Bilstein Sport with Coilover question

[z31maniac]

I assumed Bilstein, like you guys, wouldn't need to be told things like that when told what vehicle they were going on.

My bad.

[Hellabad]

^Yes, but no one actually refers to it's capabilities by the effective wheel rate.

You need to when you're having Bilsteins revalved. I think thats what that guy was thinking.

Not very long ago, you could call Bilstein, and they would know roughly what to revalve an e30 to. Same for a VW rabbit, or an RX7, or a Dodge motorhome.

Nowadays, almost all of the good Bilstein guys quit when their jobs were moved from San Diego to Mooresville NC, so you need to tell them EXACTLY what you need, including the motion ratio.

So imho it is relevant, in terms of adjustable shocks vs non-adjustable shocks that need revalving.

Jay, who has a Dodge Motorhome with custom valved Bilsteins and sway bars

[Stephen]

^Yes, but no one actually refers to it's capabilities by the effective wheel rate.

Yea, for comparisons sake, my rate is 500

[z31maniac]

^Yes, but no one actually refers to it's capabilities by the effective wheel rate.

[DRTSRFR]

I was referring to the question in the original post.

What is the the maximum rate I can run on a bilstein before it needs to be revalved, or do I even need to worry about this?

...and didn't see where anyone had considered it when discussing the rear of the car.

[JRKOUPE]

wheel rate

Keep in mind, the rear spring rate is totally different than the actual wheel rate.

With a 500 lb spring the actual rear wheel rate is about 230.

why mention this......?



Was any1 discussing wheel rate?...or were you just expounding?

[2002maniac]

any suggestions where i can get them done "cheap"?

Bilstein USA

[DRTSRFR]

Thanks for doin' all the work for me!:)

[z31maniac]

Good to know, I had been thinking the motion ratio was higher than that.

750 x .45 = 337.5 in the back
550 x .88 = 484 in the front

Interesting.

[JGood]

I understand that. what I meant is where he got that number from

It's leverage. The rear suspension wheel ratio is .45, so 500 x .45 = 225

http://www.e30m3project.com/e30m3performance/tech_articles/susp-tech/eff_rate/eff_rate.htm

[E30_fiend]

I understand that. what I meant is where he got that number from

[884door]

^^^^^
explain this

The wheel is very far from the spring, and the trailing arm acts as a lever.

[E30_fiend]

Keep in mind, the rear spring rate is totally different than the actual wheel rate.

With a 500 lb spring the actual rear wheel rate is about 230.

^^^^^
explain this

[DRTSRFR]

Keep in mind, the rear spring rate is totally different than the actual wheel rate.

With a 500 lb spring the actual rear wheel rate is about 230.

[RalleyTuned]

rebuild/re valve on bilsteins is only $75 each

rebuild/valve on koni's is like $185ish each, not to mention they cost 2x as much as bilsteins and in my experiance with them on vw's in the past years, don't last nearly as long

cant ever go wrong with bilsteins :D haha