96 F45 shocks
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Instructor
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96 F45 shocks
i am looking for a good, reasonably priced shock to replace the F45 adjustable shocks on my 96 LT4. Bilstein says they only made the shocks for these up to 95, and replacements are out of this world($600 apiece)!! Can someone please come up with another option????
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The only other option is to replace them with standard shocks. You can insert 200 ohm resistors in the female connector ends that the shocks plug into in order to eliminate the "Service Ride Control" light or you can just remove the bulb from the DIC. Unlike the C5/6 cars, a disabled F45 system has no affect on engine performance. FWIW, I've had adjustable Koni's in place of the F45 shocks on my GS for years.
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Bilstein cannot rebuild the shocks. The FX3 shocks that Bilstein does rebuild have nothing, nada, zip in common with the Delphi F45 shocks other than the fact they're called "shocks".You go ahead and send those to Bilstein and let us know how it turns out....after the Bilstein guys first ask "WTF?" and then pick themselves up off the floor after they're done laughing.
Oh...and you might notice there are no "actuators" on top of the F45 shocks to check. Those would be on top of FX3 shocks. Apple / Orange.
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Instructor
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Bilstein cannot rebuild the shocks. The FX3 shocks that Bilstein does rebuild have nothing, nada, zip in common with the Delphi F45 shocks other than the fact they're called "shocks".You go ahead and send those to Bilstein and let us know how it turns out....after the Bilstein guys first ask "WTF?" and then pick themselves up off the floor after they're done laughing.
Oh...and you might notice there are no "actuators" on top of the F45 shocks to check. Those would be on top of FX3 shocks. Apple / Orange.
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I'm sure the Bilstein phone rep heard you say that you had a Corvette with adjustable suspension and defaulted to "yes, we can rebuild those shocks". Call them back again and tell them you have Delphi shocks and see what they say.
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OP, we have been talking about this for 17 years. The F45 shocks are obsolete, discontinued, and Bilsteins had never re-valved those shocks. Those things are one of a kind, they have an actuator on the side.
The 96 C4 F45s were the mule for the 97 C5 F45, and the C5 1997 shocks are different.
The 96 C4 F45s were the mule for the 97 C5 F45, and the C5 1997 shocks are different.
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As Jim said previously, Bilstein does not rebuild Delphi shock absorbers.
Sad that Corvette chose to use a suspension system for only one year. On our 96s.
A historical note on how this came to be:
When Dave Hill was named GM Vehicle Chief Engineer (VCE) for Corvette, he brought with him from Cadillac the electronic suspension system which was being used on various Cadillac cars.
He was named in 1993. The C5 was going to be introduced in 1997. Along with the Grand Sport & Collector Edition option, Corvette was anxious to offer the F45 Real Time Damping system for the last C4s. Only problem was the C5 was totally NEW from the ground up and the F45 shock absorbers would not fit!
The C5 received their own version of an electronic suspension.
Oh, well. We 96 F45 owners get the rarity of a one-year system. Nice selling point if I ever decide to sell my Vette!
At least we can run regular shocks. Our composite springs and sway bars are FE1 parts. (Base suspension)
Sad that Corvette chose to use a suspension system for only one year. On our 96s.
A historical note on how this came to be:
When Dave Hill was named GM Vehicle Chief Engineer (VCE) for Corvette, he brought with him from Cadillac the electronic suspension system which was being used on various Cadillac cars.
He was named in 1993. The C5 was going to be introduced in 1997. Along with the Grand Sport & Collector Edition option, Corvette was anxious to offer the F45 Real Time Damping system for the last C4s. Only problem was the C5 was totally NEW from the ground up and the F45 shock absorbers would not fit!
The C5 received their own version of an electronic suspension.
Oh, well. We 96 F45 owners get the rarity of a one-year system. Nice selling point if I ever decide to sell my Vette!
At least we can run regular shocks. Our composite springs and sway bars are FE1 parts. (Base suspension)
Last edited by TorchRedlt4man; Sep 20, 2012 at 12:42 PM.
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I have no doubt that y'all are correct, but, I clearly stated to Wes,the Bilstein rep that I have 96 LT4 with F45!! He said he would have to check and call me back! Called back later in the afternoon and said yes! I am only relaying what I was told!! How do I check that the actuators are working on a 96??????
Burning Brakes
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I have no doubt that y'all are correct, but, I clearly stated to Wes,the Bilstein rep that I have 96 LT4 with F45!! He said he would have to check and call me back! Called back later in the afternoon and said yes! I am only relaying what I was told!! How do I check that the actuators are working on a 96??????
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Because this topic has been "discussed for 17 years" is irrelevant. Times change and new products are developed for older cars everyday. Moderators on this site are so quick to respond with a harsh retort and it is exhausting.
The love of Corvettes does not belong to the technical gurus alone. When you pass another Corvette, do you flip up your headlamps or do you turn up your nose? This site has a wealth of information between the forum history and those who oversee it. Is it so hard to bequeath an ounce of humility with your responses? Being nice is just as easy as being a dick, but you'll get a lot more members and advertisers the nice way. JMHO
The love of Corvettes does not belong to the technical gurus alone. When you pass another Corvette, do you flip up your headlamps or do you turn up your nose? This site has a wealth of information between the forum history and those who oversee it. Is it so hard to bequeath an ounce of humility with your responses? Being nice is just as easy as being a dick, but you'll get a lot more members and advertisers the nice way. JMHO
Le Mans Master
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Because this topic has been "discussed for 17 years" is irrelevant. Times change and new products are developed for older cars everyday. Moderators on this site are so quick to respond with a harsh retort and it is exhausting.
The love of Corvettes does not belong to the technical gurus alone. When you pass another Corvette, do you flip up your headlamps or do you turn up your nose? This site has a wealth of information between the forum history and those who oversee it. Is it so hard to bequeath an ounce of humility with your responses? Being nice is just as easy as being a dick, but you'll get a lot more members and advertisers the nice way. JMHO
The love of Corvettes does not belong to the technical gurus alone. When you pass another Corvette, do you flip up your headlamps or do you turn up your nose? This site has a wealth of information between the forum history and those who oversee it. Is it so hard to bequeath an ounce of humility with your responses? Being nice is just as easy as being a dick, but you'll get a lot more members and advertisers the nice way. JMHO