I have read many posts about Bilsteins and the only negatives where cost and by guys that don't have bilsteins... in this case you get what you pay for.
__________________
I could not believe how they transformed this vette.
I had rebuilt every area of the suspension and the shocks I had used were ok but do not compare to these Bilisteins. night and day...
I took it out on my favorite tight and twisty s and whooo baby I could not stop smiling, and the ride quality I had never felt in any C3 before.
I was always skeptical about why good shocks cost so much, but not anymore... I wished I had done this a long time ago.
I have read many posts about Bilsteins and the only negatives where cost and by guys that don't have bilsteins... in this case you get what you pay for.
__________________
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,502
Likes: 1,510
From: Little Rock AR
I was also AMAZED. 
I was hard for me to believe that the shocks would make that much of a difference but they do.
They make the car feel more "expensive".
Hard to describe but obvious once you drive on them.
-Mark.
I was hard for me to believe that the shocks would make that much of a difference but they do.They make the car feel more "expensive".
Hard to describe but obvious once you drive on them. -Mark.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
I switched from KYBs to Bilstein Sports and was amazed also. I converted my suspension to the front monospring and also had the rear fiberglass spring from a previous upgrade. I was considering the wisdom of this while I had the KYBs because I had a significant amount of bobbing in the rear and the front wouldn't hold on anything but smooth surfaces. The Bilsteins cured all that and gave me a better ride to boot. I wish I had gone with them from the beginning.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 584
Likes: 0
From: Okemos MI
VBP Super front end rebuild kit and pieced together the
VBP Advanced street / autocross system
I used 1 inch racing adjustable rear camber strut rods with spherical rod ends and Poly trailing arm bushings.
I run 17 x 8 C5 Y2K Corvette wheels with VPB Corvette wheel adapters and Falker 245/45ZR17 front and 255/45ZR17 rear rubber
I replaced the steering gear and had a good four wheel alignment.
After all that this package did not come together until I installed the Bilsteins.
A comment was made that it "makes the car feel more expensive" that sounds strange but it is so true.
The vette is actually comfortable to drive and handles great!
I wish I had done put on Bilsteins much sooner
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
I think you guys have a good imagination.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 584
Likes: 0
From: Okemos MI
"A new digressive valved shock which is self adjusting to road conditions"
In other words it’s MAGIC!
All I know is you really can feel it.
The car is not jumping all over the road every time you hit some rough road (in Michigan that’s just about all roads) so the car control and handling is better and with this type valve on the good roads it just feels like a smother ride, soaks up the bumps.
Best of both worlds (magic) that’s what makes them worth the money.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Arlington Virginia
I started to make a long list but it would be easier just to say I started with the:
VBP Super front end rebuild kit and pieced together the
VBP Advanced street / autocross system
I used 1 inch racing adjustable rear camber strut rods with spherical rod ends and Poly trailing arm bushings.
I run 17 x 8 C5 Y2K Corvette wheels with VPB Corvette wheel adapters and Falker 245/45ZR17 front and 255/45ZR17 rear rubber
I replaced the steering gear and had a good four wheel alignment.
After all that this package did not come together until I installed the Bilsteins.
A comment was made that it "makes the car feel more expensive" that sounds strange but it is so true.
The vette is actually comfortable to drive and handles great!
I wish I had done put on Bilsteins much sooner
VBP Super front end rebuild kit and pieced together the
VBP Advanced street / autocross system
I used 1 inch racing adjustable rear camber strut rods with spherical rod ends and Poly trailing arm bushings.
I run 17 x 8 C5 Y2K Corvette wheels with VPB Corvette wheel adapters and Falker 245/45ZR17 front and 255/45ZR17 rear rubber
I replaced the steering gear and had a good four wheel alignment.
After all that this package did not come together until I installed the Bilsteins.
A comment was made that it "makes the car feel more expensive" that sounds strange but it is so true.
The vette is actually comfortable to drive and handles great!
I wish I had done put on Bilsteins much sooner
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
