Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

Dont think i've ever seen any mention of anyone doing their own shock revalving around here, yet I'm sure some people around here would probably do it, and benefit from it.

First a little info on shocks/struts, and why you want Bilsteins for this.

Good example of a twin tube, like your typical Koni, kyb, tokico :

http://www.eshocks.com/Koni_TwT.asp

Monotube shocks/struts:

http://www.eshocks.com/Koni_MoT.asp



Twin tubes, while some people do rebuild themselves, dont seem to have a lot of support for diy rebuilding, parts, etc, not to mention it seems like a good bit more trouble to diy.

Monotubes have pretty good support for parts, and information, bilstein has info on different shock valving and shim stacks on their website, as well as being very helpful if you are calling them looking for help/advice. The front struts are 36mm pistons, so everything for their 36mm shocks will generally fit here, rear thirdgen shocks are 46mm, here is where circle track stuff pays off, everything other than the outer housing is pretty much swappable with the racing shocks, Bilstein offers a few different design pistons, from there you can also change the shaft size which mainly just requires the appropriately sized rod guide.

Monotubes up front on a thirdgen have the benefit of using the shock body itself as the strut rod, on a twin tube strut the 18-22mm shaft you see coming out of the body is exactly what you think it is, this on a thirdgen is your entire resistance to camber changes, flexing etc. Up front with a Bilstein Inverted Monotube, the shiny 40mm "shaft" as everyone refers to it coming up to your camber/caster plate isnt a shaft at all, its actually the shock body, its a tube with a 2mm wall thickness, the yellow part that bolts to the spindle is just a housing with teflon lined bushings for it to slide up and down inside, the actual shock shaft is small and bolted to the bottom of that housing, then it goes through the rod guide and has the piston on the end of it which is in the oil.

Bilstein strut alone




Onto what parts there are, and rebuilding.


First a few links to some very good information, and sources for parts


Great site with information on shock valving, suspension setup, why certain shocks arent very good.

http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets.html

A great thread by someone who's done a good bit of research into diy shock valving, and info on building your own shock dyno.

http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2325055

These guys are a very good source for parts:

http://www.fastline-performance.com



Ok onto the actual rebuilding.

Link to info with pictures:

http://farnorthracing.com/shocks_2.html

Keep in mind that the front struts will need to be drilled at the top, I dont have any thirdgen bilsteins right now to check on but this may be possible through the top of the pin shaft, but you need enough wall thickness to thread in a schrader valve to re-gas the shock. another option is the top of the strut shaft just above the hard chrome plating, for those running without coilovers this should be a good spot on the Bilsteins and a thirdgen, a last effort i've seen and an example shouldnt be too hard to find if you have to is to weld an inset cup into the very top area of the hard chrome and put it there.

blakecharles

fastline has the Bilstein AK's (not HD). they offer custom valving with them too (although the stock setting is already nice). price dose not seem to be that much, why the hassle?

Z28ricer

iTrader: (2)

What do you mean ? The hassle of revalving ? To get them just right for your specific spring rates, and actually completely tune your suspension.