Converting C4 Bilstein shocks to coilovers
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 19
Likes: 2
From: Louisville KY
Converting C4 Bilstein shocks to coilovers
Hello! looking for advise on building coil overs from the existing shocks, i know there are coil over sleeves, but I cant tell from product descriptions alone what is going to work. I know DRM makes a kit for around 1000 but I am seeing if there are any other kits that you guys can recommend before I can pull the trigger.
TIA
TIA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
If the suspension is all original, I would consider replacing front control arm bushings. Rear control arm bushings or arms themselves with adjustable arms with heim joints. The rear arms articulate in multiple directions as the travel. Then I would consider coil overs. You really only need coil overs in the front, the rear trim height can be adjusted by installing different spring end bolts in the stock rear springs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,876
Likes: 764
From: Sligo PA
I swapped out the Bilstein shocks for single adjustable QA1 coilovers on the front of my 84. Total cost was about $600. But I sold my Z51 spring and the shocks and made a lot of that back. All in all it wasn't a bad job. Just a little welding and trimming. Then I had to experiment with different spring lengths until I found what worked well. I agree with Kevova that you don't need to do coilovers in the back in a street car unless you just really want them. But on the front it helped a lot. Made the car feel a lot better in day to day traffic and seems to handle a little better. That and the adjustable ride height is nice.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,467
Likes: 43
From: Auburn MA
I got the exotic muscle race bilstein coil overs and I bout the adjustable heimjoint swaybar end links with allowed me to install the coilovers without relocating the swaybar.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 19
Likes: 2
From: Louisville KY