I just recently picked this car up and am still in the process of figuring out everything. Anyway I was all set to go AutoX this weekend but just realized that the top bushing on the front shock it totally shot.



I have a polyurethane kit that I need to install but it does not come with that piece. Does anyone know if that piece is available for individual sale and if there is a place that could overnight it to me?

Also the car is supposed to have the FX3 suspension, I have the switch for it and the RPO code. But right now the car has some kinda Monroe shocks on the front and the Blisteins (sp?) on the back. I would like to restore the FX3 Suspension but I want to make sure that nothing was cut off. I keep reading about gear thing that does the actual ride adjusting, but where does that sit? Is it supposed to go on the shocks? Is it possible that someone just cut mine off? Any chance anyone has any pictures? If I can't fix the FX3 I guess I will just get adjustable shocks but I would rather have the factory FX3 working.

Forgive my ignorance and thanks.

 

On my 94 with FX-3 and Z-07 there is a cable going to the top of the shock itself. From what I've heard and read that cable conducts a signal from the speedometer that the shocks use to adjust the stiffness / rebound. On Tour and Sport at low speeds there isn't any difference between the two until you get up to around 30 miles an hour. On Perf it's stiff pretty much all the time. The gear you are reading about is actually inside the Bilstein shock. Since your shocks are Monroes whoever had it before you either didn't like the FX-3 or found out that they are very expensive to replace. Around $200.00 a corner. If the former owner happened to give you the originals you can send them to Bilstein and have them rebuilt. Plus you have to find that cable. Hope those weren't cut out. I've heard of a lot of people dismantling the FX-3 because they want to get VERY serious about auto-cross and the FX-3 adjustments aren't all that flexible for the serious racer like NCCC Group 3. Mind you, this is stuff I've read here and other places. I just bought mine a few weeks ago and I haven't started tearing it apart. Yet. I'm sure there is someone who can give more details.

 

Can you by any chance see where that cable that goes to the top of the shock is routed from? I can't find it anywhere. I don't see any open plugs or cut wires. Wierd.

Thanks

 

From your pictures you are missing the retainers and actuators that sit on the top of the shocks. I just replaced my shocks and found new ones for $172.00 each. If you do not have the actuators (small DC motors), that's another $195 each. The actuators for the front have a 3 to 4 inch pig tail that plugs into the wiring harness just behind the shock tower on the inside of the engine bay. If you don't see the plug in the harness you have extra work to do. The retainers are no longer available from GM, but the front bushings are available. The bushings for the rear are not availble from GM, but you can get poly bushings from Bilstein. The bilstein part numbers for the bushings are: Front- 98152GX, Rear- 98153GX. You just need one of each as they ship in pairs. The shocks are: Front BA5-7027, Rear BA5-7028.

I would check the rear shocks before I did anything. If you can't get to the wire harness connector you've got a very big challenge as the harness is inside the frame. The actuator sits on the top of the shock which is inside the frame. You must remove the shock to see it. Be careful when removing the two bolts that hold the top mounting plate to the frame. You don't want to break-off one of those bolts. It would be awkward to drill-out and tap in that location.

 

Good advice. You might have to use a coat hanger to get into the frame and fish the harness out. There is not a lot of slack in the rear.

As far as the rest of it, the previous owner was a twit. The shock retaining nut does not look to be even correct, nor does the washer.

For you to replace with correct FX3 gear, your best bet is to find somebody who is removing it and buy all the shocks and actuators from them, as you can not buy individual pieces. Shocks are 89-92 and 93-95, actuators are 89-95. Also check to see if you're ride control computer has been unplugged or completely removed. It's mounted behind the drivers seat with the ABS controller. Bilstein sells bushings for the FX3 shocks. Or just go the easiest route and buy bilstein sports and a eurethane bushing kit.

 

Thanks guys.

 

The FX3 system is a great system to have but if you don't have any of the FX3 shocks to install, it will be expensive to put the system back into working order. Individual shocks are around $200 each and actuators can run as high as $240 each. You might try searching around eBay or posting a WTB thread in the C4 Parts for Sale section.

Unfortunately, Bilstein does not sell the adjusting gear as a separate item. The gear is held to the top of the shcok rod by a small pin and is just pot metal. Bilstein will rebuild a shock and the price can run from $100 to $140 each depending on what needs to be done. They do supply new bushing as part of the rebuild.

Bilstein also provides custom valving for the FX3 shock and the "Morroca" valving is a great autocross/track valving. CF forum member hrocks worked with Bilstein to come up with this valving. In addition, Doug Rippie and Lingenfleter offer a replacement controller (located behind the driver's seat in same compartment where the ABS/ASR stuff is) that allows for using different removeable PROM's to further customize the switch settings.

You can call Bilstein at 1-800-537-1085 in Poway, CA and ask for Bill Hindorf or Jack French in the tech dept for more info on the FX3 shock.

Bilstein is providing a similar system for Ferrari and the actuators for that system are supposed to be the same ones used on Vettes. The actuators are really all the same except the only difference between the fronts and rears are the length of the wires.