Need Shocks for 92 FX3
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 0
From: Lawrenceville Georgia
Need Shocks for 92 FX3
My friend has a 92 with 96k miles and needs new shocks. What kind are the best, where is the best place to buy them, and do the sensors on top of the shocks need to be replace? Right now the ride seems the same when select the different options with the switch (bouncy)! TIA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,475
Likes: 3,971
From: Omaha
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Re: Need Shocks for 92 FX3
I actually have two FX3 shocks that are good sitting in my garage. I can't remember if they are front or rears, but I can check when I get home if he's interested. I'd probably sell them for $200 shipped for the pair. They are in good condition, I just decided to get rid of the FX3 system altogether last year because it really wasn't helping me on the track.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 6,517
Likes: 1,304
From: Windermere FL
Re: Need Shocks for 92 FX3 (VetteWave)
I believe that the FX-3 shocks can be sent back to Bilstein and be rebuilt very reasonably. It usually takes a few weeks. Some forum members buy a cheap set of shocks for their cars if they cannot be layed up while they are rebuilt.
Try doing a forum search to get the info for the rebuilds.
This seems to be the cheapest route if you want to keep the FX3 system.
Try doing a forum search to get the info for the rebuilds.
This seems to be the cheapest route if you want to keep the FX3 system.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,475
Likes: 3,971
From: Omaha
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Re: Need Shocks for 92 FX3
Yes, that's an option too. Takes about 3 weeks or so for them to rebuild them and cost is about $75 a shock if I remember correctly. New replacements are $199 each from most sources.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 9,713
Likes: 3
From: Sachse Texas
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Need Shocks for 92 FX3 (VetteWave)
Did he buy it new? If not, It could be whoever he bought the car from has disabled the ride control and removed the light from the DIC. When he turns the key on, does the Selective Ride Control light appear in the DIC? If not, the system has been disabled in one way or another and you need to find out what is wrong before replacing shocks.
I generally find the shock actuators tend to be brittle and fragile and are often times broken in two (inside). You can pull the actuator off carefully and look inside the end. You will see the plastic gear. You can also cycle the key and see if the actuator is moving. If it moves and the gear is in one peice, then the actuator is good.
The gears on top of the shocks is also fragile and I have had some that are broken as well. One on my car I repaired with some JB weld and it seems to be holding fine so far. If you send the shock back to Bilstein with a broken gear, they can replace that as well for an additional fee. I think it is more like $105 for a rebuilt shock with a new gear. You can have them rebuild them in whatever range you want too. More for racing, or for cruising than the stocks were setup.
I generally find the shock actuators tend to be brittle and fragile and are often times broken in two (inside). You can pull the actuator off carefully and look inside the end. You will see the plastic gear. You can also cycle the key and see if the actuator is moving. If it moves and the gear is in one peice, then the actuator is good.
The gears on top of the shocks is also fragile and I have had some that are broken as well. One on my car I repaired with some JB weld and it seems to be holding fine so far. If you send the shock back to Bilstein with a broken gear, they can replace that as well for an additional fee. I think it is more like $105 for a rebuilt shock with a new gear. You can have them rebuild them in whatever range you want too. More for racing, or for cruising than the stocks were setup.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
From: Corvallis OR
Re: Need Shocks for 92 FX3 (Vette92)
I generally find the shock actuators tend to be brittle and fragile and are often times broken in two (inside). You can pull the actuator off carefully and look inside the end. You will see the plastic gear. You can also cycle the key and see if the actuator is moving. If it moves and the gear is in one peice, then the actuator is good
How do you pull the actuator? Just take off the little wire clip and pull up on it? I was trying to pull mine off last night, but it didn't come right off and i didn't want to break it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 9,713
Likes: 3
From: Sachse Texas
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Need Shocks for 92 FX3 (Jim-K)
Take the wire clip off and pull carefully straight up. If they have been there a while, they may be a little hard to pull off.
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Advanced
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Kennesaw GA
Re: Need Shocks for 92 FX3 (VetteWave)
I called Bilstein to see what they could do for my FX-3s. First, the good news is that they said that unless the shock is leaking, it is still good. However, the small gear on the top of the shock and the mating gear in the actuator usually break causing the need for a rebuild. The shocks can be rebuilt for around $60, but I didn't ask if they could rebuild the actuator. The actuator operates at +/- 80 degrees to control the shock into the different positions.
I researched the actuator to see if I could get the company who built them to rebuild them. It is a Swedish company and the actuator is made for controlling window blinds remotely. Thus the seemingly chintzy design. I took off the Bilsteins and put some cheap shocks on so that I could decide what to do with the Bilsteins. I am leaning toward getting them to just set them to a specific position and put them back on.
I researched the actuator to see if I could get the company who built them to rebuild them. It is a Swedish company and the actuator is made for controlling window blinds remotely. Thus the seemingly chintzy design. I took off the Bilsteins and put some cheap shocks on so that I could decide what to do with the Bilsteins. I am leaning toward getting them to just set them to a specific position and put them back on.