Make the original bilsteins ride height adjustable

[Filos Hippos]

Hi guys,

I've read on this forum that you can make the original bilstein dampers ride height adjustable by machining extra grooves for the circlips.

Has anyone any experiency in doing so and would this be completely safe?

I would consider going this route as my car has only about 20K km on the clock and the dampers are not worn but would like to adjust the ride height as the car seems to sit to high at the front.

I also consider buying new adjustable nitrons with eibach springs but if the other option is completely safe I 'dd rather keep the money in my pocket for a while. . .


Thanks for your views.

Filip

PS. looking forward to the continental meeting

[Filos Hippos]

Done!

[Chimjunkie]

Filos Hippos said:

Done!

Already machined the grooves?! Post a picture or two.

[Hoover.]

Chimjunkie said:

Filos Hippos said:

Done!

Already machined the grooves?! Post a picture or two.

Interestring :scratcchin:

I must admit I upgraded mine to gas.....BUT I'm v interested in what you've done

[Filos Hippos]

After surfing for some advise I found that some bilsteins already came with the extra grooves as standard.

And apparently the housing material is thick enough over the entire lenght of the damper.

That gave me enough confidence to start working on it.

The hardest thing was to get everything apart, especially on the front driver's side things didn't go very smooth.

Once apart, I then unloaded the springs so I could take the ring of the damper. Circlipses came off easy.

A friend machine the extra grooves very carefully.

Fronts: 2 extra grooves, one 3cm and one 4 cm. I put the circlips in the 3cm groove and that lowered the car by approximately 2,5cm

Back: 1 extra groove at 2 cm and this lowered the car about 1,5cm

Mounting the springs back on the dampers and preloading the springs was a bit dangerous since I did not have the right tools for the job. Everything went well though.

I also noticed my car came with the Eibach springs as standard. (or is this always the case, front red and back yellow)

Result is a car that seems to sit right and not one with to corpses in the trunk.

After a short blast it seems handling is not comprimised, on the contrary, the car handles beautifully.

And I still got the cash in my pocket to pay for some R888 :smoking:

[Chimjunkie]

Great work! Geometry will be altered though. Best get this checked. Had my car running 3-4cm lower on the Nitrons but got fed up with bottoming out on really bumpy country roads. Exhaust and rear arb took a battering!

Jon.

[Ab Shocks]

I would urge caution on dropping them too much because not only are the Eibachs quite often dual rate on the rear which makes them settle quite a lot but also quite soft springs at 325lb front and go down to 250lb on the rear which needs quite a bit of suspension movement to stop you hitting bumpstops.

Not saying don't do it but just be careful.

[Filos Hippos]

Springs front: 44/02, ... (have to check)
Springs rear: 30/00, TVR DO103

Rears are dual rate indeed.

Shocks front: ...
Shocks rear: F4-BE5 6084-MO

Suspension arms front sit horizontaly level now . . .

[The AJP Griff]

Bilstein cut 4 extra grooves in mine whilst they re-furbed them,and charged just £5 to do it

[Filos Hippos]

Hi Mike,

I considered sending them to Bilstein aswell but I figured it would take quite a while to get them back? ? ?

Also, can you send them with the springs attached or do you have to dissamble them yourself?


Filip

[The AJP Griff]

Filos Hippos said:

Hi Mike,

I considered sending them to Bilstein aswell but I figured it would take quite a while to get them back? ? ?

Also, can you send them with the springs attached or do you have to dissamble them yourself?


Filip

They tunned mine around in a couple of days,from memory,but i would expect this to vary depending on the time of year etc.I sent mine stripped of the springs,but i'm not sure if you had to do that or not.