Replacing Shocks - 1994 C4 Coupe
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 190
Likes: 4
From: Sonora CA
Replacing Shocks - 1994 C4 Coupe
Quick Question - from someone not very mechanically inclined.
My 1994 doesn't appear to have struts - just some aftermarket bilstein shocks. Nothing adjustable - just shocks.
So, is replacing the shocks as simple as unbolting the old ones and bolting in the new ones?
-WPK
My 1994 doesn't appear to have struts - just some aftermarket bilstein shocks. Nothing adjustable - just shocks.
So, is replacing the shocks as simple as unbolting the old ones and bolting in the new ones?
-WPK
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,474
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
If the are aftermarket Bilsteins, why are you replacing them? If they are worn, they can be rebuilt by sending them in. I did after 10 years and they didn't even bother to look at them. Just sent me a couple of new ones.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,474
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 949
Likes: 34
From: La Junta Colorado
sorry to jack the thread.
I just replace the original bilsteins. So, I can send the originals in and they will rebuild them? Does the forum have a contact? For $400 shocks I will totally send them in and put them on the shelf till these wear out.
I just replace the original bilsteins. So, I can send the originals in and they will rebuild them? Does the forum have a contact? For $400 shocks I will totally send them in and put them on the shelf till these wear out.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,474
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
If they are a solid yellow with BA5-7000 for front and BA5-7001 for rear, I would give Bilstein a call and see how to send it back
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,605
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From: Trinity FL
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 190
Likes: 4
From: Sonora CA
Yes, mine are aftermarket
Bought the vehicle in 2008 with 80,000 miles on it. Shortly afterwards, I had a local shop replace the original shocks with aftermarket bilsteins (blue sleeve).
The car now has two hundred and twenty thousand miles on it. I guess it's time for new shocks. The reason I didn't want to use the shop is because I was going to remove the shocks, send them in for free replacements, and then install the new ones when they arrived. The car would have to sit in the shop for quite a while.
It sounds like it's not too tricky. Thanks for all the input.
- WPK
The car now has two hundred and twenty thousand miles on it. I guess it's time for new shocks. The reason I didn't want to use the shop is because I was going to remove the shocks, send them in for free replacements, and then install the new ones when they arrived. The car would have to sit in the shop for quite a while.
It sounds like it's not too tricky. Thanks for all the input.
- WPK
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 920
Likes: 190
From: Stoneham, MA
I'm new to the C4 world and loving it. Tell me more about the Factory Shocks and what should I be looking for. My car has 17,000 miles on the clock. I don't think the shocks need to be replaced, but I would like to learn more about them. Thanks in advance :-)
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,474
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
Bought the vehicle in 2008 with 80,000 miles on it. Shortly afterwards, I had a local shop replace the original shocks with aftermarket bilsteins (blue sleeve).
The car now has two hundred and twenty thousand miles on it. I guess it's time for new shocks. The reason I didn't want to use the shop is because I was going to remove the shocks, send them in for free replacements, and then install the new ones when they arrived. The car would have to sit in the shop for quite a while.
It sounds like it's not too tricky. Thanks for all the input.
- WPK
The car now has two hundred and twenty thousand miles on it. I guess it's time for new shocks. The reason I didn't want to use the shop is because I was going to remove the shocks, send them in for free replacements, and then install the new ones when they arrived. The car would have to sit in the shop for quite a while.
It sounds like it's not too tricky. Thanks for all the input.
- WPK
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,474
Likes: 3,291
From: Hartford WI
Newest C4 is 96. That is 20 years old. I wouldn't trust the factory (came with the car) shocks. I'd replace them with something newer. Mileage wouldn't matter to me as much since things can deteriorate regardless of mileage. Dad used 10 year old tires simply because he didn't have the mileage on it. IIRC, it was around 20K and the car was kept indoors when it wasn't running and washed, etc. One day, the tire made a "thump-thump-thump" sound and he was sure it wasn't a bad tire. As he was pulling off the ramp, the tire shredded and took out a fender. Luckily he wasn't doing 70