Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

from two weeks back
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And again with the jackstands...
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/DSC03742.jpg


The Bilstein shop is local and just across the freeway, not too far- gonna get some rebuild/custom valving on the FX3's. The car goes just a bit too fast to leave it squishy and floaty like it is now.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...s/DSC03743.jpg



today
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Sooo...two weeks later I get my shocks back and it took about an hour to put them back on, being careful to get the bushing squish just right as there is an installed height for the actuators.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2.../shock2_sm.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2.../shock3_sm.jpg

They do install new stickers though- that was a nice touch. If you want the paint perfect, you will have to buy new ones first. if you look close, the old ones do not say "Made in Germany". It was probably done on the new stickers because the shocks have "made in West Germany" stamped on the body. Yes, my car is that old.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2.../shock1_sm.jpg

The rebuild fee includes any custom valving you want so I requested 10% more compression and 30% more rebound. I have to say that this modest adjustment turned out about right as it doesn't ride much firmer than before (just a touch), but the rebound is much more in control, even on the middle setting. Maybe the old shocks were done despite the low mileage, but for sure the factory valving is lame-especially on rebound.

The Sport(middle) setting can be driven 80mph on bumpy roads safely so you don't have to reach down to switch it frantically if you forgot. As before, it offers some compliance for the real world.

The tour(lowest) setting is still nearly useless-you get a fair amount of body movement, but if you choose to drive the speed limit strictly, I guess it is ok.

The Performance(highest) setting is definitely just right. I drove through a drainage depression that used to upset the car at 70 mph and it did not bounce twice like it used to. It was not overly firm either. I'm glad I didn't drink the koolaid and order the 'Moracca' valving that the magazine articles and internet lore always tout. I was prepared to buy the controller from DRM or Lingenfelter with the removable prom, but I may not even bother now:)

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

Mike

Thanks for posting this. Love to hear a long term update

I just installed new Shocks, but didn't know I could custom tune them!

:cheers:

David

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

The cost?

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

$100 ea. (plus shipping, or in my case CA sales tax :confused:)

If you bought new ones for about $200, you'd still have to spend the c-note for re-valving.


The fx3 on my 95 lt1 car was so trashed I didn't try to fix it, but everything on my 91 worked, just the shocks felt funny. I drove it today all around town and I am pretty pleased with the sport setting now as it never gets over-run by the car's mass. I used to have to leave it set to full stiff just to get down the road.

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

Is there a spec for installed height of the actuator cup and bushing squish?

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

The service manual specifies a clearance from the top of the actuator to the frame cover on the fronts, but I also saw another spec somewhere that had the recommended clearance of the top of the rod over the mounting cup. I can't recall where right now, but in general, do not under or over tighten. You will get a code if the gear doesn't mesh.

I had trouble with a front one once, I had to take off the nut and redo it- it just started working again- they seem sensitive to the height and engagement with the plastic gear doo-dad in the actuator. I think it jams up if the gear gets forced too high into the actuator.

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

Heres a question.I want to have a set rebuilt but would also like to repaint them before that go back on the car,would they give you the stickers instead of putting them on the shocks?

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

I'm sure they would. Since I went in person, I had the communications thing handled as I was able to talk to the guy who was going to do the work. He was the one who suggested to do a 30% rebound increase after I told him I was mostly happy with the compression damping stock. There were a couple of 'race/performance' valving setups they have on file and he asked me very carefully if I wanted those- which I was very clear that I did not (been down the ultra hard shock road before-no pun intended).

They have a work order form and if you specifically asked to send the stickers uninstalled, or even an extra set, I'm sure you would get what you wanted. The only thing inflexible about how they handle the rebuilds was the accounting dept. as they seem to be preventing 'hooking-a-brother-up' and having free work slide out the back door.

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

Mike,

If I could ask, what did Bilstein charge for the rebuild? According to Marc H. you are better off buyin a new set from Mid America or eShocks because Bilstein re-build is nearly as expensive. Would you clarify why you decided to rebuild rather than just buy new?

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

rebuild is $100 a shock. This includes custom revalving at no extra charge if you know what you want other than stock.

new is $200, and as I understand it, would incur a similar charge to revalve them, but I could be wrong. The early cars (90,91) are $200 per shock plus additional charges for revalving labor. The later cars with the reduced angle actuation were going for $240 per according to pricing in the MAM catalog.

The way I see it, you could spend up to $300 a corner to go all new custom valved versus $100 per corner to rebuild what you already own. Mine had 29k miles on them and the pot-metal actuator gears and shafts were in perfect condition. If you have bad everything, the additional charges would make new ones the way to go.

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

Mike,

Thanks. That's what I was looking for. It had been reported that a Bilstein rebuild was in the $180-200 range. My 92 has coilovers and I suspect that the Bilsteins with 112K miles are shot. It bounces up and down excessively. I have 2 other sets of Bilsteins and am now in process of getting them grooved to accept the coilovers. Hoping that does the trick. This is after replacing the spings themselves. The ones that came on the car allowed very little travel before coil bind making for a pretty stiff ride. However, the springs rates were fairly normal @ 400/300lb.

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

^^ One last point to talk about is that I un-lowered my car by putting the spring shims back in place. It is now maybe only about 1/2" lower than stock and benefits from the full range of travel.

I had driven on the stock stance and ride height with the 'old' shocks before rebuilding and they were still bad, but it does allow for the suspension to work through it's intended range so you don't have to go full stiff setting to keep it from bottoming out.

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

Heres another question,did you get your shocks back or is it an exchange deal.Id hate to send in a nice,not beat to hell set of shocks only to get a set back that needs alot of work just to paint.Why paint a set of shocks?You open the hood to view the JEWEL,dont want to see a ratty set of shocks.

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

You get your shocks back. I took two weeks to get mine back, so I know they don't have a big stockpile of FX3 shocks to exchange.

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

Hi:

1. What is the point of contact, phone number, address, or is there a web site with the form to fill out for shock rebuild? Or...is this the web page?
http://www.bilsteinus.com/products/s...rvice/service/

Which item (service) on that Pricing Chart on that web page did you select? I assume the total cost of the service you selected was $100 for each shock?
And just fill out that Service Order Repair Form ?

2. I assume 10% more compression and 30% more rebound is what we want and how do you describe that to get that? Or just like you said? Is that the same for Front and Rear shocks?

3. I assume we can paint and refurbish the appearance of the shocks before we send them off for rebuild?

4. When you install the actuators, is there a requirement on the rotation of the shock gear or do you center it (160 deg total rotation)?

5. When you install the actuators, do you first set the selector on Tour or Sport and turn the key on for example?

6. The actuator snaps into place with the snap ring.....what is the installed height of the actuator since it just snaps in place?

7. I have no clue what bushing squish is?

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

1. Order sheet: I'm not sure since I showed up at their back door and had the guy fill out a work order the old fashioned way (pen and paper). You can bet the accounting dept got my digital info for billing though.

The latest order form page does suggest the standard FX3 is $145 per shock for the standard rebuild and $170 for custom. At the time, I wasn't sure of the services and just called one of the sales techs to clarify. recall I did this in 2011 when the service was still $100 per.

2. Valving request: As described. I might even ask for more on the front pair (in hindsight), but the +10/+30 on a fresh rebuild will not disappoint on a street car.

3. paint: You get new decals, so doing your own yellow paint might work. My only thought is that it should be able to hold up under the safety-kleen type of solvent they probably use in the shop.

4. shaft gear orientation: I don't recall the process for that. I think I just centered it and assembled it. When the controller turns on, it runs out both ways to find the limits of travel, then goes to whatever angle the program has requested for the speed and setting the car is at. I could be wrong, but i don't have any recollection of any critical assembly step other than the installed height of the actuator.

5. installation setting: doesn't matter- as described above, once it runs thru the travel range, it turns to the desired angle as needed. I think it does the self check every time for ign key-on.

6. installed height: This is covered in the FX3 section of the FSM, but the tighter you tighten the top shock nut against the bushing, the farther the gear selector shaft protrudes out the top...too much and it binds the plastic gears. Too little is also possible. The FSM shows a dimension (with a drawing) at least for the front actuator anyhow.

7. The rubber bushing on the shock mount (upper). The more you run the mounting nut down the threads, the more compression on the bushing halves you get. this affects the actuator gear height in relation to the clip mount since that is connector to the rubber section and of course, the geat shaft is part of the shock. Don't worry, if you get one wrong, the code for the malfunctioning corner will light up for the FX3 fault code. Just hope it is for a front shock though. ;)

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

Thank you for that extremely rapid and complete response......appreciate that.....:thumbsup:

I assume this is what I should be looking at?
Single adjustable (Examples incl. Corvette and Ferrari) $170.00 each

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

Scary, but I think that is the FX3 custom price...You should call to be sure. I would think maybe they could do it for the same price as a stock rebuild. At that price, I would seriously consider pulling the plug on the FX3 controller and doing something else. For me it would depend on if the car had a long list or a short list of things to fix. $145 per is pushing it though...

Reading my earlier posts, seems like you can request the new decals not applied after the rebuild and then paint the shock after you get them back. That would come out great for sure.

Re: Just got my custom FX3 shocks back from Bilstein
 

How did the shocks turn out???

Dave