Bilsteins?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 4,445
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From: Mandeville, Louisiana
Bilsteins?
Hey guys, I think I need to replace my rear shocks. I have the base FE1 suspension for '96. Can I put Z51 Bilsteins (Part# 35499) on the car, and what would be the effect of doing that? Or should I just stick with the base shocks? Who has the best prices on Bilsteins???
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
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Re: Bilsteins? (Eric 96)
I think it was Ecklers or MAD that has a set for $250.
The Z51 shocks wont hurt ride quality so much as the Z51 springs will, I dont think youll notice much difference there. Itll be slightly better at cornering.
The Z51 shocks wont hurt ride quality so much as the Z51 springs will, I dont think youll notice much difference there. Itll be slightly better at cornering.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2002
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From: FREJUS FRANCE
Re: Bilsteins? (Eric 96)
You can just change the setting of your stock bilstein into a hard one.
I do that on my 1995 coupe the results is perfect for half the price .
good luck.
Michel
:hurray:
I do that on my 1995 coupe the results is perfect for half the price .
good luck.
Michel
:hurray:
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,751
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From: Miami, FL, USA
Re: Bilsteins? (Eric 96)
You can send your old ones back to Bilstein and they will rebuild them for about $80. THey can set the valving back to stock or tune it anyway you like.
I also have had greatr experience with VBP (Vettebrakes.com)
I also have had greatr experience with VBP (Vettebrakes.com)
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,474
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From: Tracy CA
Re: Bilsteins? (Eric 96)
I replaced my tired bilsteins with KYBs. good damping - but noisy. They squeek. If I had known about the bilstein rebuild w/revalving - I would have done it. It even looks less expensive!
Pro
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 503
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From: Jacksonville FL
Re: Bilsteins? (Eric 96)
I've gone from the stock FE-1 suspension on my '96 LT-4 to Bilstein Sport Shocks and Z-51 Sway Bars.
I autocross the car with NCCC and drive it on the street once every couple of weeks.
I love the sway bars but hate the shocks for street driving. The Sport Shock is too stiff in jounce.
The stock FE-1 suspension was too soft even on the street.
My opinion for a good street setup would be to use the Z-51 Bars, 30 mm solid front and 26 mm solid rear and have Bilstein revalve your shocks. Revalving is much less expensive than buying new ones, $55 each last quote.
The Bilstein website is: http://www.bilstein.com
The phone number at the Poway, CA shop is (858) 386-5900.
Discuss with them what you are looking for to determine how to revalve.
Locke McCormick
North Florida Corvette Assn., NCCC
Jacksonville, FL
I autocross the car with NCCC and drive it on the street once every couple of weeks.
I love the sway bars but hate the shocks for street driving. The Sport Shock is too stiff in jounce.
The stock FE-1 suspension was too soft even on the street.
My opinion for a good street setup would be to use the Z-51 Bars, 30 mm solid front and 26 mm solid rear and have Bilstein revalve your shocks. Revalving is much less expensive than buying new ones, $55 each last quote.
The Bilstein website is: http://www.bilstein.com
The phone number at the Poway, CA shop is (858) 386-5900.
Discuss with them what you are looking for to determine how to revalve.
Locke McCormick
North Florida Corvette Assn., NCCC
Jacksonville, FL
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Bench Racer
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From: Palm Beach Gardens FL
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Re: Bilsteins? (GusBustamanteJr)
GusBustamanteJr wrote:
"You can send your old ones back to Bilstein and they will rebuild them for about $80"
I'm assuming that's $80 a shock, right? Also, do you know if they have a core/exchange program? The Vette is my primary and I wouldn't want to have to be be riding my bicycle for however long it takes them to do the rebuild (not that I couldn't use the exercise)....
"You can send your old ones back to Bilstein and they will rebuild them for about $80"
I'm assuming that's $80 a shock, right? Also, do you know if they have a core/exchange program? The Vette is my primary and I wouldn't want to have to be be riding my bicycle for however long it takes them to do the rebuild (not that I couldn't use the exercise)....
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 4,445
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From: Mandeville, Louisiana
Re: Bilsteins? (GusBustamanteJr)
Why would you pay $80 to have them rebuilt, when you can buy new ones for under $75? :confused: I know you didn't mean they would rebuild all four for $80....right?
Race Director
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From: tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '04 & '05
Re: Bilsteins? (Eric 96)
Maybe the KONI Adjustables are better??????
Been using them for quite awhile.........Love 'em.....
Expensive....but....................
tony
:smash: :smash: :smash: :smash:
[Modified by oldace84, 10:07 PM 7/12/2003]
Been using them for quite awhile.........Love 'em.....
Expensive....but....................
tony
:smash: :smash: :smash: :smash:
[Modified by oldace84, 10:07 PM 7/12/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,496
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From: alaska
Re: Bilsteins? (Eric 96)
"Can I put Z51 Bilsteins (Part# 35499) "
whered ya get that # from?
i have been trying to find out the part # for a z51 shock with no luck.
also my local dealer told me the 92 bilstein oem shock was the bilstein sport on fe1.
im concerned about buying a shock thats only equal or lesser to the "to soft" fe1 oem shock in 92.
whered ya get that # from?
i have been trying to find out the part # for a z51 shock with no luck.
also my local dealer told me the 92 bilstein oem shock was the bilstein sport on fe1.
im concerned about buying a shock thats only equal or lesser to the "to soft" fe1 oem shock in 92.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 168
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From: Crystal Lake IL
Re: Bilsteins? (mitymek)
"Can I put Z51 Bilsteins (Part# 35499) "
whered ya get that # from?
i have been trying to find out the part # for a z51 shock with no luck.
also my local dealer told me the 92 bilstein oem shock was the bilstein sport on fe1.
im concerned about buying a shock thats only equal or lesser to the "to soft" fe1 oem shock in 92.
whered ya get that # from?
i have been trying to find out the part # for a z51 shock with no luck.
also my local dealer told me the 92 bilstein oem shock was the bilstein sport on fe1.
im concerned about buying a shock thats only equal or lesser to the "to soft" fe1 oem shock in 92.
Is that supposed to be the GM part number? I've been looking for the GM # for a long time because I can get a nice discount form a local dealer. Their computer only references the Z51 RPO code, doesn't give breakdown of each part.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 4,445
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From: Mandeville, Louisiana
Re: Bilsteins? (vetteboy95)
I think I got that number off either Ecker's or Vette Brake's & Products website. But I am ordering them through Dan at Van Steel. The Z51 shocks are still Bilstein Sport Model Shocks, but they are valved differently from Bilstein. Dan is sending me the Bilstein Sport Shock w/ Z51 specs. Anyone interested in shocks should get in touch with Van Steel (www.vansteel.com) , they are super people with great prices! :cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,751
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From: Miami, FL, USA
Re: Bilsteins? (Eric 96)
Do a search on the forum for the right price for rebuilding the Bilsteins, my original post says "around $80", which implies I didnt remember the exact price. $55 per shock would be a really good deal. Ask them about the exchange program, but I think you may be out of luck. I was going to buy some cheapies from Pep Boys to throw on there, but ended up buying a whole new set from VBP instead. If they are blown real bad, driving without them wont make too much difference anyways!
