Bilstien rebuild.

[rhipsher]

Originally Posted by lbszr

Are the KYB's FX3 controlled?

Don't know if mine will stay like it is but have a couple hundred miles on poly control arm bushings. I could hardly bounce the front of the car after installing them, just checked and they have loosened up some, still solid but can bounce it by standing on engine now, but anyway, the shocks I thought were way too loose when set to the first setting which made me think they were probably tired but after putting in these bushings it's really hard to tell a difference in the three settings unless on a really rough road. It handles really good now, so don't really know if it's the bushings or the new alignment, think there was too much toe in before. But it takes rough roads a lot better with no loose feeling or shuddering as if the shocks were replaced. Now the back bounces without the front but is ok with FX3 on high.



If your bushings are original the poly's might be worth considering. Bushings are only $100 If you do the work. Or more if you want the offset lower bushings for more camber.They do squeak, but can't hear it while driving.

No they're not FX3 controlled. They're just dummy shocks. I've got some other issues that I already know about. I know I've got three bad wheel bearings. I don't get a tick I get a squeak,squeak,squeak. Although bearly noticable its there. The faster I go the faster it squeaks. But I've had that ever since I've owned the car.
Every saturday morning just like a ritual I would get up at 6:00am and take her up to top speed to blow out the pipes and make sure the secondaries stay healthy. Just look at the avitar. But in a really short amount of time the handling deteriorated to the point that I won't take it passed 130mph for fear of my life. The shaking and rattling is to much to go any faster.
I've replaced all the ujoints with new Spicers. That didn't solve the problem. I've replaced the rear leaf spring which is stiffer. Still didn't solve the problem. Found a cracked bushing in the passengers side upper a-arm replaced the whole a-arm. That didn't solve the problem. Got a 4 point alignment done. That didn't solve the problem.
I was told by another fellow ZR-1 owner that one time his whole steering rack was loose and he took it to this place in town and for $150 they rebuilt and rebushinged it. But when I grab on my tie rods or any of my suspension components and jerk them back and fouth they are solid.
So I'm left with a few conclusions. Either my wheel bearings have wore out to the point that taking it up to high speeds have helped accelerate their decay or the fact that my front tires are old and hard and when the car is jacked up and I spin them by hand they look a little lopsided. But my brand new rear tires look the same way when they spin. So go figure. I'd like to fix the cause of the problem first then throw money at rebuilt bilsteins. I'll figure it out I'm sure. One thing I've learned is that if you have slight suspension wear! Then taking it up to high speed it will just brake that bad component down even quicker.
One my 68 mustang its very easy to see whats wrong right away with the suspension. On this thing it's not. The suspension is far more complex.
I just havent seen alot of threads on suspension issues. It's usually an electrical problem or secondary/fuel delivery/idle problems/no start/overheating ect. You know,the usual stuff. But not alot on suspension issues.I don't want to throw money at stuff that's not the cause of the problem. Because it's just not obvious to me what it is. But I do have the old Bilsteins in a box. And even though they are not going to solve my suspension issue, I still want to send them off for a rebuild.