Bilsteins HD. I Did Wrong
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 6
From: Oilerville Edmonton
St. Jude Donor '08
Alright, I feel like an idiot posting this but I heard somewhere the only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask so here it goes.
what is the broken/wrecked part of the shock? Is it the rubber thing on the shaft, the blue casing on the ground? Feel free to make fun of me but it is an honest question :o
what is the broken/wrecked part of the shock? Is it the rubber thing on the shaft, the blue casing on the ground? Feel free to make fun of me but it is an honest question :o
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,811
Likes: 2
From: Simpsonville SC
Alright, I feel like an idiot posting this but I heard somewhere the only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask so here it goes.
what is the broken/wrecked part of the shock? Is it the rubber thing on the shaft, the blue casing on the ground? Feel free to make fun of me but it is an honest question :o
what is the broken/wrecked part of the shock? Is it the rubber thing on the shaft, the blue casing on the ground? Feel free to make fun of me but it is an honest question :o
Really?!? I wouldnt mind doing that to my fronts. Any info please!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: Euless TX
I have bad news. The same exact bottoming out is going to happen with the sports. Maybe not as extreme as the hd's but the sports are still going to bottom out. Especially if you are lowered. I had to replace 3 of the 4 black bushings you have pictured. They are called a jounce bumper 2 rib 40m. Part # E4-B46-243 and are $3 each from the Bilstein warehouse in CA.
To get the shocks rebuilt you have to send them in and the cost is almost as much as it is to buy new ones.
To get the shocks rebuilt you have to send them in and the cost is almost as much as it is to buy new ones.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville AR
The HD and Sports are the same length. So if you are lower than 1 inch from the factory specs then both shocks (HD and Sports) will bottom out large bumps. The sports are firmer so they may not bottom out as much but I suspect eventually they will look like your HD's over time. I have the HD's and I love them. My car is only lowered about 1/2 inch (maybe 3/4) so I have no problem with bottoming out. The HD are a great choice it really just depends on how low you want your car and what kind of driving you do. 
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,598
Likes: 31
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
The HD and Sports are the same length. So if you are lower than 1 inch from the factory specs then both shocks (HD and Sports) will bottom out large bumps. The sports are firmer so they may not bottom out as much but I suspect eventually they will look like your HD's over time. I have the HD's and I love them. My car is only lowered about 1/2 inch (maybe 3/4) so I have no problem with bottoming out. The HD are a great choice it really just depends on how low you want your car and what kind of driving you do.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,673
Likes: 2
From: Titusville FL
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I believe the OP said he used longer rear bolts which hopefully was the cause of him running out of travel...
Tim
Last edited by tstar; May 7, 2009 at 05:58 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,190
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville AR
Tim, I would lower the front FIRST since I was only able to lower it about 1/2 inch on stock bolts without cutting the bushings (I have the z51 package so that may have made a difference). And then lower the back to match. After a week it will settle and I had to raise my rears some to get the rake right.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,890
Likes: 0
From: FL
lowering your C5 to the extreme is really disastrous, I understand wanting to do it because a c5 with some nice larger wheels and slammed looks like a supercar. However, it ruins the underside, front end especially and ruins handling. Makes the car more so impractical. The back end is supposed to be able to sit down and have soft travel for traction. Any way Id go down all the way on stock bolts without cutting bushings and call it a day. At that level stock shocks are even fine, it looks nice...and when you are driving it, it looks slammed the way a slammed car looks when you are out of it photographing it (talking from experience with 2 c5s and many trials on each)
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Tim, I would lower the front FIRST since I was only able to lower it about 1/2 inch on stock bolts without cutting the bushings (I have the z51 package so that may have made a difference). And then lower the back to match. After a week it will settle and I had to raise my rears some to get the rake right.
IDM thanx for the honest input spoken from experience.
I plan on sticking with the stock bolts, hopefully the ride will be acceptable for me... if not, back up she goes! Tim
Last edited by tstar; May 8, 2009 at 06:19 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 6
From: Oilerville Edmonton
St. Jude Donor '08
[QUOTE=happa;1569975077]its no stupid question, yes the rubber piece on the shaft was split and I had removed the blue casing. The shock could be pushed in by hand so it was shot as well.
QUOTE]
thanks for the info!
QUOTE]
thanks for the info!