coilover shock rebuild/shorten
12-13-2006, 10:41 PM
#1
coilover shock rebuild/shorten I have been running LG Motorsport's G2 Coilovers on my car for about 4 years now (about 50K miles) and they are LONG over due for a rebuild. At the same time, the shocks are WAY too long (at ride height they are almost 3/4" compressed...).
IDEALY there would be someone in Phoenix that could do this (is there?) but if not, is there anyone in say So Cal (I'm sure there MUST be someone in LA right?) who could both clean, check out, and shorten the shocks for me?
Now I DO have a machine shop (Bridgeport mill and a 1340 Lathe) so I am easily capable of modifying the shock body/piston rod (don't have any shock testing equipment though) but have just never played with shocks before (insides) so unless the cost is high to have the work done I might just let someone else handle it. IF I do the machien work, I would still need to send it somewhere (I guess?) and have the shock checked on a shock dyno (unless I replaced the valves at the same time) right?
ideas?
The shocks are Bilstein aluminum threaded body shocks. I'm waiting for LG to get back to me but I THINK they are of the ASN series and they work out to be a 7" stroke. There in lies the problem. LG used the shortest shock that Bilstein makes (so they tried) but it is still too long to really be IDEAL.
IDEALY there would be someone in Phoenix that could do this (is there?) but if not, is there anyone in say So Cal (I'm sure there MUST be someone in LA right?) who could both clean, check out, and shorten the shocks for me?
Now I DO have a machine shop (Bridgeport mill and a 1340 Lathe) so I am easily capable of modifying the shock body/piston rod (don't have any shock testing equipment though) but have just never played with shocks before (insides) so unless the cost is high to have the work done I might just let someone else handle it. IF I do the machien work, I would still need to send it somewhere (I guess?) and have the shock checked on a shock dyno (unless I replaced the valves at the same time) right?
ideas?
The shocks are Bilstein aluminum threaded body shocks. I'm waiting for LG to get back to me but I THINK they are of the ASN series and they work out to be a 7" stroke. There in lies the problem. LG used the shortest shock that Bilstein makes (so they tried) but it is still too long to really be IDEAL.
12-14-2006, 12:02 PM
#3
Rant time: 
They came back with the same old crap about their products being "proprietary information" so they could not tell me anything (though I can clearly match up the shock body with Bilstein's catalog and it is indeed a 7" stroke ASN). They would "rather" I just send the shocks to them to be rebuilt (I'm sure they would.....that way they can pocket more money
). This is exactly why I passed them over for a cam WAYYY back in the day (back when the G2 was THE cam).
Seriously! My guess is EVERY PART inside these shocks is from Bilstein and all LG does is sets the valve settings (using Bilstein valves). Whoever rebuilds them for me (I have no interest to deal with LG and their secretiveness), will put them on a dyno to test them and print out a nice little card that will have all the information. At that point, another one of their "big secrets" will be at an end.
I didn't really care to know when I baught these things (some 4 years ago...when the car was mostly stock) but now that I'm changing a lot around on the car (reducing weight, shifting weight, changing the rear suspension design), I need to know what my "base line" is so I can change settings as need be.
They made a big deal about keeping their cams hush-hush but then someone came along with a cam doctor and put the numbers out there. In the end, people still buy their cams from LG (because nobody wants to cut someone out of business) but now they KNOW what they are getting UP FRONT (an amazing idea isn't it). I PERSONALLY would have baught the G2 but they couldn't give me any specs so I said "**** that" and went to Thunder. I appreciate companies who have enough faith in their customers to trust they will do what is right/honest. To me it is disrespectful to outright say "we can't trust our customers with information" (either they think everyone is a criminal or is too stupid to put the info to good use).
You would think we were talking about national defense contracts or Area-51 with how they act.
In short, LG uses good products but their narrow-minded secretiveness is childish crap (and yes...if you couldn't tell.....I'm pissed....).
They came back with the same old crap about their products being "proprietary information" so they could not tell me anything (though I can clearly match up the shock body with Bilstein's catalog and it is indeed a 7" stroke ASN). They would "rather" I just send the shocks to them to be rebuilt (I'm sure they would.....that way they can pocket more money
). This is exactly why I passed them over for a cam WAYYY back in the day (back when the G2 was THE cam). Seriously! My guess is EVERY PART inside these shocks is from Bilstein and all LG does is sets the valve settings (using Bilstein valves). Whoever rebuilds them for me (I have no interest to deal with LG and their secretiveness), will put them on a dyno to test them and print out a nice little card that will have all the information. At that point, another one of their "big secrets" will be at an end.
I didn't really care to know when I baught these things (some 4 years ago...when the car was mostly stock) but now that I'm changing a lot around on the car (reducing weight, shifting weight, changing the rear suspension design), I need to know what my "base line" is so I can change settings as need be.
They made a big deal about keeping their cams hush-hush but then someone came along with a cam doctor and put the numbers out there. In the end, people still buy their cams from LG (because nobody wants to cut someone out of business) but now they KNOW what they are getting UP FRONT (an amazing idea isn't it). I PERSONALLY would have baught the G2 but they couldn't give me any specs so I said "**** that" and went to Thunder. I appreciate companies who have enough faith in their customers to trust they will do what is right/honest. To me it is disrespectful to outright say "we can't trust our customers with information" (either they think everyone is a criminal or is too stupid to put the info to good use).
You would think we were talking about national defense contracts or Area-51 with how they act.
In short, LG uses good products but their narrow-minded secretiveness is childish crap (and yes...if you couldn't tell.....I'm pissed....).
Last edited by 2001CamaroGuy; 12-14-2006 at 12:18 PM.
12-14-2006, 12:17 PM
#4
Originally Posted by 2001CamaroGuy
I have been running LG Motorsport's G2 Coilovers on my car for about 4 years now (about 50K miles) and they are LONG over due for a rebuild. At the same time, the shocks are WAY too long (at ride height they are almost 3/4" compressed...).
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
12-14-2006, 12:22 PM
#5
Originally Posted by Sam Strano
If the shocks aren't compressed at ride height some, you have no droop travel left when the car rolls.... In other words, you don't want the shocks to not be compressed at all @ ride height, or you'll pull wheels of the ground as well as completely F up any stability the car has.
I'm not looking to make the shock not compressed any at ride height. If I can bring the shock closer to mid stroke (needed to really be a 5" stroke shock/shorter body) at ride height, then as the suspension goes through it's movements, I will actually end up with more usable travel.
Last edited by 2001CamaroGuy; 12-14-2006 at 12:30 PM.
12-14-2006, 01:28 PM
#6
Originally Posted by 2001CamaroGuy
They came back with the same old crap about their products being "proprietary information"
<snip>
I appreciate companies who have enough faith in their customers to trust they will do what is right/honest. To me it is disrespectful to outright say "we can't trust our customers with information" (either they think everyone is a criminal or is too stupid to put the info to good use).
You would think we were talking about national defense contracts or Area-51 with how they act.
In short, LG uses good products but their narrow-minded secretiveness is childish crap (and yes...if you couldn't tell.....I'm pissed....).
<snip>
I appreciate companies who have enough faith in their customers to trust they will do what is right/honest. To me it is disrespectful to outright say "we can't trust our customers with information" (either they think everyone is a criminal or is too stupid to put the info to good use).
You would think we were talking about national defense contracts or Area-51 with how they act.
In short, LG uses good products but their narrow-minded secretiveness is childish crap (and yes...if you couldn't tell.....I'm pissed....).
Glenn and I have stopped divulging where we are on rates and shock valving for basically the same reason. How can we charge a racer for coaching him on spring rates and shock package if we allow that information to be freely passed around for do-it-yourselfers? We can't. And we are really close to coming up with a package that works well for us.
It's common practice. Is it maddening? Hell yes it is, but in this world of competitive edge and easy data transfer, it's what we have.
12-14-2006, 01:49 PM
#7
All true. However, when someone is a customer of mine and owns the product he's asking about, I tell them whatever I know (or they want to know) about it.
I find it infuriating that you can spend money for something and STILL not be privy to any details of it. I don't hide that kind of information. When someone buys Revalves, they know what they are getting, I just don't spout that information freely to just anyone to protect myself. I could never tell anyone anything, but that would hurt me more than anyone, so I run a certain risk letting out the things I do, but I feel it's important.
I find it infuriating that you can spend money for something and STILL not be privy to any details of it. I don't hide that kind of information. When someone buys Revalves, they know what they are getting, I just don't spout that information freely to just anyone to protect myself. I could never tell anyone anything, but that would hurt me more than anyone, so I run a certain risk letting out the things I do, but I feel it's important.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
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12-14-2006, 02:41 PM
#9
Originally Posted by Sam Strano
All true. However, when someone is a customer of mine and owns the product he's asking about, I tell them whatever I know (or they want to know) about it.
I find it infuriating that you can spend money for something and STILL not be privy to any details of it. I don't hide that kind of information. When someone buys Revalves, they know what they are getting, I just don't spout that information freely to just anyone to protect myself. I could never tell anyone anything, but that would hurt me more than anyone, so I run a certain risk letting out the things I do, but I feel it's important.
I find it infuriating that you can spend money for something and STILL not be privy to any details of it. I don't hide that kind of information. When someone buys Revalves, they know what they are getting, I just don't spout that information freely to just anyone to protect myself. I could never tell anyone anything, but that would hurt me more than anyone, so I run a certain risk letting out the things I do, but I feel it's important.
that is the point right there......if I OWN the part (or really even if I plan to buy), I think as a responsible customer/end user, should be allowed to know what I'm getting myself into (which as I said, is why I wouldn't buy a cam from LG...)
anyways....back to the original question "good place to send the shocks to (I said SoCal because that is closer to Phoenix than say NY) and have them cleaned/rebuilt/etc..."
12-14-2006, 03:10 PM
#10
I don't know, Bilstein maybe????????
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
12-22-2006, 10:18 AM
#14
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Originally Posted by z-ya
Naake
Shipping and Mailing Address:
Naake Suspension Specialists
2300 Central Avenue
Roseville, CA 95747
916-771-0109 Phone
916-771-5201 Fax
info@naake.com Email
FYI: We prefer phone calls over emails.
Most inquiries are far to complicated to answer simply in an email.
We welcome your telephone calls.
IF YOU ARE SHIPPING SHOCKS TO US, PLEASE MAKE SURE TO:
Clean your shocks
Include your contact, shipping, and billing information
Include instructions for us:
Tell us what problems you are experiencing
Do you want us to change the valving?
Are your shocks leaking?
