Help! Bilstein damper measurement

[xain]

Okay, I admit it! I foolishly threw away my old dampers before I got the geometry checked on the new ones. Turns out the new fronts are wrong, so the distributor has kindly supplied me with adjustables, but I don't have the originals to measure against. I also can't get anyone at Blackpool to answer the phone.

If anyone has a set of Bilstein fronts (red springs) lying around could they possibly measure the following with the damper at maximum extension?

1) Distance between center of both mounting bolts
2) Distance between the two spring seats (the face that the spring sits on)

You could really save my bacon!

Many thanks
Xain

[mack]

xain,
I've just been in the garage and taken measurements from a spare set of shocks/springs that I have.These were off a 1999 Griff 500 and are built up as fitted.The details are:

Front - Bilstein damper(part no.C0163 1398B461715M2)
Eibach red spring (part no.C0098 04/99-1)
measurement 1 - 365mm
measurement 2 - 222mm

Rear - Bilstein damper (part no.D0112 1798B461716M1)
Eibach yellow spring
measurement 1 - 378mm
measurement 2 - 206mm

Hope this helps,like I said,they're off a Griff 500,but,the measurements may give you something to start working from

[RCA]

Hi, just seen this post, have got all of my front end in bits at the mo including having the suspension off so will measure for you tomorrow and see how it compares!!!
cheers
Rich

[xain]

Thanks chaps, very much appreciated.
Rich, it will be interesting to see if your measurements match.

Thanks
Xain

[andy lockett]

Hi i need to change a rear damper as well and i thought i could just take off the old one replace the damper and put it straight back?but reading your thread is this not possible as you mentioned particular measurements etc and do i need any special kit ie spring compressors etc,Also are the dampers adjustable i have standard Bilst with yellow springs.
many thanks

[mack]

Hi Andy,
Yes you can just remove your damper for replacement-you don't need to measure,as long as you use the right parts,as yours aren't adjustable.I think xain has changed to a different make of adjustable dampers,which is why he needs the measurements for setting them up.You can just remove yours,then use a spring compressor to stipdown and replace the damper.
As has been mentioned before,take care with the spring compressor as most of them don't seem to fit properly-I slightly ground mine down to fit-or try different types.

[xain]

Andy,
if you get TVR dampers, they should just drop in.
HOWEVER... Make sure you have access to a genuine TVR spring compressor. I couldn't find *anybody* else who could get the springs on or off and I tried a *lot* of very varied places.

Mack,
your measurements for the rears tallied exactly with the setup I copied from my original rears to the adjustables that I got for the back, so that was great. The fronts also showed roughly the amount of error that I was expecting to see on the fixed replacements (having fitted them).

So, I've used your front measurements (ooh err) to set up the front dampers, and I'll be fitting them tomorrow. Looks right though. Many thanks for that, I was really sweating for a bit!

Xain