Who runs shortened bilsteins with their coilovers?

[ak-]

Because i am going to me low the shocks might bottom out?

It's like going low on stock length bilsteins. I won't have any suspension travel.

As long as you don't put the collar at the lowest setting. Then you're back to square one with no travel, but this time just 2" lower.

Visualize whatever suspension you've got going on right now that has efficient shock travel. Now visualize the whole strut assembly 2" lower.
That's what you're trying to accomplish. Whatever it is.. from sectioned from your shock-insert like you're mentioning, or if you end up getting the GC Koni's.
You have to figure out the stroke and length details/measurments of whatever shock you're going to end up with and visualize internally what's going on; shock travel length/stroke.

[mbonanni]

Because i am going to me low the shocks might bottom out?

It's like going low on stock length bilsteins. I won't have any suspension travel.

[ak-]

I don't get the question. If they are re-valved for the rates, why not?
People run over 550lbers on Sports with success, although it's probably not the most efficient.

[mbonanni]

Okay, cool.

Does anyone know if revalved HD's could handle being low?

I was never sure if the rear mattered.

Thanks

[ak-]

Which length spring are you running?



from my understanding shocks cannot be shortened.

Elaborate please.

Edit: Now my concern is if the regular HD's will be able to handle the car being lower..?

I can't remember. 1" longer than what GC's kit offers.
7"?

[mbonanni]

Yes. Look at my collar, and pretend you are an inch lower on there.
That will get you my height with the inch longer spring.

Which length spring are you running?

Don't forget to shorten the rears.

from my understanding shocks cannot be shortened.

Elaborate please.

Edit: Now my concern is if the regular HD's will be able to handle the car being lower..?

[einstein57]

Don't forget to shorten the rears.

[ak-]

Nigel's option is not smart to me though. I am planning to run 550f/700r, which are rates way too high for regular bilsteins. I do not want spend all this money on suspension and not have it perform to the best of its abilities. I plan to do it right the first time.

I think that 2" will be plenty for what I want. I figure that 2" spun all the way down will get me to about where you are sitting in that picture. In my imagination at least.

Yes. Look at my collar, and pretend you are an inch lower on there.
That will get you my height with the inch longer spring.

[mbonanni]

Nigel's option is not smart to me though. I am planning to run 550f/700r, which are rates way too high for regular bilsteins. I do not want spend all this money on suspension and not have it perform to the best of its abilities. I plan to do it right the first time.

I think that 2" will be plenty for what I want. I figure that 2" spun all the way down will get me to about where you are sitting in that picture. In my imagination at least.

[ak-]

Nigel's option is more affordable, but hey if you could swing that successfully then cool!

This setting, half way on the collar, with 550lbers:


Puts me at this height:




I don't have a picture at the lowest setting.
I wouldn't attempt it to be honest lol, but you get the idea.

[mbonanni]

I have sourced a set of blown bilstein HD's, and I called bilstein today. the quote they gave me for rebuilding/revalve and shortening will put me about the same price as if I bought brand new ix billies that are not valved to the rates I want.

$75 for each front -$150
$65 for each rear - $130
$65/hr for machine time (about 2 hours) - $130

That comes to $410. Inluding shipping

The blown ones I found will put me under $500 for a full set of bilsteins that are revlaved, rebuilt, and shortened for better travel; which is about the same as new ones.

Mine will be better fit for the high spring rates I want.

[einstein57]

The yellow part is just a sleeve. You could shorten that yourself. The cost of machining the cartridge, the piton shaft, and then rebuilding them would make it a very pricey proposition. I'd say just buy a set of new IX HDs and cut the bump stops or buy a set of re-valved konis from ground control. Or pick up a blown set of corrado bilsteins and have those rebuilt.

[mbonanni]

I actually made a mistake. I reread the GE coilover group buy and people are buying ix HD's and shortening the housings, not both.

Nando did actually have a set of ix HD's shortened an inch, then the yellow part shortened 2".

I will most certainly get my housings sectioned however much, and plan to get m3 tabs as well.

What I am trying to accomplish is the ability to go low and have suspension travel.

If you have any pictures of the lowest setting on your car, medium, and max height that would be great. Any pictures would help. thank you.

[ak-]

I don't have any pictures to show chronologically how it looks at the settings mentioned.
Just random ones at certain heights.

I don't know who would get the iX's shortened when they are 3" shorter already.
Read my post in suggestion of the housings getting sectioned too.

What are you trying to accomplish by doing this btw?

[mbonanni]

Yeah, I understood that with such tall tires, which is why I decided against them pretty much.

When you say 2" shorter does this mean they shorten the rod, and outer yellow part 2"? I read someone who got the rod shortened 2" but the yellow tube 1". I was thrown off by this, but then agian it was bilstein ix HD's.

My concern is not being able to go low enough. People are getting their ix bilstein HD's shortened 2", when aren't they already shorter than regular sports/HD's by 2"? That would be a total of 4", am I right or wrong?

Also, not sure if you meant to post a picture.

Thank you for the response.