Rallas

iTrader: (9)

Sweet! Got my shocks. Now I just need to get them on the car and tested.

Bernie does custom tunes so it would be harder to have a stock of revalved shocks available. It appears that this might be changing now that weekend-racer.com is helping. From what I can see they will be selling Spec and other standardized packages that might be possible to keep in stock for a quick turnaround.
If you want someone like Bernie to do something customized to your preferences/requirements you will just have to wait, if he does all he does, it has to take time, especially for a one man shop.
My biggest issue was the lack of communication, but weekend racer has improved that a great deal for future buyers.

wannafbody

iTrader: (1)

That's good news. I was told mine were to ship last week. I still haven't received them but hoping they come soon.

falcon

iTrader: (13)

He should just make a track shock for NB/ISC tops, valve them for 750/450 so they are good for 700/400 or 800/500lb springs. And then make a "Street version" for lighter springs.

Shanej

Still waiting for a reply, I have contacted both partys and nothing. Have emailed weekend-racer and no replies to my emails. I purchased new shocks and want my old ones back. When did you guys ship your stuff out, mine were sent out in Feb.

Rallas

iTrader: (9)

I ordered new shocks to get revalved. Took almost 10 weeks. Try giving John at weekend-racer.com a call. He picked up every time I called.
I got the shocks on the car this past week with ebay sleeves 450/250 springs and FCM 36mm bump stops. WOW! What a difference! I still have to do some alignment changes and mod the sleeves to reduce the ride height (Looks like 4x4 miata right now). But even witht these less than ideal alignment settings it handles awesome, very predictable and neutral, just as I had requested. Initially I wanted to say that the shocks felt a little underdamped and bouncy, but then I realized the suspension was just absorbing the harsher bumps more smoothly than what I was used to on Ricelands and AXG+RB springs riding on OEM bump stops which was pretty harsh on the rough roads I drive to work. These revalves smoothly absorb the shock in one cycle without excessive bouncing. I guess you can't expect springs that are 3 times oem rates to ride quite as smoothe as factory spings.
Bernie does a great job. I will be doing a track day in a few weeks which will be the real test. Now I just need to get he ebay sleeves cut down and figuire out if I want to run a spring isolator up top to keep the springs in place better. The fronts seem to be fine with just the factory top hats in place, but the rears sound like they move when I back out of my steep driveway and go over the curb or hit a speedbump sideways (at an angle).

wannafbody

iTrader: (1)

I just passed the 6 month mark of waiting for my shocks from Bernie. I was told they were to ship on May 11th or 12th and as of today the 19th I have not received any shipping confirmation.

falcon

iTrader: (13)

My rears move around with 350's in the back and a pretty damn low ride height. I am upgrading to stiffer springs in a month or so at which time I will also add isolators.

I've been riding around on my new shocks for about 3 weeks now and they are wicked. Very happy and I'm not even running the springs they were valved for. Once I go stiffer it will be nice to see the difference.

falcon

iTrader: (13)

3 month + turn around for a one man high end race suspension shop is nothing. Especially since it's the start of race season down there and Bernie does shocks for some BIG race teams. My tuner used to live in N.Carolina and he runs a race shop up here now and has nothing but great thigns to say about SD. He was saying how Bernie does it all by himself because he hasn't found anyone yet who has the same level of perfection he does. IIRC he does some NASCAR teams, Porsche cup cars etc.

Rallas

iTrader: (9)

So I sent an email to weekend-racer.com a few days ago about some questions I had about my setup. This is the reply I get:

"Weekend-Racer.com is no longer providing Steward Development services... I recommend contacting them directly for help 336-899-0072. I'm sorry, I wish I could have been more help. "

What the hell??? Checked the website too and all the SD products have been removed. Poor John must have gotten tired of all the pissed off customers.

All this really sucks because Bernie really delivers a top notch product. On the other hand I have waited over a week now to get a reply back from FCM on a question I had as well. So I guess if you want custom shocks and don't have tons of cash or a racing team, make sure you are aware of possible delays before ordering.

wannafbody

iTrader: (1)

I'm beginning to feel like I got ripped off. Time for the forum owner to give Bernie call.

y8s

iTrader: (8)

http://www.stewartdevelopment.com/contact.html

go visit him in high point NC

Rallas

iTrader: (9)

Good luck! I know the feeling. He has not ripped you off though.You will get your shocks eventually. Hopefully you did not send in your only set of shocks in to get revalved? It would suck to have a car on jack stands for that long. I hope someone answers the phone now. I called till I turned blue and no one picks up or responds to the voicemails. This might be different now that weekend racer is not taking care of the customer relations.

Vashthestampede

iTrader: (17)

Well that didnt last long. Didn't weekendracer just sign on with him a short while back? I mean just read this thread and the others like it. I wouldn't want to be any part of it either. They probably tried to help the guy out and started getting angry customers themselves.

Whether your the BEST GUY IN THE WORLD at revalving shocks, who gives a flying **** if you cant produce? He cant even answer back customer emails and phone calls.

It comes down to one thing. Some people only care about the money going in their pocket. If their set, why sweat the little guys. They'll wait, just like all of you have been for months. lol

mgeoffriau

iTrader: (7)

No, no, no, remember guys, it's race season and these shock revalvers are geniuses at what they do. They can't be expected to meet deadlines or respond to customer questions or inquiries. Don't be silly.

cruizin54

I was in the same place a month+ ago. I did get my shocks and they were worth it.

My car was laid up on jack stands while I was waiting. I got the the point where I'd given up hope of driving the car this spring, so I bought another set of Bilsteins (used from a classified on miata.net). About a week (maybe 2) after I installed the 'new' shocks and got to drive my car again, I got an email that my shocks were on the way. A few days later my new SD Bilsteins were delivered.

They really are worth the money. I would do it again - I just wouldn't send him my only set. As a matter of fact, I haven't sold my 'duplicate set' yet because I'm in the process of buying an '04 MSM. I'm going to evaluate the ride/handling after I get it and decide if I should sell my extra Bilsteins or send them to Bernie for a rebuild.

mc hammered

Been 7 months now for me, got the same ship dates and through John @ Weekend Racer I have now been informed that I might get them back in a couple of months IF Bernie can complete the BMW jig he needs to do the work.

I don't know what to say about that last piece of information, as Bernie confirmed the work can be done before I sent him the shocks and payment.

Rallas

iTrader: (9)

Got a nother reply a day or so later that weekend-racer and SD are back in business and now the website displays the SD options again. Confusing to say the least.

sjmarcy

In a few more months, his services will exhibit shorter lead times.

Then lead times will increase again as the 2012 season approaches.

I heard the same sort of grumbles down here from some motorcycle buddies RE a local bike engine guru. "Best time to deal with him is around September". Some punk said I skyped him and he never replied. I laughed.

sjmarcy

You could order prepackaged items of lesser quality from ship-a-box vendors. For instance DGR has good customer service, answers the phone, IMs, emails. From his home office. Oh yeah he does not make, develop, produce, analyze, or create anything. Not that that is a bad thing.

chicksdigmiatas

iTrader: (11)

I doubt he gives a **** about you guys getting your panties in a wad. If he has as many high profile customers as you think, the race teams I am sure pay megatons more money than you all did. I had my machine work bumped back for "an emergency race motor." I bet the race motor guy is in good with the machine shop and pays them for the express service. Granted, he should give a disclaimer, say I don't know about the turn around time, or just not take them. Really, If I were him, I would deal with the race teams and such first, because their needs are different, and tell everyone else that they will be fit in when possible.