Billies - IX or IS is there a difference?

[IronFreak]

I know I have seen some guys that shorten then strut tubes use the iX Billie struts in an iS chassis. Yes........I know they are shorter, which would put them around the length of the billie sports for the iS. Is there a difference in valving? Just curious as the iX struts are about $20ish bucks a pop cheaper each.

Thoughts??

[F34R]

I know the iX are common option over the Koni adjustable sport. They are shorter as you know, this allows you to shorten the housing and place the insert lower to gain extra travel when lowered on coilovers.

The Bilstein "iS" as you coined it is a Bilstein Sport. The iX version is an HD(Heavy Duty). The difference is in the valving as I am sure you know. The Sport is designed for more of a tracking/sporty dampening, to allow more control(firmer). The HD will be perfect for a daily use and sprinted driving.

If you are not using these for shortened housings you will need to cut a spacer to prop them up to seat with the housing cap. From what I gather from your intentions(cheaper than sports) you are using in stock housings with maybe a lowering spring of sorts. These will be fine, they work great in shortened housings and coilovers.

Have you looked into KYB inserts?

A TON cheaper and they hold up great for the price. I am offering up options based on daily/sprinted use. These with H&R race springs etc with e90 top hats would be perfect.

http://www.justsuspension.com/kyb-excel-g-strut-cartridge-364021.html

These are also much shorter(designed for a MR2), you will need to make a spacer. But these are very good and ALOT cheaper than Bilstein sports and iX HD inserts.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...00_i00_details

Read this thread to learn everything you need to know. For under 200.00 you can have great fronts that will handle lots of abuse at a fraction of the price.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=226646

[IronFreak]

I guess I still plan on going with the Bilstein sports, this won;t be a daily driver, the track stance and feel is what I'm aiming at.

[F34R]

If you are aiming for track use why not get Koni sports? Adjustable and more travel, over all just better. I have had both and I hate the Bilsteins vs my Koni Sports. They are 189.00 each or 400.00 shipped from Ground Control.

I know it is a bit more but they are worth every bit. Even more so since you will be abusing them on the track.

What springs are you going with? OR doing coilovers? Plans for the rear setup? All of these things factor into having a proper setup. Too hard or soft front or rear plays a role on how the car responds. Took me a weekend but I tuned my front and rear almost perfect with the adjustable functions.

[IronFreak]

I'm going with coilovers, either GC or similar. I was thinking about building my own for the simple fact to say I built them. Dirt track racing is HUGE here in the midwest, and Speedway motor sports is right down the road. Thought about getting coils and perches and doing all the fab myself. That would be for the front. Maybe grab some afco threaded body shocks and build coils for the back and build clevis mounts for them. I don;t know yet, I like doing my research before I pull the trigger. So many people are bias to one thing or the other haha. I've been welding for a long time and have access to some nice equipment so I try and think outside the normal realm of "kits" if you will. If I can piece it together cheaper, it's just as functional but requires fabrication.....it's got my name ALL over it.

[F34R]

I believe with the Koni inserts and GC kit you will be in about 800ish and need to grab some rears(those adjustable KYB would be fine).

You can build up a kit yourself, but the money you spend will almost be the same for the coils once you add springs in. GC has a lifetime coverage on the springs(would be good with your dirt plans). I already had one spring get replaced by Eibach, shipped for free right to my door.

Wish you luck and let me know if you need any info or help for spring rates etc. More than happy to help out.

[IronFreak]

Haha I think you misunderstood........NO dirt plans, all street and track. Speedway caters to the dirt track guys and has a huge selection for coil over parts. But thank you and I see your point. makes a lot of sense.

Your car is sick btw, looked through your build a few times!

[F34R]

Dang, I misread that my bad. Tracking I think you will really love the Koni SA(Sport Adjustable). I tracked Bilstein sports and they were not that good. More of a real world insert.

And thank you, built to look nasty and handle like a boss.

[Stephen]

Sports and HDs are supposed to have different valving, but i believe Hellabad debunked that pretty early on. Stroke length is more or less the same on HD vs sport.

[F34R]

Yeah^ I could not find any solid #s but they are pretty much the same. I read a long review in Motor Trend or Car and Driver about HD vs sports. That is why I love my Koni SA, never going back.

[IronFreak]

Thats very interesting......And kind of funny. If thats the case....did Bilstein take the billie sport and make it the hd iX model.......or was it the other way around, they had the iX model and tossed the sport badge on it and started selling to the track boys with a marked up price........... conspiracy, I can smell it!

[F34R]

I have never had an iX in hand to compare with the spares sports. I just know the Koni SA are leaps and bounds better than Bilstein.

[IronFreak]

Where would you recommend getting them from?

[nrubenstein]

The different between a Sport and an HD is the amount of droop allowed for TUV certification purposes. There is no valving difference. There may be a valving difference between the iX and RWD valving, but it's not huge. The real difference is just the physical length of the strut tube.

[nando]

only $20 a peice is cheap! you can have them revalved by bilstein for another $165 and have brand new, custom valved shocks for about $200. since it's a race car, you can go with the race valving, which is probably ungodly stiff given what my "street" valving is like..