Who has removed the fx3 Holstein shocks to lower

[zr1assassin]

I want to lower the car and I wouldn't mind getting rid of the cumbersome hokee selective ride fx3 Bilstein bs shocks system. Who has done this, what shocks did you use, how much did it lower it?

[XfireZ51]

Removing the Bilsteins won’t lower the car unless u use coilovers. Otherwise u need to remove the mounting spacers on the leaf springs.

[RussMcB]

I'm curious - What do you think is bad about the FX3 Bilstein shocks? I think they're pretty cool and work well (for me).

[Ccmano]

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

Removing the Bilsteins won’t lower the car unless u use coilovers. Otherwise u need to remove the mounting spacers on the leaf springs.

Spacers on the front Springs, longer drop bolts on the rear springs. The spacers will only give you an inch give or take. If you want to go farther on the front it will require coilovers or different springs. Based on what you did on your C7 you might as well just go to the coilovers straight away for unlimited adjustability.
H

[zr1assassin]

Thanks guys, I should elaborate a little I guess. I have a "service ride controls" light on ( typical ) for these fx3 systems as I'm sure all of you have had to Jack with at some point😠. I could chase it down to which actuator, hope it's that and not the shock but all the shocks probably need rebuilt anyways, it's a 26yr old car, so now your looking at what 1500-2000? And honestly if I remember correctly from my 90z you really don't get a hole lot of change out of the system when it's working properly. On my c7z when you change ride settings IT CHANGES, you feel a huge difference! Maybe I just have a bad taste in my mind for these c4 fx3 systems but I'm like (yup not dealing with this headache) when the light came on. I might just throw new shocks on and cut the adjustable ride system out of the entire equation, then do the drop tricks, an inch or two would be good enough. .....your thoughts?

[WVZR-1]

It costs nothing to do the diagnostics so I believe it's where I'd start! It's certainly more salable (if removed) if you know it's shortcomings. Drive it!! I thought I had seen you mention getting it back into 'shape'!

The SRC 'DIC' is I guess what you were questioning in that very early post when you were just an interested buyer a couple thousand miles away!!

[zr1assassin]

Originally Posted by WVZR-1

It costs nothing to do the diagnostics so I believe it's where I'd start! It's certainly more salable (if removed) if you know it's shortcomings. Drive it!! I thought I had seen you mention getting it back into 'shape'!

Ya this is part of getting it back into shape, the system needs addressed and I'm sure it could use new shocks

[Vette73]

Originally Posted by zr1assassin

Thanks guys, I should elaborate a little I guess. I have a "service ride controls" light on ( typical ) for these fx3 systems as I'm sure all of you have had to Jack with at some point😠. I could chase it down to which actuator, hope it's that and not the shock but all the shocks probably need rebuilt anyways, it's a 26yr old car, so now your looking at what 1500-2000? And honestly if I remember correctly from my 90z you really don't get a hole lot of change out of the system when it's working properly. On my c7z when you change ride settings IT CHANGES, you feel a huge difference! Maybe I just have a bad taste in my mind for these c4 fx3 systems but I'm like (yup not dealing with this headache) when the light came on. I might just throw new shocks on and cut the adjustable ride system out of the entire equation, then do the drop tricks, an inch or two would be good enough. .....your thoughts?

I, like you purchased my 91 Z sight unseen.....Saw 60 photos prior and a video as well.....When car arrived it was exactly as described more or less...Nice paint, good rubber and mechanically sound.....
To be honest this was my first endeavor into C-4 land.....I must say the ride is very stiff, even on the softest setting...My rears are leaking and have picked up a good set from a forum member which I have not yet installed..

I don't daily drive my Z, if I did I think my car would be destroyed within a few years......Between the temp going from 2 degrees to 98 degrees in the year and the amount of vehs on the road, the streets take a beating...

You would think with the amount of money we pay to live in NY the streets would be in better shape..

With that,
I rarely if at all have had the setting on the stiffest setting...

A few weeks ago I got a chance to drive a C-5 Z06 .....I have to say the car rode so much nicer as far as suspension than my Z......I guess that's understandable since I hear the chassis was greatly improved from the previous year....

Keep us posted on your suspension upgrades if any....

Peace....

Sent from my LG-TP260 using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app

[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by XfireZ51

Removing the Bilsteins won’t lower the car unless u use coilovers. Otherwise u need to remove the mounting spacers on the leaf springs.

Or retain the FX-3 system and go to coil-overs as well. The best of both worlds IMHO and no spacers, no wedges and no lowering brackets.

[GOLDCYLON]

Originally Posted by zr1assassin

Thanks guys, I should elaborate a little I guess. I have a "service ride controls" light on ( typical ) for these fx3 systems as I'm sure all of you have had to Jack with at some point😠. I could chase it down to which actuator, hope it's that and not the shock but all the shocks probably need rebuilt anyways, it's a 26yr old car, so now your looking at what 1500-2000? And honestly if I remember correctly from my 90z you really don't get a hole lot of change out of the system when it's working properly. On my c7z when you change ride settings IT CHANGES, you feel a huge difference! Maybe I just have a bad taste in my mind for these c4 fx3 systems but I'm like (yup not dealing with this headache) when the light came on. I might just throw new shocks on and cut the adjustable ride system out of the entire equation, then do the drop tricks, an inch or two would be good enough. .....your thoughts?

http://www.captainzcnc.com/ Look at the diagnosis procedures on this site. As WVZR-1 suggests it may improve your ride.