Bilstein HD For S13s?

[SoSideways]

I know Bilstein makes S13 shocks and shock inserts, however, they are not available here.

I know that the 3000GT insert will work for the S14 front, so then it should also work for the S13 front, as long as I have the stock struts to cut up for the inserts.

Now, question is, are there anything out there for the rear?

The 3000GT rear seem to be longer than even the stock S13 rear shocks, and the Z32 is the same length as the S13 shocks, but would require Z32 uprights.

Question is, are there equivalent shocks out there for the S13 rear?

I just looked to see if they have 95-99 Eclipse HD shocks, and it doesn't look like they do?

I am not sure if the 90-94 shocks will fit, but I haven't really looked either.

So if anyone can chime in, that'd be great! Thanks!

[Duffman]

There's a post on here from a while ago where someone had trouble getting the 3000GT insert into the S13 housing. I think they might be slightly smaller diameter.

On the rears, according to Monroe, the 94 eclipse are 12.060" body length with 7.020" stroke. They look like this:

[Duffman]

Taking a second look at the Bilstein catalog, the 90-94 Eclipse part is a TC not an HD. Not sure if TC's can be revalved with HD/SP style internals or not, but it's something to be aware of.

[SoSideways]

Yeah it's hard to find any info really, from Bilstein, because their site sucks and their catelog only lists part numbers.

I was thinking, maybe Evo struts/shocks could work? They certainly look like they're really close...

[ecugrad]

Yeah it's hard to find any info really, from Bilstein, because their site sucks and their catelog only lists part numbers.


Call them, they helped me out a TON when I was putting my stuff together last year.

[2Fass240us]

Z32 is the same length as the S13 shocks, but would require Z32 uprights.Why not just go this route? You know you want the uprights anyways. :)

[Ruff Ryder 6]

Yes the uprights make it eleventy-million times easier, BUT, if you want to use the 3KGT rears i have a new set sitting in my floor at home.

[SoSideways]

Well, after looking around, it seems that the Koni yellow would be better suited for me, as I plan on running a high spring rate, and the Bilstein HDs aren't valved as high as the yellows right out of the box, so after having the Bilsteins revalved, I would have paid about the same, if not more, for the Bilsteins than the yellows.

Basically, I'd just like to continue this thread so that the next person looking for Bilstein HDs for their S13s would have somewhat of an idea of what to go with by coming to this thread for info.

BTW, I am getting Z32 rear uprights, I am just saying, for the sake of complete R&R type shock, is there anything out there that would work for the S13, like the 3000GT would work for the S14?

[Duffman]

The 3000GT fronts SHOULD be valved for something like 300-400lbs/in right from the factory considering the high spring rates and huge front-biased weight of a 3000GT. The 3000GT rears not as much though more like 200lbs/in.

For my car, I'm going with 3000GT fronts and koni yellow rears :)

Another bolt in option is the FC RX7 insert. It is the smaller 30mm piston and has a smaller overall diameter. The FC and the 3Si are the only two bottom-bolt style inserts that Bilstein sells in the US to my knowledge.

[jmauld]

Well, after looking around, it seems that the Koni yellow would be better suited for me, as I plan on running a high spring rate, and the Bilstein HDs aren't valved as high as the yellows right out of the box, so after having the Bilsteins revalved, I would have paid about the same, if not more, for the Bilsteins than the yellows.

Basically, I'd just like to continue this thread so that the next person looking for Bilstein HDs for their S13s would have somewhat of an idea of what to go with by coming to this thread for info.

BTW, I am getting Z32 rear uprights, I am just saying, for the sake of complete R&R type shock, is there anything out there that would work for the S13, like the 3000GT would work for the S14?

IMO, you're better off with a properly valved set of bilsteins then a set of OTS Koni Yellows. In my experience those koni yellows will last about a year before they will need to be revalved, and that's going to cost you double what a Bilstein revalve will cost you.

[WishIHadaSilvia]

Yeah Bilstein offers revalving for only 65 bucks a shock (last I checked).


I'm excited because my shocks are finally done! I'll hopefully be receiving them in the mail in the next week or so. I'm running 3000GT inserts up front and Z32 rear shocks with the spacer removed so I can run them on my S14.

I'm going to have a bunch of coil over sleeves and crap left over because I raided ebay, haha. So anyone who is going to need that stuff keep your eyes open because I'll be making a thread once my set up is together.

[jmauld]

Z32 rear shocks with the spacer removed so I can run them on my S14.


Do you have these installed yet?

[SoSideways]

Well, how would I know what to tell the guys at Bilstein as far as the valving goes?

I mean, I haven't really weighed my car... but I do know what spring rates I want to go with, so maybe that's about all they would need?

[ecugrad]

The 3000GT fronts SHOULD be valved for something like 300-400lbs/in right from the factory

My 3000GT fronts have 450lb springs and its a pretty damn stiff ride. Not BAD but certainly STIFF.

[ecugrad]

Yeah Bilstein offers revalving for only 65 bucks a shock (last I checked).


I'm excited because my shocks are finally done! I'll hopefully be receiving them in the mail in the next week or so. I'm running 3000GT inserts up front and Z32 rear shocks with the spacer removed so I can run them on my S14.

I'm going to have a bunch of coil over sleeves and crap left over because I raided ebay, haha. So anyone who is going to need that stuff keep your eyes open because I'll be making a thread once my set up is together.

Did you get the fronts revalved as well?

[WishIHadaSilvia]

I had Tim (Wiisass) plan out the shock valving for me. He had me take a bunch of measurements and corner weight the car and what not and he crunched some numbers and told Bilstein what to do. It took a long time (I started talking to him back in Oct/Nov) but I think it will be 100% worth it as once I get the suspension on I shouldn't have more then 1300 in it and it will be 'perfect' for what I want and I can slam the crap out of the car if I feel like it, haha.

I'm going to be running 6" 500lb springs up front and 7" 400lb springs out back and I am going to have a helper spring set up out back and possibly up front as well.

I still need springs as my friend who I was going to sell my old JICs to was going to give me his ground controls off of his car as a partial payment....but he just moved to Atlanta so I'm stuck buying everything now :(.


I don't have the set up on my car yet, but I'll make a thread when I put the coilovers together (I might make a thread during the process because I may need some help). I've got to get my OEM front strut housings cut up and rewelded to my liking for the 3000GT inserts, so I was going to wait for the struts to get here before I did that.

[Duffman]

Did you get a dyno sheet with your rebuild?

[WishIHadaSilvia]

I will be getting one when I get the shocks.

[SoSideways]

Did you have to pay Tim (Wiisass) for him to help you figure out your damping curve?

[WishIHadaSilvia]

Yes I paid Tim for his services. He had to do quite a bit of work (aside from doing the calculations) to get the shocks valved the way they needed to be. I was actually pretty surprised how much leg work he had to do.

[Duffman]

Maybe you could use camaro bilsteins on a S13. Seems to work for the AE86 guys.

[SoSideways]

Hmm.... might have to check their lengths w/ the Monroe thing.

That chart that they have is HARD as hell to find PNs to cross reference.

[ecugrad]

Monroe 71728 (80's Camaro)
Length Comp Ext Travel
13.875 12.500 19.625 7.125

The Bilstein for that style of Camaro is NOT an insert as far as I can tell.

[Duffman]

Sorry, I meant you could use the camaro shock in the rear of the S13.

Monroe part 5867
Comp Ext Travel
11.750 19.000 7.250

Bilstein parts:
HD 93+ F4-BE5-2407-M1
not sure what the difference is between the years, monroe has the same part #
HD 82-92 F4-B46-1121-H0
SP 82-92 F4-B46-1021-H0

[jmauld]

Can you really use a shock in the rear, or do you need to stick with a damper that is designed for strut-type loads?

[SoSideways]

Can you really use a shock in the rear, or do you need to stick with a damper that is designed for strut-type loads?

We don't have struts in the rear, we have shocks, because all the shock does on the rear of an S-chassis is to control the up/down movements of the arms. It does not take any lateral loads like the front, which is why the rear is not a strut, but just a shock.

[jmauld]

Okay, I've wrestled with the idea of exactly what those were in the rear.

So, any of you run a "rear strut tower bar", and consider it to be effective? If the majority of the loads are in the lower and upper control arm, then the tower really should see a minimal load, right?

[WishIHadaSilvia]

I got some pictures from Tim, I'm extremely excited!

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c51/95KA-Turbo/DSC01699.jpg


This is comparing a stock Z32 rear shock to mine with the spacer taken out:

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c51/95KA-Turbo/DSC01696.jpg



So we'll just see how slammed my car is, luckily it looks like a roll center solution has been figured out, haha.

[2Fass240us]

"Sportwagen zum Einbauen" ... nice

[SoSideways]

Yeah that's hot.

From a search on here, it is confirmed that there are very minimal differences between the S13 and Z32 rear shocks.

I think the Z32s were slightly, and I mean slightly, shorter.

Let's just say that, I do have Z32 uprights in the rear... what other solutions other than Z32 shocks would work for the S13, as far as a shorter shock goes?

Or would Bilstein be able to physically shorten the housing a little bit so that we're not limited by the shock housing itself?

[jmauld]

If it's a true shock, then you're only limitation is your ability to fab a mount for standard race shock.

[WishIHadaSilvia]

I am pretty sure the Z32 rear shocks have enough travel that if you're looking to lower the car significantly that you'll be able to - even on a S13.

Here's the Z32 shock info again - this is without the spacer removed to give it more travel:

extended - 21.14"
collapsed - 14.88"



Mine are ~23.14 extended....I don't know the exact number but I'm pretty sure the spacer in the shock is ~2 inches. If I remember correctly Monroe shocks has their rear S14 shock listed as:

Compressed Length 19.25"
Extended Length 26.625"

So 3" lower then factory ride height is going to put the fender lip just above the tire on a low profile 17" wheel/tire combo.

[SoSideways]

Yeah but that's on an S14.

S13 is going to require something pretty short for the same thing to happen and still have about 3" of travel.