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We all know that you can't just put a pair of regular Gabrielle or Monroe shocks in the rear of a composite spring car otherwise the rear will oscillate over bumps. Now if the composite spring requires additional dampening to combat the oscillations, wouldn't it be safe to say the issue is with the composite spring? After all no steel leaf spring car has this problem.The optional FE7 82's cars got the steel spring while the standard suspension cars got the composite spring. Was the composite spring used just to save weight?
Now I'm thinking. My car has 480 rate front/340 rear composite spring with the B6 Bilstein's. Maybe I should go ahead and install a 340'ish rate steel spring?
No. The spring rates do not directly compare between steel and fiberglass. Just how it is.
No, I'm not talking about the in/lbs compression rating of a spring. Some types of springs just resist the "bounciness" than more then others regardless of the spring rating. The steel leaf spring with it multiple leaves has added friction. Also torsion bar type springs also resist this "bounciness" also. Mopar drag racing guys use 6 cylinder torsion bars in their big block cars and drain the oil from the shocks. And when those cars come down they don't bounce. Go figure?
So I did ask Bilstein and this is the reply I got back.
Thanks for reaching out to Bilstein.
The B6 Performance (part #24184649) is designed for standard suspension applications and provides improved handling and stability over stock dampers while maintaining ride comfort. The B8 Performance Plus (part #24184571), on the other hand, is specifically designed for vehicles with lowered suspension setups. Its damping characteristics are tuned to accommodate reduced ride height, so it responds differently than the B6 in terms of control and ride feel.
In essence, the B6 is for standard ride height, while the B8 is intended for lowered vehicles and is not meant for use on standard suspension.
JT, I'm a mechanic with 50 years experience.
I understand that your asking the company and getting, well, basically a stupid answer.
Me, I'm used to it. The person answering your question is some young person hired because they have the ability to answer a phone.
They read the sales brochure and just pass it on.
You are not getting an answer from a member of the engineering staff.
JT, I'm a mechanic with 50 years experience.
I understand that your asking the company and getting, well, basically a stupid answer.
Me, I'm used to it. The person answering your question is some young person hired because they have the ability to answer a phone.
They read the sales brochure and just pass it on.
You are not getting an answer from a member of the engineering staff.
That's kinda what I figured as well, but I thought I'd pass on what they said.
i found the b6 to be shorter than the replacement ac delco (which sucked) and when rear suspended , is the stop for droop where the ac delco would allow more travel.
I'll say this just to muddy the waters.
I run factory gymkhana springs up front with one coil removed. I also have taken a LOT of weight out of the front end. I run a VB&P rear composite spring. 330Lb.
I've had my car since Christ was a Corporal.
I have tryed a few different shock set-ups.
I run B6 Bilstien's in the front. I've tried a few different ones in the rear. Even tryed cheap AC Delco shocks at one point.
(they were truly disappointing).
I personally can testify that on these less than wonderful roads over here. I was bouncing and bottoming out and hitting my pipes hard on the ground with B6's in the rear. Even worse with cheaper shocks.
The B8's tame my composite spring extremely well. Ride and handling is excellent.
So, for me, it's Bilstien B6 up front with factory aluminium wheels 255/60-15's tires.
B8's in the rear and YES THERE IS A DIFFERENCE. Also factory slotted aluminium wheels with 255/60-15's
For those running more modern wheels, I haven't a clue.
For my all factory 1980 L82 what would be your guess to run in Bilstien? It has AC Delco shocks now, probably been on there for years. Ride is ok but a little soft. It has 255 BFG's on stock aluminum wheels
For my all factory 1980 L82 what would be your guess to run in Bilstien? It has AC Delco shocks now, probably been on there for years. Ride is ok but a little soft. It has 255 BFG's on stock aluminum wheels
I'm not the world's foremost authority on 80 up rear suspension. I know that some of the 80 -82 cars have a steel multi leaf rear spring. And then I would run the B6's in the rear.
And I know some of them run a composite spring in the rear. And I know I don't know which ones or how stiff or soft that spring is. Sorry.
