Bilstein -vs- stock shocks

D

DaveG

Experienced Member
Joined
16 September 2001
Messages
389
Location
Orange County, CA, USA
I've been using stock shocks and Eibach springs on my car for about the past 6 years. I like the ride height right where it is.

But, the stock shocks are now 12+ years old and I think it's time to replace them. So, decision time. Do I simply replace the stock shocks with new stock shocks and continue using the Eibachs, OR, do I go with Bilsteins on the upper perch with the Eibachs OR, do I go with Bilsteins on the lower perch and put the stock springs back on?

Any firsthand experience and/or recommendations?

TIA

DaveG
 
Well I have run all stock, H&R with stock shocks (worn), and I have the Bilsteins with Eibachs.

I really love the Bilstein with Eibach setup (top perch). I feel it has the benifits of progressive yet firm suspension movements which lend themselves to very confident handling.

In day to day usage it is still very comfortable - more so then my worn shocks were and on par with a Zanardi NSX. A search will generate many more positive comments.

If you are a dedicated and educated track hound you may be better off with an adjustable coil over setup like the Tien but for the weekend warior - it is a great setup IMO.

Good luck.
 
Dave, I think if you install the Bilsteins at the upper setting you will find the height about the same but a much firmer ride then you have become use to. Mine are on the low setting with stock springs, let me know if you want a test run. Gil
 
Bilstein makes only one shock for the NSX. It is their "HD" line which is designed as an OEM equivalent replacement, not a stiffer "performance" shock like the "sport" series they make for so many other cars.

My point is that the Bilsteins are probably your ideal choice given what you have said. They are a perfect match for the progressive rate Eibach springs and should suit you very well, also allowing you to use the lower perch if you decide to try that.
 
I replaced my stock shocks with Bilsteins last year, and kept the ride height the same (stock). I still have the stock springs.

What I like about the Bilsteins is the same thing I like about the stock shocks when they are new - they provide a comfortable ride on the street, but when you push them hard (like on the track), they firm up nicely.

It's hard to compare them with the stock shocks, just because it's not fair to compare a new set of Bilsteins to a worn set of stock shocks. That's the whole reason I decided to replace them; my suspension just didn't seem like it had the slot-car precision that it did years ago, when it was new. I suspect that I would have felt the same way about how the suspension felt if I had replaced the worn shocks with new stock shocks, as I did with the new Bilsteins.

One other advantage of the Bilsteins is longevity. They come with a lifetime warranty. However, my understanding from the folks who sell them is that they should last ummm... basically forever (they mentioned some statistic but I forget what it was) which means they are likely to not need replacement again for the life of the car. Which is even better than getting new ones for free some day.

Dave, can I buy you a drink? ;)
 
I'm going to have Ben at Wheelsboutique install a set of Tein RA Coilovers. You can adjust the ride height from 1" higher than stock to as low as the bumbers scraping the ground if you want. :)

Anyone have experience with Tein shocks out there?
 
Dave,

My car has Bilsteins with stock springs on the lower perch. I like the setup.

Jim
 
I have the Bilstein shocks on the lower perch with the stock springs. I like the look.
 
Hugh said:
I'm going to have Ben at Wheelsboutique install a set of Tein RA Coilovers. You can adjust the ride height from 1" higher than stock to as low as the bumbers scraping the ground if you want. :)

Anyone have experience with Tein shocks out there?
Click to expand...

If you search I think you'll find other discussions about them. There seems to be some disagreement about the amount of oversteer when using the "standard" spring rates. I think you will also find them significantly stiffer than stock, and since the springs are linear (rather than progressive like Eibachs) they are stiff from the first bit of travel. The shock is adjustable, (in rebound but not compression) and setting them to full soft makes the ride tolerable for even your Grandmother. I have them on one car and like them.

I beleive that both SoS and Dali carry them if you are looking for a vendor.
 
sjs said:
If you search I think you'll find other discussions about them. There seems to be some disagreement about the amount of oversteer when using the "standard" spring rates. I think you will also find them significantly stiffer than stock, and since the springs are linear (rather than progressive like Eibachs) they are stiff from the first bit of travel. The shock is adjustable, (in rebound but not compression) and setting them to full soft makes the ride tolerable for even your Grandmother. I have them on one car and like them.

I beleive that both SoS and Dali carry them if you are looking for a vendor.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input sjs.

Ben at Wheel Boutique is also a Tein dealer and I got a chance to sample them in his 2003 NSX. He had them set fairly stiff but I still enjoyed the ride and especially the seat of the pants feedback I felt. It's a pity the Tein EDFC doesn't fit the NSX. That controller box would fit perfectly in my center SoS console above the stereo.
Looks like that space will now be occupied with an Escort ZR3 Laser Shifter instead.
 
I have been contemplating how to lower my car since our last get together in S. Fla. Ben and Armando both recommended the TEIN's, but I haven't decided yet.

one question....

With the TEIN's, if you dial in to a desired height, but then decide to alter it (for whatever reason) do you need to have the car realigned every height alteration?
 
CGI's prices are excellent. But they are not one of those high-volume internet vendors, so he doesn't spend a lot of time keeping a website up to date. The owner spends more of his time running track events at GingerMan than selling products. He's an NSX owner so he's familiar with the application.

Buy them wherever you want. To answer the question, that's where I bought mine.
 
nsxtasy said:
CGI's prices are excellent...
Click to expand...

I have no reason not to believe you. If I were looking to buy some I would definitely give them a call based on your recommendation. I was just venting about a pet peeve and then answered the question based on an extensive search of my own a couple years ago. When I'm doing such a search I won't bother to call or email very many without prices listed because it greatly increases the time spent and seems rather contrary to what I consider a major benefit of the internet, but a direct referral is certainly an exception.
 
DaveG said:
>My brother is also a Tein dealer<

I think what SCS2K meant to say was;

My teen brother is also a dealer.

Stay away from him.

Dave G
Click to expand...

Actually, what I meant to say is that my brother is a teen dealer. He sells teens to the Foreign sex slave trade.

To FBI monitors: The above was a joke.
 
nsxtasy said:
CGI's prices are excellent. But they are not one of those high-volume internet vendors, so he doesn't spend a lot of time keeping a website up to date. The owner spends more of his time running track events at GingerMan than selling products. He's an NSX owner so he's familiar with the application.
Click to expand...

I too purchased mine from Phil / CGI. He has instructed and logged many track miles on the NSX. He really took a lot of time over the phone to understand what I was looking for at the track, on the street, and aesthetically. He understood what other mods I had done and even took into account my wife's needs on date night (well I can see where this is going so I better clarify and say my wife's driving comfort needs!) ;)

Anyway - I know I could have saved a few $ and taken his advice elsewhere but I needed and valued his experiance.

So, if you don't know or are not sure about suspension pieces and how they might interact at the track and on the street - you owe it to yourself to call Phil at CGI Motorsports.

PS: Usual "I get no money from this" disclaimer applies
 
Thanks matteni, I currently have Eibachs with stock 2000 shocks. I like the ride height, but the car feels a little over-sprung and under-damped if you know what I mean. I'm thinking the Bilsteins (to get back on topic) with the Eibachs might be the right answer. My track time is limited in the NSX now that I have a shifter kart, so the NSX mainly just sees street duty. Any others have experience with this set-up?
 
Bilstein's on the lower setting with stock springs lowered my car 1 1/4" FYI
 

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