Anyone Try New Bilstein FX3 Shocks
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Joined: May 1999
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From: Morton Grove,IL,USA
Anyone Try New Bilstein FX3 Shocks
I tried the rebuild the originals for my '92 but they continued to leak. So I replaced the shocks with the new FX3 Bilstein shocks. Thay appear to be thicker than the originals and I was curious if anyone else is using these and what the ride was like?
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
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Re: Anyone Try New Bilstein FX3 Shocks (Blankster)
I don't know, but let me know what you find out. My driver's side front shock has the gear broken, and the actuator is broken as well. I eventually intend to replace both front shocks (replacing one just couldn't be that wise) and the driver's side front actuator.
I'll do that next time I can cough up some $600
I'll do that next time I can cough up some $600
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Fear causes hesitaiton...and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true. Houston TX
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Re: Anyone Try New Bilstein FX3 Shocks (Nathan Plemons)
There is a current thread describing how Bilstein can repair, rebuild or custom revalve their shocks. Should save you lots of money. I just got mine back from Bilstein and havent put them on the car yet. :seeya
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
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Re: Anyone Try New Bilstein FX3 Shocks (Blankster)
How do you know if they are leaking?
I have one shock that the litlle gear spins around and around. I was considering having them rebuilt. But after your post I wonder if I should just buy new ones. But $800 for shocks just seems wrong!
I have one shock that the litlle gear spins around and around. I was considering having them rebuilt. But after your post I wonder if I should just buy new ones. But $800 for shocks just seems wrong!
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 402
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From: Beaverton OR
Re: Anyone Try New Bilstein FX3 Shocks (Jay Axson)
also own a 90 fx3 car here & $800 for shocks and then $200 a wack if any actuators are broke was insane...i could almost buy penskes for that !! i'm honestly happy with the bilstein sport shocks, they are quite a bit more firm than the fx3's and are very reasonable. $300/set for brand new ones. you can re coupe some of your money selling your old FX3 stuff on ebay. a guy bid within $5 for my old fx3s as i paid for all new bilstein sports. another great shock is the koni single adj. sport..they run around $500/set
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,564
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From: Austin Texas
Re: Anyone Try New Bilstein FX3 Shocks (Blankster)
Getting rid of the FX3 system is wrong!!! The whole system works great, and if you get Bilstein to re-valve the shocks for performance it is even better.
The positive side to those replacement shocks is that IF they ARE replacement FX3's (not OEM "Bilstein" FX3's) then the $800/set is the last you will ever pay short of shipping & handling. They have a full lifetime warranty on them, and Bilstein will rebuild & revalve them as many times as they can, until they have to replace them. Not a bad deal if you plan on keeping the car a long time. :D
The positive side to those replacement shocks is that IF they ARE replacement FX3's (not OEM "Bilstein" FX3's) then the $800/set is the last you will ever pay short of shipping & handling. They have a full lifetime warranty on them, and Bilstein will rebuild & revalve them as many times as they can, until they have to replace them. Not a bad deal if you plan on keeping the car a long time. :D
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 913
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From: Chatsworth, Ga.
Re: Anyone Try New Bilstein FX3 Shocks (Blankster)
I have a complete set on my 92 Coupe. Thanks to Bilstein throwing away my olds ones instead of rebuilding them. I can not say enough for the Bilstein people in San Diego, Ca. They did just about everything a good customer service dept. can do. They even over nighted my new set. They are a bit stiffer then my old ones, but I have not had any problems with them at all. :flag
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 402
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From: Beaverton OR
Re: Anyone Try New Bilstein FX3 Shocks (Danah92LT-1)
Joe90 i can't believe how close your car is to my final plans..you have slightly more cam than i was going to use, but other than that..it's damn close. how is the centerforce working for you? i've been looking at spec clutches but almost wonder if the centerforce is MUCH more street friendly. the specs look great but would not be the most fun things in 5mph traffic.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: May 1999
Posts: 88
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From: Morton Grove,IL,USA
Re: Anyone Try New Bilstein FX3 Shocks (Blankster)
Thanks for the replies. I am looking forward to spring when I can drive my vette with the new Bilstein FX3 shocks. I've been a Bilstein fan since the early '80s. I agree the FX3 system is worth while and Bilstein customer service is one of the best I have had to deal with. :cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,564
Likes: 110
From: Austin Texas
Re: Anyone Try New Bilstein FX3 Shocks (importeater)
Joe90 i can't believe how close your car is to my final plans..you have slightly more cam than i was going to use, but other than that..it's damn close. how is the centerforce working for you? i've been looking at spec clutches but almost wonder if the centerforce is MUCH more street friendly. the specs look great but would not be the most fun things in 5mph traffic.
The car is VERY street friendly. I'm somewhat dissappointed in the CenterForce...I have more torque than it can handle. Once I've done some laps at the track it gets hot and starts to slip. On the street it is very nice though. I'll get a McLeod dual-disk setup the next time I need to replace the clutch.
No car is fun to drive in 5 MPH traffic, but mine is smooth as silk. The cam has JUST enough lope that you can tell something was done to upgrade the performance. I'd recommend going with about the same specs for a cam if you can. It won't cost any more and it isn't too much cam if you are going to do about the same modifications to the car. I even pass emissions testing, which is a real funny thing considering they would fail me on a visual inspection (because I don't have the "stock" style of cats on the car....pre-cats & large center cat).
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 22
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From: Tomball TX
Re: Anyone Try New Bilstein FX3 Shocks (Blankster)
I tried the rebuild the originals for my '92 but they continued to leak. So I replaced the shocks with the new FX3 Bilstein shocks. Thay appear to be thicker than the originals and I was curious if anyone else is using these and what the ride was like?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 4,564
Likes: 110
From: Austin Texas
Re: Anyone Try New Bilstein FX3 Shocks (Mikez40)
When I sent mine in they had to go ground because of the "pressurized nitrogen" in them. I think they got that taken car of, but it still takes at least a week for them to do them if they have all the parts there.
There was a time a few years back when they didn't have the central core tubes (the ones that actually turn) and were backorder for months. Figure a 2 week turnaround from the time they go out until you have them back in hand.
There was a time a few years back when they didn't have the central core tubes (the ones that actually turn) and were backorder for months. Figure a 2 week turnaround from the time they go out until you have them back in hand.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 4,623
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From: Ohio
Re: Anyone Try New Bilstein FX3 Shocks (Mikez40)
I couldn't agree more with Joe on the FX3 re-valve. Many have thrown the baby out with the bath water, and went to cheaper shocks. I worked with the guys at Bilstein about five years ago on some custom valving and maps for the original FX3 shocks. They have been most excellent and have given me the adjustability I needed to tune the suspension to any given track that I have run. Unless you go to a remote resevoir Penske, there really isn't a higher quality shock available. The monotube Bilsteins with the FX system is probably one of the most sophisticated shocks ever installed in a production car. The ride and handling guys at GM just watered the system down before it ever made it into production. The Corvette Challenge boys worked with Bilstein to develop different shim packs and maps to give the system the tunability that it truly was capable of. This was almost twenty years ago, to boot. In case you can't tell, I'm a little bit of a fan of the system. They guys at Bilstein will work with you on upgrading your system. Just be sure to tell them HOW you will be using the car. Unless your car is going to live on a billiard smooth race track, you don't want super stiff valving. Let them know and they will assist.
