Van

All in all, I've been very happy with the Bilstein cup shocks on my car. They fit well, require little maintenance, are good value for the money, and they work well.

However, I have one gripe: why the rubber bushings on the rear?!

I just took my 4 year old shocks off the car to inspect them, and was surprised to see the extent of the deformation of these bushings (I believe cold flow may be the term). True, I run a coil over spring on them, so they're taking more load than a torsion bar setup... But, when they come threaded for adjustible spring collars... doesn't that imply that coil overs should be used?

Maybe I can get creative and put heim joint ends on them... The projects never stop!

Skip Wolfe

Van - Bilstein can cut the stock mount off and weld on a spherical beraing mount. I can't remember how much they quoted me but it was very reasonable.

Van

I was planning on doing that myself, Skip. I don't think it'll be hard at all.

Skip Wolfe

The only issue is how much heat the shock can take from welding. Bilstein told me that they disassemble the shocks before welding the bearings on.

Oddjob

Yep, Ive had the same deformation on the two sets I have used (one setup was a coilover only car, the other is with helpers and t-bars still installed). Have thought about going to a spherical bearing conversion - looked at doing it myself, and also having bilstein do it.

I tried to locate spherical bearings that would fit within the existing mounting ends (just removing the rubber) and keep the stock bolts, but it would require some significant machining.

A local friend had his converted by bilstein (pretty cheap), and after looking at what they did - its not anything too trick. They cut off the existing mounts, then had spherical bearings installed in a short section of steel tubing, and welded the tubing to the shock body. So if you have the time and the tig-welder, you may consider doing it yourself (although I dont know if I would recommend putting any heat to the shock body with the gas still pressurized? EDIT - see Skip's note).

But the problem with the bilstein conversion - they are 1/2" rod ends, so you would need to convert the upper 12mm bolt to work with 1/2" and the bottom would need to be converted to a racer's edge type adapter bolt. If you do it yourself, you can get 12mm and 14mm rod ends.

Bryan Watts

That's just sorta lame on their part...

Looks like a pretty simple job. Just remember, if you DYI, you'll also need some conical spacers.

Skip Wolfe

Racers Edges has a adapter for the upper mount as well.

Van

I'm sending the shocks back to Bilstein soon for re-valving/re-building... so my thought was to do my welding (with proper 12mm and 14mm rod ends), then ship them out. But, of course, if there is a risk of the shock exploding in my face while I weld, then I guess I'd consider letting Bilstein do it with half-inch ones.

I can also easily make spacers for the 12mm and 14mm bolts -- and I like the idea of the larger bolt at the bottom (since it's not supported on both sides like the top).

Anyone ever welded on a shock before?

Matt Sheppard

. . . Or supply Bilstien with the proper metric rod ends (both 14 mm or a pair of 12's and a pair of 14's - whatever) and threaded rod stock and have them weld when you send them in - that way you dont have to disassemble and any failure would be "on them". Surely they would credit you for the materials.

Jon Moeller

Van,
You know my Ledas have spherical bearings top and bottom on the rears, right?

Figured I'd toss in a sales pitch, while it's a topic for discussion.

-J

Van

Hi Jon, I did see your ledas there, and thought about them. But I'm a huge cheapskate and I see $40 worth of rod ends plus $65/shock to have Bilstein rebuild them as a bargain.

Are we still on for Sunday?

f1rocks

It is very reasonable. I had Bilstein do the conversion. As Oddjob said it was nothing too trick but I think the big thing was having them disassembled when you weld.

I also made spacers for the difference on the lathe. Then sold the shocks for a set of Koni's before I ever mounted them

Jon Moeller

Yeah, definitely on for Sunday, I'll shoot you my cell phone number. Any idea of a time?

Your friend Aaron indicated he was interested in the shocks. I have a bunch of other stuff, if there's anything else he's looking for (OG racing rollbar for example).

-J

Van

Morning would work best for me -- maybe between 9 and 10?

Aaron is still hemming and hawing over the shocks! Is that just a roll bar you have, or a full cage... I know someone in Troy looking for a cage.

You were just at the track this weekend, right? How did that go?

Jon Moeller

It's just the rollbar, sorry. Damn racers.

Miata was an absolute blast, and the weather couldn't have been better. Started getting pretty comfortable in the car, and pushed a little too hard. I got loose trying to carry more speed through 11 and tossed both feet in during my last session. Looking forward to getting back there, and sorting it out.

-Jon