fx3 shock/actuator problem
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Newport News Virginia
fx3 shock/actuator problem
Ok guys- I get the fuel system running great and on my drive home I get the Service Ride control light. isolated it using the codes and followed the procedure to determine if the actuator or shock is bad. ( code 32, right front on my 91 coupe) so here it is.. the drive gear at the top of the shock is missing teeth. the book says if i can rotate it a half turn, the actuator is bad. i can in fact rotate it freely, but my question is this: since the gear is damaged what do i replace? it seems to me (and i amy be wrong) that if the gear on the top of the shock is bad, i should change the shock. does that top gear come as part of the shock assembly? or am i supposed to be rotating the gear inside the actuator? and lastly, if i just hook the actuator back up, can i drive the car without causing further damage? i was trying to drive it to ohio from virginia this weekend. i appreciate any help- thanks!
Will
Will
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
With the gear on the shock rod missing teeth, the ring gear on the actuator will keep turning which results in the error code. It really doesn't hurt anything if you leave things alone. You could also simply pull the actuator and wire-tie it of the way.
It sounds like the teeth on the gear have broken to where they simply go past the two stops on the shock rod housing.
The FX3 system defaults to (IIRC) the Tour setting once an error code appears and it will then no longer accept input from the VSS or the console switch until things are fixed and the code is cleared.
The small gear on the top of the shock rod is not available by itself. You have two options; either send the shock off to Bilstein for replacing the gear or buy a new shock.
If you want to have Bilstein replace the gear (and maybe have all 4 shocks rebuilt at the same time) call them in San Diego at 1-800-537-1085 The last contact person I knew of was Jack French.
It sounds like the teeth on the gear have broken to where they simply go past the two stops on the shock rod housing.
The FX3 system defaults to (IIRC) the Tour setting once an error code appears and it will then no longer accept input from the VSS or the console switch until things are fixed and the code is cleared.
The small gear on the top of the shock rod is not available by itself. You have two options; either send the shock off to Bilstein for replacing the gear or buy a new shock.
If you want to have Bilstein replace the gear (and maybe have all 4 shocks rebuilt at the same time) call them in San Diego at 1-800-537-1085 The last contact person I knew of was Jack French.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
With everything woking right (gear good, stops not worn away, the rotation limit was 1/2 turn. The later 92-96 shocks would turn slightly more. I had a broken gear on one of my 92 shocks once and the shaft would just continue to turn and turn because the base of the gear was broken.
If you look at the base of the gear, you should see a vertical edge (a stop) that corresponds with another edge on the shock rod housing. When the gear stopped turning, the actuator ring gear would stop and that would send a signal to the FX3 controller. If you don't see it on the broken shock, pull the actuator from the other front shock to see the difference (assuming that shock is OK).
As the shaft turns, it opens a hole in a valve allowing for fluid to move. That determines the stiffness of the shock based on the dial setting and the vehicle speed. So a single turn of the shaft would do nothing more that open the hole, cover it and open it again.
If you look at the base of the gear, you should see a vertical edge (a stop) that corresponds with another edge on the shock rod housing. When the gear stopped turning, the actuator ring gear would stop and that would send a signal to the FX3 controller. If you don't see it on the broken shock, pull the actuator from the other front shock to see the difference (assuming that shock is OK).
As the shaft turns, it opens a hole in a valve allowing for fluid to move. That determines the stiffness of the shock based on the dial setting and the vehicle speed. So a single turn of the shaft would do nothing more that open the hole, cover it and open it again.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,363
Likes: 7
From: 1994 LT1 Coupe 6-speed with FX3 & 2000 LS1 Vert 6-Speed with F45 Hunterdon County, NJ
Warning Warning
Vette929,
WARNING ...
I would NOT recommend putting the actuator back on the shock with the broken gear.
If done, it risks damaging the actuator's nylon drive gear (and in case you don't know, the actuators are difficult to find and very expensive to boot).
However, there is a good chance the actuator's nylon drive gear is already damaged (classic when the shock gear breaks). So be sure to look into the bottom of the actuator and closely inspect the drive gear (removing the rubber seal might make it easier to shine a light inside the recess area).
If it is already damaged, then putting it back on the shock doesn't matter as you will need to replace both.
one last thought. When I checked with Bilstein 2 yrs ago, they didn't replace just the gear, and think I remember they didn't fix the gears, only rebuilt the shocks -- and without a warranty.
I choose to buy new at Eckler's -- best price I found at the time...
WARNING ...
I would NOT recommend putting the actuator back on the shock with the broken gear.
If done, it risks damaging the actuator's nylon drive gear (and in case you don't know, the actuators are difficult to find and very expensive to boot).
However, there is a good chance the actuator's nylon drive gear is already damaged (classic when the shock gear breaks). So be sure to look into the bottom of the actuator and closely inspect the drive gear (removing the rubber seal might make it easier to shine a light inside the recess area).
If it is already damaged, then putting it back on the shock doesn't matter as you will need to replace both.
one last thought. When I checked with Bilstein 2 yrs ago, they didn't replace just the gear, and think I remember they didn't fix the gears, only rebuilt the shocks -- and without a warranty.
I choose to buy new at Eckler's -- best price I found at the time...
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 174
Likes: 3
From: Yorba Linda CA
You can buy them new for around $320 a or the rebuild is about $125 ea. For rebuild- go to http://captainzcnc.com for more info. My left front I mckey moused together and need to get rebuilt. The only difference betwen the front and back actuators is the length of the wire "pigtail". Be careful with the back ones as it is easy to lose the connector inside the frame
