I was just window shopping shocks and struts and the only Bilsteins showing up on Summit are rear shocks. I followed up with a search on the Bilstein US website and got the single rear result. Searching the english version of their primary page finds a front number, but they show discontinued when I google that number.

Just from the look of things, there might be one less option for quality dampers. Konis were cheaper anyway, but it'd sure be nice if manufacturers would stop dropping thirdgen parts.

 

Possibly not enough demand on our part to justify the continued production. At the end of the day for almost all companies, is profit.

 

Yup, seems like the vast majority of the people who have these cars these days, are not like us... just read the number of posts on here, mostly from the n00bs, about "what's THE CHEEEEEEEPEST {whatever} I can get" compared to how many you see about "what's THE BEST {whatever} I can get". I'd bet it's about 20 to 1.

And most of those people, if you tell em the cheeeeeeeepest ones they can get are Gabriel (which IMO are not much different from no damping elements at all) they'll come back with some version of "I'm on a budget, can't afford the $15 apiece, anything cheeeeeeeeeper?" And then if you tell em that AZ is having a sale and they're only $12 they'll say something like "it's not worth it" or maybe "I'm looking for a job, maybe after I get one" or some such.

How do you sell a quality product line into a marketplace like that?

A real shame.

 

You can get stock third gen Koni and Bilstein shocks rebuilt by dealers.

Had the stock front Koni struts/shocks on my IROC rebuilt and they are like new for half the cost.

 

I emailed bilstein a yr ago and though it says discontinued i was able to order a set of front shocks and they made a set and shipped it out..for a price ofcourse. Email them and see if they would still produce a shock for you. just because they arent mass producing the shock doesnt mean they wont make a set if your not in a hurry for them.

 

They were available a year ago. I went with Koni because with last springs discount they were a better deal. Looking into current pricing and what's available today, I noticed that the Bilsteins seem to be discontinued. I don't want or need a set bad enough to pick up a phone, but I did find it disappointing.

The trouble I see with our cars, is that the suspension really needs a quality damper to keep from being too abusive. Monroes, Gabriels, etc just aren't up to controlling our springs. Bilsteins and Konis are expensive, but they ride and handle considerably better than parts store trash. Options are good, sucks when one of the few good options goes away.

 

Now correct me if I'm wrong. But weren't Delco/Bilstein shocks with a black dust cover instead of the blue, only installed at the rear of the IROC (B4Z) cars? And the front struts were just heavy duty units from the factory with different internal valve properties?

 

KYB is very well respected and makes their adjustable AGX line for third gens. 4 way adjustable on the front and 8 way on the rear. Through my wholesale I got the rears for about $70 each and the fronts for about $115 each.

Rick

 

Those might be my next choice when I replace shocks in the future.I think the reason I didnt go with them before is because im lowered 2 inches and didnt want to ruin shocks not designed for a lowered car.

 

Well that's crappy news! When I rebuilt my suspension a couple years ago I bought the HD rears and KYB AGX fronts to reduce cost but always intended to eventually get the matching Bilstein fronts. Now I guess I'll be going Koni eventually. $250 a pop for those struts was a bit of a ridiculous price though for a non adjustable strut.

 

Its still available in Canada(thats a first) but omg its pricey!

http://www.bilsteincanada.com/produc...oducts_id=2156

I got mine for half that for the pair used.