Revalving Bilsteins - quick question

Kemo · 05-19-2008, 10:14 AM

The rear shocks are pretty straight forward. However, the fronts are a bit complicated.

Do I have to send in the whole strut? Plus my assembly is half-boge/half-bilstien. I have been told that I have Bilstein inserts.

With this in mind, do I just need to send in the insert?

LM3929 · 05-19-2008, 10:18 AM

Just the inserts unless you need the inner strut bushings replaced.

You can down load the service form from Bilstein . com and you need to let them know what settings you want them set to. Talk to Jack? French at Bilstein for more info.

LM

Shawn 357 · 05-19-2008, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LM3929

Just the inserts unless you need the inner strut bushings replaced.

You can down load the service form from Bilstein . com and you need to let them know what settings you want them set to. Talk to Jack? French at Bilstein for more info.

LM

FYI I heard Jack passed away. I also heard that with Jack gone it is taking longer to get the shocks back so plan accordingly.

LM3929 · 05-19-2008, 10:47 AM

Shawn

Thanks for the info that's unfortunate about Jack F.

I only talked with him twice but he was very helpful and nice to talk with.

LM

Cory M · 11:39 AM

I just went through this with Bilstein. Call them everyday, seriously. Have the secretary page Ramon, he will not return your calls. They will tell you it will take 2 weeks, it will take a lot longer than that. I left them multiple messages and had my name and phone number written down in 6 places along with all of my car details and instructions - they never even bothered to call me. Finally after 3 weeks I got through to them only to find out they hadn't done any work on my shocks yet. One of my inserts needed to be replaced so they just let them sit on the shelf and made no effort to contact me or even return the messages I left them. Their customer service is horrible, and I live a few miles away from their facility, I can only imagine how frustrating it would be if I was out of state.

Oh, you just need to send in the insert.

Zeke · 05-19-2008, 01:36 PM

Why not call Jason at Paragon products and see who he may recommend. I know there are shock rebuilders out there besides Bilstein themselves.

Rusty Heap · Rusty Heap's Garage

Send your inserts to Rennsport in Portland.........Steve is great, returns all emails even late at night, and has awesome valving specs.........yup yup yup

Cory M · 05-19-2008, 03:02 PM

A lot of shops just send their revalve recommendations and the shocks to Bilstein. It would be nice to find a shop that has revalved shocks for popular applications in stock and would do an exchange for your old ones Maybe Smart Racing or Rennsport do this, I don't know, but it would save you from having your car on jackstands for a month while your waiting for the parts.

Rusty Heap · Rusty Heap's Garage

Rennsport used to have shocks to swap out but as of 2 months ago he didn't have any on the shelf, so he and most other shops just send them to Bilstein with the custom shop specs.

Steve there at Rennsport is a class act, really. One of the best of any vendors I've dealt with in the P-car world, right up there with John Walker in my opinion.

I did new 22/28mm torsion bars and strut revalve at the same time, and the turn around time for the struts including shipping to and fro to Rennsport was not much more than 2 weeks. You can pay Bilstein 20% more for express strut revalving and a rush job.........which is what I did. If I recall, it was $225-250 for rebuilt struts and worth every penny!!!!!!

Rennsport rocks. The new suspension makes my 911 a WHOLE NEW DRIVING EXPERIENCE!!!

softer compression, stiffer rebound. the car takes a plant in the corners and stays there, tracks days are SO MUCH better! now time for stickier tires........