Hi all,

I just found out my 90 vette with fx3 option had the original shocks and actuators (and the bulb in the dash) removed cause of one bad actuator - one bad actuator and they removed the whole lot! and replaced the shocks with the cheapest set they could.

I'd like to one day restore the Fx3 system......the components all cost though! so I can't do it in one hit.

On to my question :o
I was wondering if I purchase and install a new set of the Bilstein Fx3 adjustable shocks - without the actuators, if they will be like SPORT shocks on my car.....until I can get some actuators.

Are there any other components I have overlooked (for future reference) other than the actuators and shocks?

Thanks for any help.

 

You could do that.You might want to look athe parts for sale forum I got some there.Also Ebay.If you can get them used cheap enough in good condition you can send them to get rebuilt.

There are some fx3 specifc parts like the cap that holds the acuator onto the shock and the bushings are not cheap either.

 

dont forget the brain box behind the drivers seat , its next to the abs in the compartment behind the drivers seat ( in my 89 it is ) ....is the switch still there in the console ?????

i have 2 brain boxes if you need one , i can sell one super cheap as they rarely go bad i dont need any spares , ( they came with my car as well as another box of parts )

 

A quick lesson about FX3 shocks.

There are two versions.
Early 1989-91 rotate 160*
Late 1992-95 rotate 90*

Each time you turn on the ignition, the FX3 system does a self check and resets the settings on each shock to 60* (which happens to be the lowest setting in SPORT mode). Once the Vette moves the shocks will go to the starting positions if it's in TOUR or PERF, then continously adjust itself depending on vehicle speed.

If there is a problem, your SERVICE RIDE CONTROL light will stay on. In this case the properly working shocks and actuators will go to and stay in defult mode of 60*

Now, if you're installing FX3 shocks without the actuators for now, you can manually set the position of the gear to what ever setting you want. I can't recall for now which direction is what for softest or firmest setting. But I would just set it in the middle anyway.

 

Does anyone know if there is any advantage to installing FX3 shocks on a non FX3 car instead of the Bilisteins?
If they can be adjusted manually at least I would be able to have a manually adjusted suspension or is the cost of these shocks prohibitive?
Thank you for your input
Jerris

 

The cost of each FX3 shock, new, is $170-$200. That's very prohibitive for a vette not having RPO FX3.

 

Cosmic - Why are you interested in replacing the FX3 system? If the main reason is your burning desire to keep the car original and everything working the way it's supposed to work then I'd say "do it". If your reasoning is to improve ride control I'd suggest it may not be worth the large $ it may cost to renew.

IMO the difference between the three settings is so minimal at the speeds we drive most drivers NEVER notice it - that includes me - with the strong exception of the autocrossers. Even with about $400 worth of brand new Bilsteins on the front I don't "feel" it. Good purpose-built shocks that meet your seat-of-the-pants needs will probably make you as happy performance-wise, and could make you a LOT happier $-wise.

But if you're driven like I am to keep it all functional good luck finding the parts (consider used off the forum), and I suggest getting used Bilsteins rebuilt if you can find them for a price break.

 

Thanks for the tip Redeasysport
I did see a few sets of the shocks and some actuators for sale in the sale section not long ago...........but unfortunately they have been sold. That was before I knew the Fx3 shocks and actuators had been removed from my vette and replaced with elchepos

I just read on the Bilstein website the shocks are $100 to rebuild each. Since the shocks are only $170 Brand new, I figured on going for a new set. (I haven't bought anything yet, just exploring my options)

 

hmm....why would they bother removing the brain box? I bloody hope they didn't!
I don't know if they did, Im in Australia, car is in the USA! :o

(I appreciate your offer corvetteguys)

The maintenance record said: service ride control light on, LH actuator broken, not covered under warranty, fx3 system removed and bulb taken out of dash. (and shocks replaced with $40 shocks).

Thats all I know.

OK, I know what your thinking...I should wait until I see the car, but problem is things start to become really expensive when you get parts shipped to Australia. I was taking the opportunity to get the parts shipped with the car.

 

Thanks for the info. Thats great. I love learning more about the systems on these awesome cars (even if they are broken on my car )

Well, if they will work without the actuators, and you can set them on a mid setting, then I figure why not get a set of the adjustable. They are about $100 more expensive each, but at least I will have the option later if I want to restore the fx3 system. If there is no difference in setting the fx3 midlevel without the actuator or getting a set of Bilstein sport non adjustable then I might just go with the fx3 shocks for now, and not worry about the rest of the system
(oops did I just repeat myself in the same sentence )

 

good question....why am I interested in replacing the fx3 on my vette?
umm....I love spending money! :

seriously, well since its original and an option on my vette, I would like to restore it and have it working as it left from the factory.
The idea of having something not-complete or not working as it should makes me crazy
that and the fact that if Im going to get a new set of Bilsteins anyway, I can either get a set of the Bilstein Sport for $78 each or get the Fx3 shock for $170 each.....so why not spend the extra and get the fx3 shocks, giving me the option to restore the system at a later date.

 

check you personal message.
I might have something you want.

 

thanks bill. Sent you a reply

 

Although the shocks have the small gear on the top of the shock, only the gears on the front shocks are visible without the actuators installed. The top of the rear shocks sits up inside the frame rail so you cannot reach the gear unless you remove the shock from the car.

One of the things that the shock controller uses as input to shock settings is vehicle speed. The stiffness of the shock changes as vehicle speed increases no matter which of the three selector **** settings is chosen.

One of the Corvette magazines published a graph a few years ago that showed the relationship of the selector setting to vehicle speed. As I recall from the article, they showed an example where the "Tour" setting at 70MPH is actually stiffer than the "Performance" setting at 25MPH.

There is a Forum member that has rebuilt factory actuators using billet aluminum righ gears in the actuator instead of the nylon pieces. They are supposedly much stronger that the OEM versions and would be a better value than the originals.

I really liked the F3 system on the 92 vert that I owned. IT worked great and even though I had to replace two shocks (one rebuilt by Bilstein, the other was from an extra set), I still found it to be a great option.

Doug Rippie Motorsports has (or used to have) a replacement controller that used a removeable PROM chip. You could get a variety of chips that had different programmed settings for each of the three selector positions so you could simply change the chip to change the range of shock settings for road racing, autocross, or street use.

Bilstein will also rebuild the FX3 shock using custom valving based on your needs. IIRC, the name given to this custom valving is Morocca or Morocco (??)and the valving specs were created with help from a Forum member.

 

[QUOTE=swifty]Cosmic - Why are you interested in replacing the FX3 system? If the main reason is your burning desire to keep the car original and everything working the way it's supposed to work then I'd say "do it". If your reasoning is to improve ride control I'd suggest it may not be worth the large $ it may cost to renew.

IMO the difference between the three settings is so minimal at the speeds we drive most drivers NEVER notice it - that includes me - with the strong exception of the autocrossers. Even with about $400 worth of brand new Bilsteins on the front I don't "feel" it. Good purpose-built shocks that meet your seat-of-the-pants needs will probably make you as happy performance-wise, and could make you a LOT happier $-wise.

huh ??? the car handles firmer at higher speeds , and you can feel the difference but thats not the point , it that the car will ride softer if you want it to and harder if you need it to and even firmer at high speeds , i have ride control on my silverado and you can tell its working on it as well .

 

I'm just saying . . . the difference is (reportedly) not that great at the speeds and handling loads most of us will subject the C4 to on surface roads. I don't know anything about any other vehicle suspension systems - not saying the difference isn't noticeable. I only have the magazine write-ups that supported what I experienced personally. Driving highways or doing the twisties in the country at reasonable, hurried speeds I do not notice hardly ANY difference between softest and hardest settings. I have read that the autocrossers can/will notice, but not the averace C4 driver. I have to agree, based on my experience. That being said, I spent a lot of money for replacement Bilstein FX3 shocks to keep mine working - just because it came that way. Good luck,

 

I can tell the difference on the Colorado roads and so can my wife. On the crappy potholed roads around here it will really rattle your teeth if accidently left in PERF.


Mike

 

I think it depends on what year your vette is and what options.

I could tell it worked on my 90 no problem. in the lower settings it felt mushy. I only switched over to tour when I was on really rough roads.

My buddy has a 90 with FX3 and the Z51 package. when left in PERF mode, it was almost unstreetable. it would hit the lane divider bumps so hard it felt like perf mode turned the shocks into steel bars. It was far stiffer then my car.

 

Ver-r-r-r-r-y interesting. In my '93 I cannot 'feel' a difference at all between the three settings during in-traffic or highway driving. On back-road twisties I 'might' feel a little difference at speed, but not significant enough to report positively. I almost feel like it's my SOTP wishing for any difference I might feel.

That being said, all three settings are very firm. I know the fronts work well because I replaced them with brand new units and watched the actuators work. I think the rears work because they look and feel like shocks (no leaks, hard to compress), move by actuator on start-up, and don't throw any codes. I still can't swear they work like they're supposed to, though.

I read an article about FX3 handling and it supported what my SOTP was telling me - so of course I believed it was gospel. It basically said the speed where the differences between the three settings began was something like (poor memory here) 60 mph for the first increment of difference, and over (same problem) 80 or 90 mph for another increment. The reaction (firmness) on the different settings was supposedly the same up to that first increment. Seems like there was another factor besides speed involved, but CRS disease has stolen that one from my brain for now.

Anyhoo, the article's author concluded that, save for autocrossers, the average 'vette owner would never experience a difference in driving feeling regardless of the setting of the suspension switch. I don't want it to be true - I just can't dispute it from personal experience. Is there a difference year-to-year? I dunno. FWIW I think it is very firm on all three settings, and I love it that way. I'd love to hear more factual info on these devices - anybody?

 

On a normal road, you're not going to feel any difference. The best test to feel a difference in the settings is go over some railroad tracks. You should feel a diference then.

JMO

I know on my Z-07 there is a world of difference between the settings. The CD player will only work in the TOUR setting.