Shock Differences
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,332
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From: Vermilion OH
Shock Differences
I was given a super nice set of Bilstein shocks from a 93 Convertible with extremely low miles. These things look and feel brand new. I was hoping to be able to use them on my 86 but when I checked the part numbers between the years, they were different. Are the mounting holes a different diameter between the years or is it just valving? I would love to use the set of four shocks if possible.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,090
Likes: 1,972
From: St. Charles MO
84-87 C4s have some differences in their suspension geometry compared to the later C4s. The front springs and shock mounting locations are different, so I'm sure the fronts won't work on your car. I'm not completely sure about the rear shocks - theya re a different part # for your year, but I don't know how they are physically different. Hopefully someone else can chime in on that. However, the short answer is that the 93 shocks are not going to work on your 86.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,090
Likes: 1,972
From: St. Charles MO
That would be a difference in valving (damping rates), not a difference in physical fitment. The Z51 cars would have had stiffer damping rates to match their stiffer springs and swaybars. But the shocks would physically interchange between an 84-87 Z51 C4 and a non-Z51 C4 from the same years.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,090
Likes: 1,972
From: St. Charles MO
This just in: after looking up the rear Bilstein shock for an 86 and 93 C4, it turns out the early C4 uses a shock with an upper eye mount (12.1mm hole), whereas the later C4 has a stem mount. So no, the rears aren't going to interchange between the two either.
