Bilstein Help Please
Discussion
Hiya
During my MOT and service I got my garage to fit new front shocks - after discussion agreed on Bilstein mk 4 with new red springs which I believe is now the standard fit.
Got the car back and all fine, but the front is now high - had a look underneath and after research the units have 3 groves which accept a circlip so the height can be adjusted, the garage have fitted the springs on the top groove which I presume to be the high position.
Have taken a unit off the car, my spring compressors are too big to work and looks a right pain to release the springs so only want to do this once
Which groove should I set them up on - low or med as the high is too much ?
Am now thinking I should get the height adjustment kit so I do not need to remove the units to change ride height - thoughts please!!
I do not do track days and have been very happy with the standard set up, have had to replace as one side started to sag a little.
Many thanks
During my MOT and service I got my garage to fit new front shocks - after discussion agreed on Bilstein mk 4 with new red springs which I believe is now the standard fit.
Got the car back and all fine, but the front is now high - had a look underneath and after research the units have 3 groves which accept a circlip so the height can be adjusted, the garage have fitted the springs on the top groove which I presume to be the high position.
Have taken a unit off the car, my spring compressors are too big to work and looks a right pain to release the springs so only want to do this once
Which groove should I set them up on - low or med as the high is too much ?
Am now thinking I should get the height adjustment kit so I do not need to remove the units to change ride height - thoughts please!!
I do not do track days and have been very happy with the standard set up, have had to replace as one side started to sag a little.
Many thanks
I can’t help re the shocks but the measurement between platforms will likely transform directly to your cars ride height. So if it is 10 mm per height change on the shock expect to see similar at the wheel arch.
Rule of thumb has always been front lower wishbones should be parallel with the ground so if your high your wishbones will be closer to the ground at the wheel end. Work out if moving the spring platforms down one level will it result in the wishbones being level is the best way to look at it.
Rule of thumb has always been front lower wishbones should be parallel with the ground so if your high your wishbones will be closer to the ground at the wheel end. Work out if moving the spring platforms down one level will it result in the wishbones being level is the best way to look at it.
Hi. The circlip on the front shocks should be in the fifth groove up from the bottom, or third from top if you prefer. The rears should be set in the lowest groove. This is the info I got from Ben Lang.
When I adjusted my spring heights, I used two old front discs with two lengths of 10 mm studding between them. Put the shock in the middle and use nuts on the studding to compress the springs, worked a treat for me.
When I adjusted my spring heights, I used two old front discs with two lengths of 10 mm studding between them. Put the shock in the middle and use nuts on the studding to compress the springs, worked a treat for me.
Belle427 said:
I was told they should be fitted as they were supplied, this is the standard setting.
Maybe worth waiting a few weeks to see if they settle, if not I'm sure Ben will advise.
I doubt they will settle much though.
Not so sure about that in all cases.....mine, as supplied, are in 'cross country' mode! Maybe worth waiting a few weeks to see if they settle, if not I'm sure Ben will advise.
I doubt they will settle much though.
Thanks all for comments.
Removed both new units and compared with the original units - they are the same measurements
Fitted the old units back on the car and compared ride height - the car is around 12mm lower on the old units, but the 12mm higher on the new units looks a lot more and does not look right. On the old units the front wishbones sit very slightly down at the wheel end.
My conclusion is that the original Bilstein's and springs now 27 years old sag more with the weight of the car, at some time the wishbones have been adjusted a small amount to compensate which is why the new units are a little high. This is probably all made a bit worse as the back is probably in the same situation.
I could of course just lower the bottom spring cap as have 2 settings below where they are now, but think the sensible way forward is to replace the rear units, perhaps getting some help to set up the ride height and geo.
Thanks all for the info
Andy
Removed both new units and compared with the original units - they are the same measurements
Fitted the old units back on the car and compared ride height - the car is around 12mm lower on the old units, but the 12mm higher on the new units looks a lot more and does not look right. On the old units the front wishbones sit very slightly down at the wheel end.
My conclusion is that the original Bilstein's and springs now 27 years old sag more with the weight of the car, at some time the wishbones have been adjusted a small amount to compensate which is why the new units are a little high. This is probably all made a bit worse as the back is probably in the same situation.
I could of course just lower the bottom spring cap as have 2 settings below where they are now, but think the sensible way forward is to replace the rear units, perhaps getting some help to set up the ride height and geo.
Thanks all for the info
Andy
Basic Suspension Setups / Geometrics here:
http://westfield-world.com/suspension.html
drawing a line from the pivot-points of the lower wishbone (chassis to wheel), this line should stand parallel to the ground...theoretcially.
first of all: changing the platform of the coil (Bilsteins have grooves, GAZ, Spax, Protec, AVO have threads) will change mainly the preload (corner weighing) and depending on the cars weight, angle of shock and poundage of coil also (more or less) the height
this said, if you install new shocks and coils (new coils hopefully with the same poundage as the original ones?? have you verified this yourselves??) the car will ride a bit higher, as the original coils will have sagged. maybe not what we visually prefer, but most likely the orignal factory condition has been restored.
the difference in height has an immediate effect on camber, which automatically effects the track (toe)
http://westfield-world.com/suspension.html
drawing a line from the pivot-points of the lower wishbone (chassis to wheel), this line should stand parallel to the ground...theoretcially.
first of all: changing the platform of the coil (Bilsteins have grooves, GAZ, Spax, Protec, AVO have threads) will change mainly the preload (corner weighing) and depending on the cars weight, angle of shock and poundage of coil also (more or less) the height
this said, if you install new shocks and coils (new coils hopefully with the same poundage as the original ones?? have you verified this yourselves??) the car will ride a bit higher, as the original coils will have sagged. maybe not what we visually prefer, but most likely the orignal factory condition has been restored.
the difference in height has an immediate effect on camber, which automatically effects the track (toe)
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