Revalving Bilsteins to match Zanardi springs

[goldNSX]

Hi

I'm going to change my lowering from Eibach/Bilstein to Zanardi/revalved Bilsteins.
I got a phone-call from Bilstein-Germany about revalving my shocks and making them harder to match the Zanardi springs. They need the original springs rate, the new spring rate. The price is 55 EURO per shock.

My questions:
Did anybody here do it?
The Zanardi springs are progressive, right or wrong? I can only find one number like 650/500 but no range. Does anybody have a range of them?
Or
What compression/rebound rates would you suggest I should go with: I don't race my car, I want a still comfortable ride but no bouncing due to soft rebound rates (as it would be with OEM Bilsteins).
They're going go cut new perches to lower it. Could give me anybody the exact distances of the wheel center to the fender of the Zanardi springs/combo?
Or should I send them a bunch of Zanardi shock as an example to work with?

Thanks in advance,
thomas

 

[Larry Bastanza]

The spring rates for Zanardi's as well as stock are in the chart here:

http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Performance/suspension.htm

I am thinking this is the before/after data you want. Also the Eibach progressive range is there too.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[1BADNSX]

I haven’t done this on an NSX, but I did get custom valved Bilsteins for my M3. Know you spring rate and work with the Bilstein engineers to come up with the best valving. I paid $55 (US) per damper and this included a graph of the new valving. I believe this is a bargain and the Bilstein internals are hard to beat (unless you go to remote reservoir dampers).

Bob

 

[goldNSX]

What I'm still unsure is:

Are the Zanardis linear or progressive?
Some people in this forum say linear, some say progressive.

What about sending a pair of Zanardi shocks to Bilstein as an exemple believing Honda knows it all?

The shock rates of Bilsteins and Zanardis are about the same, I have read. Why are the Bilsteins with Zanardi springs underdamped then?

Or is there a other way to make a Zanardi shock height-adjustable?

Thanks in advance,
thomas

 

[zoomnsx]

Thomas,
Can you verify that you are talking about Bilstein HD model? They already come with 2 perches. Also, in talking to Bilstein here in the U.S. a few years ago, they don't re-valve the HD, only the sport and up to the high end models.

Bob,
Can you confirm that the re-valved Bilstein on your M3 was not the bottom end HD model.

Thanks,
John

 

[goldNSX]

Thomas,
Can you verify that you are talking about Bilstein HD model? They already come with 2 perches. Also, in talking to Bilstein here in the U.S. a few years ago, they don't re-valve the HD, only the sport and up to the high end models.
John

Hi John

Yes, my Bilstein has 2 perches, but maybe one perch in between or below the two will be needed to find a perfect looking.
They told me that they dissemble and reassemble any shocks in Germany.

Greetings,
Thomas

 

[NSX-Racer]

Thomas,
Can you verify that you are talking about Bilstein HD model? They already come with 2 perches. Also, in talking to Bilstein here in the U.S. a few years ago, they don't re-valve the HD, only the sport and up to the high end models.

There's only one Bilstein shock model homologized for the NSX and that's the yellow/blue HD model. You may ask again Bilstein USA but AFAIK they revalve the HD models.

 

[Hrant]

You are making this too hard on yourself :wink:

Comments in your text with ............

Hi

I'm going to change my lowering from Eibach/Bilstein to Zanardi/revalved Bilsteins.
I got a phone-call from Bilstein-Germany about revalving my shocks and making them harder to match the Zanardi springs. They need the original springs rate, the new spring rate. The price is 55 EURO per shock.

........ In the US it was $65 so looks the same with currency changes.

My questions:
Did anybody here do it?

.......... a few have revalved their Bilstein but I don't believe I have read anyone doing it to match the Zanardi springs.

The Zanardi springs are progressive, right or wrong?

........ wrong. They are linear. The Type R spring on the other hand is progressive.

I can only find one number like 650/500 but no range. Does anybody have a range of them?
Or
What compression/rebound rates would you suggest I should go with: I don't race my car, I want a still comfortable ride but no bouncing due to soft rebound rates (as it would be with OEM Bilsteins).

.......... this is why when you send your Bilsteins for revalving, the engineers want to talk to you to understand how you will use them. They will recommend to you what best options to pursue and what will match what.

But reading your posts on this and other forum, if you are not taking your NSX to the track, why do you want to go stiffer than the OEM springs mated to the Bislteins on lower perch? With adjustable sway bars and the Type R braces for that steering question that you had, your NSX will be plenty firm for a street car. For my 98-T, it is borderline in terms of daily comfort especially on uneven surfaces - but on smooth roads it is a delight.

They're going go cut new perches to lower it.

.......... the one in the US already comes cut

Could give me anybody the exact distances of the wheel center to the fender of the Zanardi springs/combo?
Or should I send them a bunch of Zanardi shock as an example to work with?

.......... Since you have the springs, you might as well send it to them; shipping will not cost you much more. But if you are looking for fine tuning the ride height etc., you might as well get the sleeves that DaliRacing sells so you can adjust the height of the springs/Bilstein to your liking and corner balance them as well. But that is way overkill for your described driving goals.

Thanks in advance,
thomas

 

[1BADNSX]

Bob,
Can you confirm that the re-valved Bilstein on your M3 was not the bottom end HD model.

No, I had M3 Sport shocks revalved. Isn't the valving the only difference between sport and HD dampers when both are available for a particular car? If so, they could both be revalved.