Rebuilding Bilsteins?
 

I finally got around to pulling the old Bilsteins out of my 94R and need to figure out which way I want to go. It looks like at least one is leaking so I'm leaning towards a rebuild. I'm also considering having them revalved to handle so stiffer springs (500/350?) while they're in. First question is where? What I've read about SD isn't comforting, I can't justify the FCM price and I've heard Bilstein doesn't do a great job either. Second question is the revalve worth it? I'd pick up some cheapo ebay coilover kit and QA1 springs, probably in the 500/350 range. Is this worth it or would the ~$600 be better put towards a different setup? Based upon the suspension hierarchy thread, I think the rebuild/revalve is a reasonable path. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Word from the back alleys is that R package billes stock valving is excellent for 700 lb springs on the front. I dont recall what they like in the back. But if you only end up wanting a rebuild there is approximately 17 thousand circle track shops that rebuild billies, some might revalve for you but you're going likely going to have to come up with more information than you would need to with shaik/SD, but less info than you would need with bilstien direct.

And speaking of shaik, I dont think he revalves the old style R package shocks anymore, he only works with the newer HDs.

He only does brand new shocks and charges 1100+ for the package
Cool for him terrible for us.

SD will work with your used ones, and I think will charge around 600 or so.
But has bery bad reputation on most forums from many botched previous transactions.

Bilstein supposedly doesn't do good work after some skillful old guy that did them passed.

So yeah. Not a whole lot of options.
IF you find a local race shop like Leafy is saying that might be your only option.

No matter what you do with Bilsteins, at the end of the day you're looking at AST money.

Hustler, I know you're a huge AST/XIDA fan but I honestly don't see how they're comparable price wise to what I'm proposing. The Club Sports are $1900 and they go up front there. I'm thinking that I can do what I proposed above for ~$600. Am I missing something?

Yes. Next he will tell you that without Xida/Ast you might as well drive a school bus

sub'd. Im in the same boat, and came to the same conclusions. At $65/shock, I'm tempted roll the dice with Bilstein, at least that way I can request the dynos and see how hard they screwed me.

I've also heard ISC will do revalves, but don't have any experience with their work.

If you want to send your stuff to SD, have fun and good luck.

If I trusted SD then this would be a easy decision. As I do not, as I stated in my first post, I'm looking for other options and opinions.

I just talked to Mike at ISC Racing and he does not revalve shocks.

These 2 below can also revalve Bilsteins besides FCM, SD and mfg:

Racing Shocks and Suspension at RE Suspension
fealsuspension.com - Directory

I'm on the same boat, but I'm almost tempted go to with FM1 or Vmaxx.

Here you go Kennny Hendricks does and excellent job revalving rebuilding bilsteins and almost any other shocks Been doing this for 20 plus years his turnaround is fast and cost is reasonable. I sent him a set of hard S to revalve to accommodate the FM springs I opted for 350 ft and 250ft rear took 8 days from the time I shipped to received them back. cost 66.00 a shock including schrader valves.

Automotive Shock Repair, Shock sales and Leasing, Rebuilt Shock Absorbers and Managed Racing Shocks for NASCAR Racing provided by Suspension Systems LLC, Huntersville, NC

Thank you qax and 1FastMx5. I'll give them a call and see what they have to say. qax, do you have any experience with either of those vendors? Vmaxx is in my calculus as well...

I've talked to all 5 sources.

Bernie seems to have the best resume, but looks like you have eliminated that option so I won't add anything to that.

FCM is no go on used shocks.

The guy I've been talking to and emailing @ Bilstein told me that his tech manager told him that (my) 450F/300R # springs will ride stiff no matter what, and if you want ride quality you should just stick OTS valving. hmmmknothxbai...

RE had some experience with SM billies I think. $75 per shock, 4 to 5 days turn around.

Feal charges same rate as SD if not more, has experiences with Bilsteins but not Miata. He seems to generate some positive feedbacks from the Subaru crowds. He's semi local to me so that's the only reason I looked him up. Had a short discussion with him over the phone, but he never called me back as promised so I didn't bother to follow up but mainly due to his pricing.

Shipped my shocks off to Kenny at Suspension Systems LLC today to be rebuilt and revalved. He told me to expect approximately a one week turn around. I'll let you all know what I think when I get them back and installed.

Where are you finding Bilsteins for $65/shock?

the rebuild is 65/shock

Do you know if they had a specific shim stack already worked out for the springrates you want? Let us know how they work out. Huntersville is just down the road from me...

cheers!

donour

I got my bilsteins revavled at bilstein in december. All I can say is that the car drives fantastic. It rides over small bumps without feeling a thing, medium bumps you will feel the car move slightly letting you know its there but with bigger bumps you will feel it! But it is always very controlled. Coming from stock suspension just driving on the freeway the car feels less busy (less motion from bumps) and when compared to my ms3 on ots bilsteins with 4.5kg/mm springs front and rear is far less body movement on the highway. At the same time, the shocks were not the only thing that changed, I did GC coilovers and suspension bushings at the same time, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

How much per shock? Any updates?