Chapman

iTrader: (2)

?? Maybe you mean better price, but I haven't heard of those before and who knows what the quality will be like. Less than $700 for coilovers smells like **** quality from a mile away.

op...Revalved Bilsteins or Koni race(you could use sports in the rear to save a bit) with spring rate of choice on some adjustable perches, plus at least a bigger front bar/endlinks and stock rear sway(or none at all) is a good starting point at least if you decide to go spring/shock route.

I don't like my stock Bilstein HD's at all. Can't wait to get them revalved.

falcon

iTrader: (13)

I've pretty much decided to go with the Koni Race, with perches an QA1 springs. Seems that it will get me the most performance for my dollar at this point.

If anyone happens to be selling some lightly used RACE's let me know.

swimming108

iTrader: (3)

how do these koni's stack up against FCM Bilsteins?

Chapman

iTrader: (2)

Technically the custom revalve on the monotube bilsteins, that are built specifically for a specified spring-rate and weight of car, should be better than the off of the shelf koni races.
Will you drive your car hard enough or be sensitive enough to need that or even notice? That depends I guess. Either one is really a good choice. Personally I'm going Bilstein revalves because I have the hd's already so it's cheaper that way.

I think the shock body is also very short on the koni race in comparison to the bilsteins.

Braineack

iTrader: (62)

plus they wont jack down like a bitch, so they'll acutally be comfortable...

falcon

iTrader: (13)

How much does it cost for a custom re-valve for the HD's? Also, would you run the same 700/450lb rates that you would with the RACE's? If not, what rates would work best with a revalved HD? I was chatting with a local Miata racer the other day and he said from the Bilsteins, Race's and KW coils he's ran, he like the custom valved belsteins better than the off the shelf Konis. The KW's were obviously the best.

Trying to compare bilsteins + valving = $400 + valving$?
to Koni Race = $279/ea = $1116

found these...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BILST...Q5fAccessories

sn95

iTrader: (2)

Bilstein USA will do the re-valve for $60.00/shock plus return shipping (there is a form on their website). A few people on M.net have suggested using the "FastMike" valving as a starting point. Shaik over at FCM does nice custom re-valving as well but last time I checked his website the price was $1,012 for a set of 4!

falcon

iTrader: (13)

wow! $1000!.

Will the Bilstein USA valving be as good as the Stewart valving?

What goes about figuring out the custom valve? I assume you tell them what spring rates you are using, ride height etc...?

Chapman

iTrader: (2)

Holy ****! FCM's pricing is through the roof! Last time I checked he was charging $550 or $600. FCM does the job very well but that is a lot of money (too much). I would look into the Stewart version. (I will myself seeing as this is the first I've heard of it)

Bilstein will do it for you as mentioned for cheap, but the tricky part is telling them what you want. If you tell them the spring rate you will be using you would think that is good enough, but if they keep the same ratio of bump/rebound it could still ride like ****. There have been people on m.net who've had there's done by bilstein and have had decent results(not as highly praised as FCM who almost gets no complaints).(Search for Dward)

I believe the "fast mike" version of the revalve was made specifically for autocross. That could change some of the things you want or don't want on a track.

I would see if you could get a dyno plot of an FCM shock and see if a bilstein tech could try and match the characteristics of it for your specified spring rate.

jacob300zx

Just pay the little extra and go with stewart development. Fatcat uses 70's tech to do his shocks, which is fine since the shocks are 70's tech. Stewart using ohlins and showa parts during his revalve, where as fatcat uses only bilstein parts. My shocks are going to stewart asap.

falcon

iTrader: (13)

what were you quoted for the re-valve?

sn95

iTrader: (2)

Any idea what Stewart charges per shock?? Nothing on their website about shock re-valving but it seems that they do a lot of work for first line NASCAR teams. It would be nice to get a better re-valve then Bilstein provides at a price at little more reasonable than Shaik's. I still can't figure out how Shaik's prices have almost doubled in less than a year; how can it possibly cost 250.00 to revalve a Bilstein??

Chapman

iTrader: (2)

I would also like to know the price for rebuild from Stewart Development. Thought I saw $400... Is this correct? (I will be in the market in 2-3 months so I'm mostly curious.)

I read FCM was sending people to Stewart because he didn't want to do basic revalves anymore.

Anyone here gone through them?

miatauser884

iTrader: (11)

In for Stewart Development prices. Do they offer the same turn key customer service? FCM seems to know miatas. I'm suprised they would turn away customers considering there sight has the option to buy 4 re valved shocks for $1012 ( At least I thought that included the shocks) Is that just for re valving and you send them your shocks

gospeed81

iTrader: (51)

The FCM revalve does include the shocks...revalving mail-ins is $600, but he's getting away from it, likely due to competition. Only wants to sell new kit, which is the $1012 you see.

If you call now he's got a set of NA bodies on the shelf he offered me for $150. Shocks, revalve and shipping came out to $795.

I just never quite got to $800 of free jack. Ended up finding something I can live with for a good bit less and jumped on it. Used high end coilovers ftw.

miatauser884

iTrader: (11)

Just got an email from stewart racing development. If you are drop shipping him new shocks, then it is $60 for the revalve for each shock. If he supplies the shocks, then it is 60 for revalve and $115 for the shocks. I am waiting to here back on what shocks he uses. I also asked him what info he needs about the car.

So that would be $700 out the door with new revalved shocks from stewart racing.

Since he is from High Point, NC , that automatically makes him good people since that is where I moved from.

falcon

iTrader: (13)

wow, that's great pricing!

saint_foo

Do you have contact info for Stewart? URL and/or phone?

thx!

miatauser884

iTrader: (11)

I just talked to him. Real nice guy. I am going to go with a set of these when I get my motor in. I'm going to run my current suspension so that way I have something to compare. The shocks are completely serviceable so you can keep them for as long as you want to run them. After around 5 years they may need to have the oil replaced. I guess it depends on how hard you run them. He can make them work with any spring rate. I've got 342lb in front and 228 lb in rear. He also needs to know what size sway bar is being run, and if I was running extended shock mounts. He agreed with me that without proper tools to dial in a coil over setup, then this will be better. I don't have the time, nor do I want to spend the time with an adjustable suspension. He said he likes to work with higher spring rates. I asked about the competitiveness of my setup after the new shocks. He said it will be very competitive and better than an SM setup (probably due to not having to adhere to a rulebook). I asked if he recommended that I go to a firmer spring. He said that for my application (DD and 1-2 DE events per year) I should keep my springs.

Bernie Stewart
Stewart Development
1321 West Fairfield Road
Suite #110
High Point, NC 27263
(336) 899-0072 Office
(336) 464-2764 Fax
STEWART DEVELOPMENT INC. - WELCOME

Pitlab77

iTrader: (3)

I got mine done from Bilstein usa through GHM / Gas Head Motorworks home It is pretty much SPEC miata valving but I am using slightly softer spings. 550 fronts 350 rears.

Does not ride rough at all