Manually Positioning FX3 Shocks
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Manually Positioning FX3 Shocks
I have a Service Ride Control light and have not yet checked the code, but if it is a case where the motor is bad or teeth are missing on the gears, what direction do I spin the gears to have them be full stiff? I have the car on jackstands now checking other things and while its up there I might just turn them all to full stiff manually until I can repair them. Can I do this with my fingers or do I need to grab the gear with pliers or something? Also, once I put them in full stiff mode what keeps them from turning back?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
When the system detects a fault code, it should place the shocks in (I think!)"Tour" mode (or at least operate the actuators in an attempt to do so). But after that, the system is inoperative. If you leave the actuators in place, every time you start the car and move it, the system will try to go to Tour mode and then quit operating.
So removing all 4 of the actuators from the top of the shocks is the only way to manually adjust the shocks. The gear should turn with some resistance in either direction to the stop unless the problem is a broken shock gear where the gear cannot stop at the limit,
My FSM doesn' say which way is soft and which way is firm. You will probably have to experiment. But keep in mind that if the problem is internal to a shock, turning the gear may change the setting when the shock failed.
But you really need to pull the codes first to see what the problem is.
So removing all 4 of the actuators from the top of the shocks is the only way to manually adjust the shocks. The gear should turn with some resistance in either direction to the stop unless the problem is a broken shock gear where the gear cannot stop at the limit,
My FSM doesn' say which way is soft and which way is firm. You will probably have to experiment. But keep in mind that if the problem is internal to a shock, turning the gear may change the setting when the shock failed.
But you really need to pull the codes first to see what the problem is.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 92
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
I have a Service Ride Control light and have not yet checked the code, but if it is a case where the motor is bad or teeth are missing on the gears, what direction do I spin the gears to have them be full stiff? I have the car on jackstands now checking other things and while its up there I might just turn them all to full stiff manually until I can repair them. Can I do this with my fingers or do I need to grab the gear with pliers or something? Also, once I put them in full stiff mode what keeps them from turning back?
"When working with SRC shocks, be very careful not to damage the little gear at the top of each damper. The bypass valve drive gears are metal, but they are small and somewhat brittle. Do not turn the gear with a wrench or pliers. Do not apply force to the gear with any tools. Chip or break that gear and the damper must be rebuilt or replaced."
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,675
Likes: 3,410
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
When the system detects a fault code, it should place the shocks in (I think!)"Tour" mode (or at least operate the actuators in an attempt to do so). But after that, the system is inoperative. If you leave the actuators in place, every time you start the car and move it, the system will try to go to Tour mode and then quit operating.
So removing all 4 of the actuators from the top of the shocks is the only way to manually adjust the shocks. The gear should turn with some resistance in either direction to the stop unless the problem is a broken shock gear where the gear cannot stop at the limit,
My FSM doesn' say which way is soft and which way is firm. You will probably have to experiment. But keep in mind that if the problem is internal to a shock, turning the gear may change the setting when the shock failed.
But you really need to pull the codes first to see what the problem is.
So removing all 4 of the actuators from the top of the shocks is the only way to manually adjust the shocks. The gear should turn with some resistance in either direction to the stop unless the problem is a broken shock gear where the gear cannot stop at the limit,
My FSM doesn' say which way is soft and which way is firm. You will probably have to experiment. But keep in mind that if the problem is internal to a shock, turning the gear may change the setting when the shock failed.
But you really need to pull the codes first to see what the problem is.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 965
Likes: 13
From: turn 12 at Road America or TX
Full clockwise looking down on the shaft. Tywrap all four actuators out of the way unless you can figure which end of the car the bad one is. Once you figure that out, reattach the actuators on the other end.
But, you probably have one bad actuator - remove them one at a time and watch each actuator go thru its cycle when you turn the ignition on.
But, you probably have one bad actuator - remove them one at a time and watch each actuator go thru its cycle when you turn the ignition on.
Last edited by gbrtng; May 4, 2010 at 06:47 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
it was counter clockwise for me, i zip tie all of them like that and got rid of the fx3, they are full stiff all the time and love it....
fingers can do it, it's easy, thats why you have to zip tie the gears from moving around, they spin easy
fingers can do it, it's easy, thats why you have to zip tie the gears from moving around, they spin easy
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
Thanks! Where did you put the zip tie?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
I did all fours like that, sold all the actuators, trying to sell the module now...
an it is stiff all the time yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
they don't click they just spin freely with no indexing....
been like that for a year no probs..
of course fronts are cake, rears not so much, but you will realize when you have the rears off the car, which way to turn the gears, just push on the shock at the same time.......stiff one way and the other way not.....
Last edited by slickfx3; May 4, 2010 at 11:23 PM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
they pound the crap outa me but i like it, back in 84 my friend had an 84 z51, it is not as stiff as that, but then again the 89 that I now have the chassis is better manufactured so it can pound away.... it still seems tight!!!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,675
Likes: 3,410
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
I did all fours like that, sold all the actuators, trying to sell the module now...
an it is stiff all the time yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
they don't click they just spin freely with no indexing....
been like that for a year no probs..
of course fronts are cake, rears not so much, but you will realize when you have the rears off the car, which way to turn the gears, just push on the shock at the same time.......stiff one way and the other way not.....
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
like Koni's there is a big difference between soft, medium and hard, matter of fact they are manually adjustable shocks, you just have to zip them at the setting you like... so it's a freebie!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 9,675
Likes: 3,410
From: Akron Ohio
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner - Modified
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
slickfx3-
You say you turned your gears COUNTER clockwise? Several other have said clockwise.
I cant find it in print anywhere, did they change from the 89-91 versions to 92-95?
You say you turned your gears COUNTER clockwise? Several other have said clockwise.
I cant find it in print anywhere, did they change from the 89-91 versions to 92-95?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 30
From: Los Angeles CA
i distinctly remember going counter clockwise, I did it four times.... one on ea corner.
you can try the fronts and bounce on the car..... you will notice a big difference between hard and soft....
