Bilstein measurement -> diagrams
- Thread starter goldNSX
- Start date
Comparing your high velocity shock rates to what's listed in the FAQ, the Bilsteins look about as stiff in the rear as the shocks on a 1997 NSX and in the front as a 1997 NSX-S or Zanardi.
That makes me want to spend the $65 per shock Bilstein charges to custom valve shocks. Plus $10 per shock for them to set the ride height where I want it (by cutting additional external snap ring grooves).
Now if only someone had low velocity OEM damping specifications...
That makes me want to spend the $65 per shock Bilstein charges to custom valve shocks. Plus $10 per shock for them to set the ride height where I want it (by cutting additional external snap ring grooves).
Now if only someone had low velocity OEM damping specifications...
- Joined
- 15 May 2004
- Messages
- 6,898
Thank you very much. I would suggest that the Bilsteins MUST be revalved to match the Zanardi rates not because of the high velocity damping forces but much more because of the low forces (progressive character) at low/middle speeds which is a general Bilstein characteristic and helps you to save some comfort on normal roads. 0.3 m/s is a very high speed and rarely existent. I don't understand why shocks are compared at only this rate? The Zanardi shocks are much stiffer at low/middle speeds (0.01/0.05 m/s) and will ride much harsher than the Bilsteins I think but the stiff front springs need this setting.
Does anyone have damping specifications for OEM dampers at speeds other than 0.3 m/s?
- Joined
- 15 May 2004
- Messages
- 6,898
The shocks came back from Bilstein Germany, hurra. 
They still owe me a datasheet of the new settings which will be here by the end of the month. So we had the Zanardi springs and the revalved Bilsteins mounted together for testing purpose. Regarding the springs shortness they didn't match (what I expected after receiving the springs). We have to shorten the Bilsteins by 35 mm front and 45 mm rear to make a drop of 4 cm maximum possible. Additional perches will be cut to optimize the ride height. This task will take two or three weeks so I hope it to be installed in my baby by the end of this month. Ok, we have to send them to Bilstein again, my fault, but that's no problem because the whole project took about half a year or more till now.
I expect to lower her by additional 4 cm in the front and 3 cm in the back to reach the Eibach look. Further updates will follow.
I had good luck today to meet Erich at Rikli swapping out his springs and shocks. As he needed an assistent we both worked them out and it's not complicated at all. The rear suspension needed four hands to get the shock out without dismounting other suspension parts which definitly needed alignement then. Very interesting. We finished all four within 2,5 hours, doing it the first time on an NSX. Not bad.
They still owe me a datasheet of the new settings which will be here by the end of the month. So we had the Zanardi springs and the revalved Bilsteins mounted together for testing purpose. Regarding the springs shortness they didn't match (what I expected after receiving the springs). We have to shorten the Bilsteins by 35 mm front and 45 mm rear to make a drop of 4 cm maximum possible. Additional perches will be cut to optimize the ride height. This task will take two or three weeks so I hope it to be installed in my baby by the end of this month. Ok, we have to send them to Bilstein again, my fault, but that's no problem because the whole project took about half a year or more till now. I expect to lower her by additional 4 cm in the front and 3 cm in the back to reach the Eibach look. Further updates will follow.
I had good luck today to meet Erich at Rikli swapping out his springs and shocks. As he needed an assistent we both worked them out and it's not complicated at all. The rear suspension needed four hands to get the shock out without dismounting other suspension parts which definitly needed alignement then. Very interesting.
We finished all four within 2,5 hours, doing it the first time on an NSX. Not bad.
- Joined
- 15 May 2004
- Messages
- 6,898
nsxhk said:
That's the reason I have to shorten them. As far as I would use the upper perches I don't need to shorten the shock at all. But as we're going to cut additional perches at about -1.75 inches the spring gets that amount lower too. As the Zanardi springs are very short, i.e. front, and the shock would be not shortened, the springs wouldn't be precompressed by about 0.5 inches at full rebound. That's not safe. -> short the shocks!
The best thing is to wait for some pics as soon as we do the install which was delayed again
(). 
