Bilstein HD shocks ok to use with lowering springs?
#1
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Bilstein HD shocks ok to use with lowering springs?
my car has 95k on it and i want new shocks. I dont really race it or need an expensive *** adjustible shock. I'm just curious if they're ok to use with lowering springs.
#6
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You can use any shock with lower springs, it's just that the SLP's and HD's aren't really valved for the higher rates/lower travel that accompanies lowering springs....they work, and can work well, but but they won't necessarily last as long or work as well as shocks like Koni's that are designed to work with a wider range of springs.
#11
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Alot....their hotchkis springs. I put them on @ probally 15k and the car has about 110k on it now. I've had it since new and it came with the slp bilteins. It seems to be a great setup. It is by far the best handleing fbody I've set my *** in, especially with a aggresive set of tires.. Although I have done little tricks to make it all come together
#14
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Stuff like shorten the sway bar links to the swaybar it sets level (this one really makes a difference), clearenceing stuff so it has suspesion travel with out beating it'self to death. I also did the heater hose mod to remove the rear isolaters, which lead me to shorten the rear bumpstop. Finally , when a fbody sets this low you need to remove the upper brace above the panhard rod, shorten the panhard rod enough to put in in the bolthole of the brace on the body side so the panhard rod comes back to level, that helps the car cornerflatter because your rollcenters are fucked up from lowering it. If your wonder how / why I figured all this out....I worked on roadrace cars for 17 years. Sometimes it's the little things that matter.
#15
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Finally , when a fbody sets this low you need to remove the upper brace above the panhard rod, shorten the panhard rod enough to put in in the bolthole of the brace on the body side so the panhard rod comes back to level, that helps the car cornerflatter because your rollcenters are fucked up from lowering it. If your wonder how / why I figured all this out....I worked on roadrace cars for 17 years. Sometimes it's the little things that matter.
To get the PHB once again level, you must have really lowered the car's ride height significantly.
Have you not seen any tearing or ripping of the body side mount? We've been tearing the axle side loose.
Finally, why didn't you just fab a relocation bracket and keep the upper brace?
BTW ... Bilstein HD shock and lowering springs (Eibach, LGM, Spohn, Hotchkis ...) have been a staple on F-Cars since the early 90s.
There are certain circumstances where a Koni, AST or Penske will out perform. But in the real world, only a handful of enthusiasts who post here really ever get their car to that point. It takes a long string of modifications to the suspension and driver talent to push an F-Car to that point.
#16
Formally Simplɘ Jack
I have SLP bilsteins and was thinking about lowering, never really thought about lowering it but it looks real sick on cars that are lowered. You guys saying my bilsteins wont work good for example a Eibach kit? And since I'm not familiar with springs, how high/low is mine compared to a lowered spring set? Mine came w/ stock slp springs.
Last edited by BoricuaHec01; 04-27-2011 at 09:51 AM.
#17
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So you moved the body side mount up 3" and removed the upper brace?
To get the PHB once again level, you must have really lowered the car's ride height significantly.
Have you not seen any tearing or ripping of the body side mount? We've been tearing the axle side loose.
Finally, why didn't you just fab a relocation bracket and keep the upper brace?
BTW ... Bilstein HD shock and lowering springs (Eibach, LGM, Spohn, Hotchkis ...) have been a staple on F-Cars since the early 90s.
There are certain circumstances where a Koni, AST or Penske will out perform. But in the real world, only a handful of enthusiasts who post here really ever get their car to that point. It takes a long string of modifications to the suspension and driver talent to push an F-Car to that point.
To get the PHB once again level, you must have really lowered the car's ride height significantly.
Have you not seen any tearing or ripping of the body side mount? We've been tearing the axle side loose.
Finally, why didn't you just fab a relocation bracket and keep the upper brace?
BTW ... Bilstein HD shock and lowering springs (Eibach, LGM, Spohn, Hotchkis ...) have been a staple on F-Cars since the early 90s.
There are certain circumstances where a Koni, AST or Penske will out perform. But in the real world, only a handful of enthusiasts who post here really ever get their car to that point. It takes a long string of modifications to the suspension and driver talent to push an F-Car to that point.
#18
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I have SLP bilsteins and was thinking about lowering, never really thought about lowering it but it looks real sick on cars that are lowered. You guys saying my bilsteins wont work good for example a Eibach kit? And since I'm not familiar with springs, how high/low is mine compared to a lowered spring set? Mine came w/ stock slp springs.
#19
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The hotchkis springs will drop it about 1.5" over the slp eibachs that should've came on the car. The hotchkis's also are almost identicle to the spring rate on your car now....so ride won't change as long as you do the little tricks I posted above. This is the stance it will have with the hotchkis springs and the heater hose mod.
Also, I never said they won't work good with lowering springs, just saying that there are better options out there to work with the higher rates/less travel if you can spend some more money. If you already have SLP Bilsteins, I wouldn't bother changing the shocks out right now.
If you have stock DeCarbons, then I'd consider moving up to a better shock. As for cars coming with stock Bilsteins, I wouldn't bother moving up to a better shock unless you're dissatisfied with the ride/performance or your shocks are worn out and need replacing anyways. No sense in spending more money if you don't have to.
#20
TECH Senior Member
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It's not 3", it's about 1 5/8". Removing the brace brace lost weight. Moving the pan/rod up to that hole reduced leverage on that bracket. If I would've made a bracket off the bracket.....well that just does sound right does it? 0 problems it 80k or so, but I have seen another car break the axle side bracket....but it took a hard hit.
http://www.unbalancedengineering.com/Camaro/
Jason's had good luck with reloaction the PHB lower and leaving the upper in place.
I have pics somewhere of the 10 bolt PHB bracket with stress cracks ... at 260HP!