Hey Everyone,

UPDATE...I got them installed and detailed the process on the last post...thanks for the help

I checked out a few sites that had some pics about the install but I have a few questions...

I have the car in the air now, been detailing. How hard is the install? Do you have to drop the a-arms? How long should it take? And last, do you have any advice?

Oh, and if anyone in my area wants to share a few brews :D

Mark


[Modified by Mean Green 2000, 12:53 PM 8/11/2001]


[Modified by Mean Green 2000, 9:19 AM 8/12/2001]

 

I just finished installing them today.

Get the car in the air so you can work safely.
Remove the wheels. I did the back and the front a week later.

Make your self a loop out of an old rag that you can use to keep the back shocks compressed so you can get them out. After you unbolt them you should be able to compress them a couple of inches and slip on the loop.

Put the new ones in the same way, compressed. Once the are in place you can slip the loop off of cut it. Make sure you tighten all the bolts.

The front is a little different. The loops won't work here. I unbolted the a-arms (4-bolts) with the wheel unsupported. This gives you plenty of room to get the shock out. Make sure you get the a-arm bolts started properly when you put it back together so they don't get cross threaded.

I had a problem getting the top nut off one of my front shocks. I didn't have anything but wd-40 to put on the threads. I ended up cutting the bolt off with a hacksaw. The metal is pretty soft but the work is tight. If you don't run into the same problem the whole job won't take more than a couple of hours.

My car was lowered and the bilsteins really improved the ride and handling.

 

thanks Chuck...I think I'm going to tackle these today!

Mark

 

Just finsihed the install with the GREAT help of VetteMan2k1....very cool...now all I have to do is finsih washing the wheels, put 'em back on and let them fly :D

Mark

 

Well, are you going to tell how you did it? We would like the rest of the story.

 

pretty easy job...remoce the wheels, front and back.

the rears have 2 bolts up top and one on the bottom, remove those. Position yourself sitting under the rotor with a "helper" to one side. Using long zip ties, loop around the top/bottom of shock. Compress the shock while the helper pulls the zip ties taunt. This should provide enough room to slide the old shock out.

Now remove the upper mounting bracket and install on the new shock. Zip tie the new shock and reverse the process. Duplicate for other side.

For the fronts the process is pretty much the same except there is one upper bolt and 2 lower, these will be re-used. There's no need to drop the a-arm in the front. And there is no bracket swap.

Should take about 15-20 minutes per shock and the hardest part is compressing the old shock for removal. It really helps to have a pair of extra hands :D

I really like to new ride and it seems even a tad lower, I have to say well worth the $270 and hours work!

Mark


[Modified by Mean Green 2000, 9:21 AM 8/12/2001]


[Modified by Mean Green 2000, 7:02 PM 8/12/2001]

 

Hey Mean Grean 2000, how bout a review on the ride with the Bilsteins installed now, and i assume u had the stock susp, which is what i have and not really happy with the slight float feeling i get at 100mph and above, when on a road that has those smooth type valleys, dont get me wrong its a good balanced susp for all roads, but i just like it a bit stiffer. Do you get that with the Bil's? Thanks. Rob

 

Rob,

I did/do have the base suspension. I like the difference in ride quality...it feels more planted, hell I even think it looks a little lower, and I had lowered the car prior to installing these.

It's hard for me to put into words....when you go over uneven pavement, the shift/shudder is greatly reduced, wheel hop....no more

Like I mentioned earlier, for the price and time spent, they rock :D. VetteMan2k1 just did this install as well and he can really wax poetic about 'em

Mark

 

Thanks Mark for the reply, i know what u mean about the uneven pvmnt, i drive on a road that has that on a curve, and the cars skips across the bad section, a little unsettling. On my previous vette 96' i had the F-45 susp option, that was real nice for choosing what u needed for the type of road condt, but at $1595 it was pricey, and at 38,000 miles the "service ride cont light' came on. well im going to give the bil's a try, one of the forum vendors has a special on them, there are two types, a 'sport' and 'base' which one did u use? thanks.

 

Rob....no problem, I used the sports, it's my understanding that for base suspensions that are lowered, it's the way to go

Mark