re valved bilsteins best source

[carrera1975]

I have HD bilsteins in the front and sports in the rear, I read an interesting article in Excellence Mag, about re valving your bilsteins.

Jerry Woods has a f-10 valving that is a better handling shock. Is this mean stiffer or more forgiving?

My current set up is with 22mm/28mm torsion bars. I'm looking for a little less harshness but still high speed bump absobsion

[Richard C2S]

Call Bilstein in California. They do it.

[carrera1975]

Phone # or location?

Thanks,

[Cory M]

Bilstein Motorsports is in Poway, CA (SanDiego), $65 per shock - comes with a dyno sheet, google the #

Smart Racing can do it

Mirage International in San Diego can do it

So can others. They all have their own ideas on what valving is the best match for your car.

[DW SD]

Various folks offer revalving services. It is some black art and some science. If you pay a third party to revalve (not Bilstein), they won't provide their valving #s to you. Though they typically have Bilstein revalve the shocks to their specs.

When companies do custom setups, they often will use multi-way adjustable shocks. They'll drive until they like a setup and then use a shock dyno to measure the shock's characteristics. From there, they can give the spec to bilstein for the valving. Bilstein will sometimes (maybe always) test with their dyno to ensure the shocks meet the specs.
These companies can do a custom setup for you if you provide spring rates, car weight, driving style, desired handling characteristics, etc. Again it is a combination of science, art and empirical testing that determines the final outcome.

Smart Racing -
Bilstein -
Jae from Mirage International in San Diego
Steve at Rennsport
and others.

I suspect any one of these could take your shocks and modify them to reduce the harshness. Harsh ride can be from damping that is too little or too great, as I understand.

Hope that helps. I'm no expert.

Doug

[carrera1975]

thanks to all, good info. I think I will go to Bilstein direct.

[randywebb]

harsh ride could also be old hard susp. bushings...

[don911]

Steve Weiner at Rennsport System.

Steve also posts on this bbs.

I just put a pair of Steve's RSR struts valved for 22mm torsion bars on my car. The ride is not as harsh as before but I also changed bushings. Between new bushing and struts, the ride is a lot better. It's still stiff but it doesn't seem a harsh stiffness...if that makes any sense.

I have RSR rears coming from Steve valved for 30mm tbars....can't wait to get those on.

[Joeaksa]

Good thread!