Bilstein revalve?
 

I just bought some R package Bilsteins for $120 local, higher mileage. Plan was to put them on my car, stock blown shocks on Tein S Techs, and in the future when I could afford the car being down. Send them to Bilstein and have them revalved. Buy some coil over sleeves and some 450/350lb springs and call it a day.

However after reading a bit, I read the Bilstein no longer rebuilds the crimp top shocks. Anyone know this to be true or not? And would this be a worthwhile to go? Or better off selling the Bilstein and s techs and getting coilovers?

What is you overall budget and intended use for the car?

Budget is variable, I wanted to do a good cheap setup, really just wanted to get rid of the blown shocks I have for the time being. If they turn out to work well with the S Techs for 10k miles I will be happy.

At the moment I daily the car but that will soon change when I get my ranger running. Intended use will be weekend car, few mountain roads. Auto X once a month, and running at a local track once a month as well. Not super competitive, and will be my first time out so I am not looking to spend big bucks on Xida or anything.

Shock Repair, Rebuilt Shock Absorbers and Managed Racing Shocks for NASCAR Racing, Automotive, ATV and Motocross provided by Shock Specialist, Suspension Systems LLC, Huntersville, NC

Kenny is great and might do them. It is definitely worth calling him. Very reasonable on price, and fast turn around. I am taking my PSS9s there next week for a three day turn around!

I'm happy with the R package Bilsteins that Kenny revalved for me. I'm running them with 550/350 springs.

Good to know. How did you find out about him? I wonder if it wasn't from one of my posts?

Thanks for the replys, I will give him a call this week. Just debating if it's worth the time and hassle, performance wise.

Revalved Billies are worth the effort

FWIW I bought a set of 94R billies with about 100k on them for around $100, they were covered in surface rust but I took them and sanded them down and repainted and they looked great.

I then paired them with
350lb 7" QA1/275lb 8" SSS springs
ISC top mounts w/ energy suspension spring isolators
"jessieskits" ebay coilover sleeve kit
FCM 58mm firm/medium bumpstops
New lower isolator bushings from Summit

For an investment around $550-600 I have an amazing performing, true coilover, linear spring suspension that I drive 80-100 miles per day on. No revalve, just ran them as is. I really didn't expect it but they actually ride better than stock on smoother surfaces, masking the small imperfections in the road and giving the car a very planted feel. My girlfriend didn't even know I had modified the car, even over bumps. Very impressive.

I don't recall who recommended him but it was someone on this forum.

My only concern is how usable they will be even when revalved.

$120 for the bilstiens
$300? for rebuild and revalve
$50 for sleeves
$90 for springs

So after shipping we are talking $600+ however it will be a quality build, and depending on the spring rates I choose it would be comfortable enough to daily, yet good on the track.

But for $300 more I could have Tein street advance, and $600 more BC Racing coilovers or any other entry level setup. And $900 more I could have KW's.

So my question then would be how would this $600 setup compare to the other said coilover setups. Big advantage over in track conditions?

The Bilsteins are available new at $450 in spec Miata, or Hard S, or Sport valving. Revalves are great for customizing to your spring rates, though. Your car will be better for daily and track if you revalve or buy with the right valving. You don't want too much high speed damping because it makes the ride jittery and reduces grip. Low speed damping is very important because it reduces float and makes the car feel controlled.

Correctly valved Billies are gonna be more durable than Teins.

Thanks for the info guys, I guess I will go ahead and use the billies.

Debating if I should use them in the meantime, or just send them to get revalved before I put tem on. Cash is biggest factor there...

Anyhow, thanks again...

Taking 8 Billies to Kenny at Hendricks Shocks today. I still haven't made my final decision on spring rates, but I am really excited to see how my car transforms.

My thoughts.....I have a used set of PSS9's that I an pretty happy with. They look rather old and I have no idea how many miles are on them so I am sure freshening them up will improve their already great performance. I have heard that they need more rebound dampening so I will ask for that adjustment. Since they are adjustable I am leaning towards using them on the Turbo car for a more comfortable ride as that will be the car we take on trips. 10AE with built VVT engine and EFR6258. 550/350 is the rate I am leaning towards. Your thoughts?

I also have a set of Bilsteins from a 10AE, Hard S? I think I am going to have them shortened a little and valved for 700/400. These will go on my 94 with @175 whp na. Thoughts? If they are valved properly this should still be a semi comfortable ride quality right? Since the roads I drive on are average roads with some pot holes and lots of cracks I don't want to go too stiff. This car will become a daily driver whose primary purpose is canyon carving.

I'm running 550/350 on Hard S Billies with stock valving. It's certainly a little busier than when I was running 450/275. I am really at the limit of what this valving can control with these rates. I do drive the car on the street sometimes but it is far from plush. Your 10AE will be a little heavier than my '96 which should help the ride given the same rate. But valving makes all of the difference.