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The Better Bilstein Ebay Coilover Thread

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Old 06-06-2017, 07:38 PM
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Originally Posted by ridethecliche
that things feel plush
Plush as in this?


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Old 07-03-2017, 06:50 PM
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Anybody ever done one of these?

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I hit a nice dip in the road and the C-clip apparently wasn't having it. **** was mad slammed on the left rear.

I'm not even sure what to do at this point. I've got a set of MSM shocks I can try to rob the C-clip off of but I don't know how well reusing the clip will work. I haven't had any luck finding new clips online. I hate to junk the shock just for this, but maybe that's the only option since it ate part of the shock when the clip let loose. Just not sure how to proceed. Suggestions welcome. I can't be the first person to do this.


*EDIT - If you're lazy and dumb like me: Post 217 - AllStar 64162 & 64180 Looks like this should fix the issue.

Last edited by pdexta; 07-03-2017 at 07:43 PM.
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Old 07-03-2017, 06:53 PM
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This was posted about in this very thread, most guys are going with all-star sleeves that have a recess machined to capture the C-clip. Others machine the eBay sleeves.

There's a source for the C-clip, again posted in this thread.....get to reading
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Old 07-03-2017, 06:55 PM
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Originally Posted by pdexta
Anybody ever done one of these?

I hit a nice dip in the road and the C-clip apparently wasn't having it. **** was mad slammed on the left rear.

I'm not even sure what to do at this point. I've got a set of MSM shocks I can try to rob the C-clip off of but I don't know how well reusing the clip will work. I haven't had any luck finding new clips online. I hate to junk the shock just for this, just not sure how to proceed. Suggestions welcome. I can't be the first person to do this.
Edit: ^Bronson beat me to it.

I think this was covered extensively in the early pages of the thread. The stock clip is insufficient for many of the eBay sleeve that do not fit snugly to the shock body and, additionally, don't capture the clip under a lip. Either get the bigger clips (search early threads), or have a recessed bore machined into the sleeve, or (best option) get sleeves that properly capture the clip and fit snugly to the shock body.
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Old 07-03-2017, 07:03 PM
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Ahh, thanks. In my defense, it is a 3 year long 1200+ post thread, so it's a hell of a read to go back through every single post just to see if anyone happened to have the same issue I had. Appreciate the info though, good to know it's in here somewhere, I'll get to reading.
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Old 07-03-2017, 08:07 PM
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The advanced autosports sleeves are good.
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Old 07-14-2017, 05:07 PM
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How far down can the thread the coilover nut? Can I leave it that far down in the second image? These are 4in advance auto sports (allstar?) coilover sleeves.
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Old 07-14-2017, 05:09 PM
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Ehh, I'd want full thread engagement, don't know that you have that in the second pic
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Old 07-14-2017, 05:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Bronson M
Ehh, I'd want full thread engagement, don't know that you have that in the second pic
That was what I was worried about, I will just leave it as the first picture.
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Old 07-14-2017, 08:35 PM
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If you still want to go lower, take the shocks to a machine shop and have them lathe a groove an inch or so below the current one.
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Old 07-14-2017, 11:14 PM
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2nd pic looks like half the thread engagement!
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Old 07-15-2017, 03:06 AM
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Originally Posted by ridethecliche
If you still want to go lower, take the shocks to a machine shop and have them lathe a groove an inch or so below the current one.
Do you have any idea what something like that would cost?
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Old 07-15-2017, 08:50 AM
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I'm wanting to say Bilstein will do it for 10$ a cut. I can do it on my 8" swing hobby lathe, so look around for any old machine shop, all they need is 1/16" wide parting blade and a little patience.
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Old 07-15-2017, 06:13 PM
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What about, instead of having the shocks cut for a lower circlip, have the sleeves cut inside for a higher shoulder that rests on the existing circlip?
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Old 07-15-2017, 07:03 PM
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Originally Posted by ridethecliche
If you still want to go lower, take the shocks to a machine shop and have them lathe a groove an inch or so below the current one.
That sounds expensive. You can just put a hose clamp around the shock as a guide and slit the grove in with a hacksaw. Then widen the groove out enough for the snap ring by putting a sawsall blade in vise grips. If you dont consider a master of the blade, like myself, dont attempt this or rapid disassembly of the shock can occure in your face.
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Old 07-16-2017, 07:38 AM
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Hacksaw? I'm going to say I trust the precision of a lathe a bit more.
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Old 07-16-2017, 08:32 AM
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Originally Posted by edmcguirk
What about, instead of having the shocks cut for a lower circlip, have the sleeves cut inside for a higher shoulder that rests on the existing circlip?
Absolutely, I actually did this to a set of eBay sleeves to gain some travel and capture the circlip.
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Old 07-16-2017, 09:04 AM
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Hacksaw? I'm going to say I trust the precision of a lathe a bit more.
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Old 07-17-2017, 01:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Bronson M
Absolutely, I actually did this to a set of eBay sleeves to gain some travel and capture the circlip.
It's only a guess since I have not done this yet but there could be a couple of advantages.

I would imagine it might be cheaper to cut a deeper shoulder in an aluminum sleeve than a steel shock.

If the shock ever needs to be replaced, no machining will be necessary. I doubt the sleeve will ever fail or wear out.

You could use a cheaper sleeve that would not capture the circlip in stock form. Just cut a shoulder an inch or so deep.
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Old 07-17-2017, 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by edmcguirk
It's only a guess since I have not done this yet but there could be a couple of advantages.

I would imagine it might be cheaper to cut a deeper shoulder in an aluminum sleeve than a steel shock.

If the shock ever needs to be replaced, no machining will be necessary. I doubt the sleeve will ever fail or wear out.

You could use a cheaper sleeve that would not capture the circlip in stock form. Just cut a shoulder an inch or so deep.
Cost wise it'll be wash depending on the machinist preference. Generally it's more time intensive to do inside machine work rather outside. I did it because 50$ for 4 eBay sleeves are tough to beat cost wise.
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