Question about shocks...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 209
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From: New Haven MO, '96 LT-4
Question about shocks...
I searched and searched and did the advanced search and I couldn't find my answer.
What color are the F45 equipped shocks on a '96?
The reason I ask is that my shocks are black and I saw another car with the F45 option and it had yellow shocks...so I don't know.
Thanks,
Alex
What color are the F45 equipped shocks on a '96?
The reason I ask is that my shocks are black and I saw another car with the F45 option and it had yellow shocks...so I don't know.
Thanks,
Alex
Last edited by alexweav79; Feb 12, 2008 at 04:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 209
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From: New Haven MO, '96 LT-4
Thanks, I realize that Delco are black, and Bilstein are Yellow.
So then are F45 shocks black? Or did someone put Delco shocks on instead of putting the right ones on there?
I'm just afraid someone didn't want to spend the money to do it right so they just through the wrong shocks on.
Any help greatly appreciated,
Alex
So then are F45 shocks black? Or did someone put Delco shocks on instead of putting the right ones on there?
I'm just afraid someone didn't want to spend the money to do it right so they just through the wrong shocks on.
Any help greatly appreciated,
Alex
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: NEWPORT NEWS VA
JUST AS YOU SUSPECT either A someone painted them black ??
B they got cheap and bought $140
shocks instead of bilsteins which of course you know are YELLOW
F45 shocks are yellow just like FX3 shocks are...sorry
B they got cheap and bought $140
shocks instead of bilsteins which of course you know are YELLOW
F45 shocks are yellow just like FX3 shocks are...sorry
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 209
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From: New Haven MO, '96 LT-4
Thank you Cuisinartvette, but I am going to buy the real shocks IF it turns out they aren't real,
Thank you as well catlettlt1, Just as I thought, looks like I have some research to do...
One other quick question then, if he had the wrong shocks in, wouldn't the Service Ride Control light come on in the DIC? But then again, I guess he could disable something...
Thank you as well catlettlt1, Just as I thought, looks like I have some research to do...
One other quick question then, if he had the wrong shocks in, wouldn't the Service Ride Control light come on in the DIC? But then again, I guess he could disable something...
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 296
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From: NYC....In the Place to be!
I'm with you on this one....i have F45 and they are black. from what I know they are original and do operate normally.
with 47,xxx mile on her I am looking to replace them direct replacements. I did find these http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...1&dept_id=1792 from Bilstein but the are FX3....not sure if they are applicable to F45. I don't know the difference between the two.
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Scottsdale AZ
All C4s did not come with Bilseins. They were only available in 84 if you ordered FG3. In fact they were not available at all for the first few months of production. Z51s came equiped with F51 shocks which were black delcos unless you specified FG3s. In 85 and 86 both Z51 options and FG3 came with Bilsteins, although Z51 and FG3s were valved differently. The standard 85/86 "soft ride" suspensions came with black Delcos, I know the FX3 the earlier version of F45 came with Bilsteins not sure about F45, but I am looking into it. Eric
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 202
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From: Scottsdale AZ
FX3 and F45 were very different animals. Would not be suprised if they used totaly differnet shocks. FX3 changed damper rates accross the board while F45 changed each shock individually on the fly. Then by 2003 F55 Came along and theat was far more advanced then F45. Eric
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 209
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From: New Haven MO, '96 LT-4
I'm with you on this one....i have F45 and they are black. from what I know they are original and do operate normally.
with 47,xxx mile on her I am looking to replace them direct replacements. I did find these http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...1&dept_id=1792 from Bilstein but the are FX3....not sure if they are applicable to F45. I don't know the difference between the two.
Thanks ewjxn, very useful information, can kind of get confusing...
Anyone else with any kind of information please chime in...
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 215
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From: NEWPORT NEWS VA
your ride control module is behind the drivers seat alond with the abs unit see if its plugged in ,and do your shocks still have the actuators on them if not they have been swapped somehing has to be on them for them to change damping right?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 260
Likes: 15
96 cars with F45 suspension had specific Delco shocks that are painted black. they are totally a different design from earlier cars with Bilstein FX3. they are quite hard to find new and you cannot interchange with FX3. you can replace them with factory non adjustable Bilsteins however your ride control light will come on because you have no connector to plug into on the shocks. I also have a 96 F45 car and have owned FX3 cars as well. hope this helps. Rick
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 209
Likes: 4
From: New Haven MO, '96 LT-4
96 cars with F45 suspension had specific Delco shocks that are painted black. they are totally a different design from earlier cars with Bilstein FX3. they are quite hard to find new and you cannot interchange with FX3. you can replace them with factory non adjustable Bilsteins however your ride control light will come on because you have no connector to plug into on the shocks. I also have a 96 F45 car and have owned FX3 cars as well. hope this helps. Rick
So, I'm assuming everything is fine and going to forget about it and just drive it!
Thanks everyone that chimed in...
Alex
