Bilstein B6 or B8?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 44
From: Pensacola Florida
Bilstein B6 or B8?
Ready to order new shocks for my 89 base coupe but can't decide on the B6s or B8s. Certainly don't do any racing but I do like curves and interstate ramps.
Suggestions? Opinions? And yes, I searched the forum but didn't find a comparison between the two.
Rick
Suggestions? Opinions? And yes, I searched the forum but didn't find a comparison between the two.
Rick
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 82
Likes: 10
From: St. Louis Missouri
The easy call is to get the shocks that are matched to your springs. If you have a base without thw z51 package, then get the B6s.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 44
From: Pensacola Florida
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
I have posted this on a couple of threads, but this is what I found when I called Bilstein and got some info from them about the C4 shocks. I was concerned about the damping rate differences and the lengths since I read that the Z51's are used on lowered cars.
I found some info on the Bilstein HD (non Z51) and SP (Z51) for comparison.
I searched for my '95 Corvette and found length and damping values by part number for these shocks.
**The only length difference between the HD or SP is the compressed length of the front shocks. The Z51 has more travel and can go slightly lower.
**The damping rates are quite different. The Z51 rates are about twice as firm in both jounce and rebound.
For me the choice is easy. I will go with the Z51 shocks on my '95. I liked them on my '94 and was investigating it to see the differences. I like a firmer ride.
HD (B6) Front (non Z51) 24-020534
Length Min/Max 10.18" / 13.56"
Damping Jounce/Rebound 106 Nm/ 76 Nm
SP (B8) Front (Z51) 24-184861
Length Min/Max 9.43" / 13.56"
Damping Jounce/Rebound 228 Nm/ 261 Nm
HD (B6) Rear (non Z51) 24-020541
Length Min/Max 9.61" / 14.69"
Damping Jounce/Rebound 134 Nm/ 114 Nm
SP (B8) Rear (Z51) 24-184878
Length Min/Max 9.61" / 14.69"
Damping Jounce/Rebound 222 Nm/ 222 Nm
I found some info on the Bilstein HD (non Z51) and SP (Z51) for comparison.
I searched for my '95 Corvette and found length and damping values by part number for these shocks.
**The only length difference between the HD or SP is the compressed length of the front shocks. The Z51 has more travel and can go slightly lower.
**The damping rates are quite different. The Z51 rates are about twice as firm in both jounce and rebound.
For me the choice is easy. I will go with the Z51 shocks on my '95. I liked them on my '94 and was investigating it to see the differences. I like a firmer ride.
HD (B6) Front (non Z51) 24-020534
Length Min/Max 10.18" / 13.56"
Damping Jounce/Rebound 106 Nm/ 76 Nm
SP (B8) Front (Z51) 24-184861
Length Min/Max 9.43" / 13.56"
Damping Jounce/Rebound 228 Nm/ 261 Nm
HD (B6) Rear (non Z51) 24-020541
Length Min/Max 9.61" / 14.69"
Damping Jounce/Rebound 134 Nm/ 114 Nm
SP (B8) Rear (Z51) 24-184878
Length Min/Max 9.61" / 14.69"
Damping Jounce/Rebound 222 Nm/ 222 Nm
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 44
From: Pensacola Florida
Thanks a million for the advice. I ordered a set of B6s yesterday to replace the leaking factory ones. How do the factory installed Bilsteins differ from the B6s, or do they?
Rick
Rick
