bilstein front dampers (recommendation lowerering statement)

1. dan_dan_the_saxo_man Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2009 England Posts: 574 1998 saxo 1.1 sx 2001 saxo vtr

   #1 2nd May 2012, 15:59

   hi there just read up a sale on ebay of bilstein dampers
   
   it says a RECOMMENDED lowered spring drop would be 40mm
   
   does this mean its dangerous to run lower or something? or they just won't take any lower...because im after 60mm drop springs
   
   i hear bilstein are decent so i thought they should take 60mm?
2. dan_dan_the_saxo_man Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2009 England Posts: 574 1998 saxo 1.1 sx 2001 saxo vtr

   #2 2nd May 2012, 16:13

   oh and if anyone is wondering im not really bothered about handling...just everyone seems to say at a 60mm drop you need different dampers...hardly ever drive it so aslong as the front suspension works better than with standard dampers....thats all i need
3. Bedford126 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2010 Morley, Leeds Posts: 8469 Civic ep3 type r powered by TDI NORTH

   #3 2nd May 2012, 16:41

   Not needed but are advised because the standard ones will not last long and will bottom out.
4. dan_dan_the_saxo_man Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2009 England Posts: 574 1998 saxo 1.1 sx 2001 saxo vtr

   #4 2nd May 2012, 16:46

   ahh...cheers pal
5. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

   #5 2nd May 2012, 22:51

   fyi the reccomended is as some billies have internal bump stops and are designed to be run for handeling so only a slight drop is what there designed with in mind
   
   i ran billie group ns at 50mm and caught the stops on large bumps b8s ect have the same stops
   same when i had b8s and eibach springs a few years back
6. LSOfreak Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2008 west london Posts: 13810

   #6 3rd May 2012, 01:12

   could just flog them and get some spax or apex dampers at a cheaper price? which are designed to go 60mm
7. axsaxoman Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2003 Scotland Posts: 3380

   #7 3rd May 2012, 08:36

   there is a reason why the correct biltsein units have a shorter piston+ internal bump stops rod than std
   if you run std length when it bottoms out --which it will
   it can then bend the stut top mountingor the bodywork where the mounting fixs
   i have sen lots o cars where the mounting area is curved and it should be totally flat ,and it is also why you get strengthening plates to weld onot the strut mounting area
   s pring is there to cushion the impact from the road + dampers are there to control the osscilations of the spring --once you don,t have them matched it all goes wrong
   the CORRECT type of bilstein is shortened by 50mm and have a 50% larger piston dia as well--you can run -60mm on these if you must ,
   but to use std length on -60mm is just not the way and asking for trouble.
   Its yuor car ,your choice
8. user_55718 Regular Poster Joined: Oct 2011 Tadcaster Posts: 331 08 turbo panda 02 vtr

   #8 3rd May 2012, 09:20

   I run b8's on the front and have dropped it 50mm. It hits the bump stops over big bumps - craters in the road and such. Tho they dont bottom out over speedbumps. Handles really good as well.
9. dan_dan_the_saxo_man Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2009 England Posts: 574 1998 saxo 1.1 sx 2001 saxo vtr

   #9 3rd May 2012, 10:11

   ok thanks guys...so if anything bilsteins arent good for 60mm, apex are...and as said its probably a 1-2 hour a week car so im just after looks really...obviously i want some strength but just aslong as im not going to kill it after say 3 weeks or something
10. dan_dan_the_saxo_man Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2009 England Posts: 574 1998 saxo 1.1 sx 2001 saxo vtr

    #10 3rd May 2012, 10:12

    im probably going to have to try my luck and wait for some cheap coilovers then...scint atm so im looking to save money on this stuff
11. KamRacing Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)

    #11 3rd May 2012, 11:06

    cheap coilovers bottom out and fall apart. You would be better running Apex or Bilstein.
12. LSOfreak Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2008 west london Posts: 13810

    #12 3rd May 2012, 11:32

    get gaz tbh
13. axsaxoman Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2003 Scotland Posts: 3380

    #13 3rd May 2012, 12:21

    then run stiff springs so it won,t fully compress them
    running -60mm which would means with a 15" tyre you will not be able to see the top of it --it will up inside the front wheel arch
    50mm would leave a 1-2 finger gap from tyre to wheel arch at front
    -60mm is not used for racing etc because it compromises driveshaft angles ,bottom arm angle and track end angles ,all of which cause excessive wear and handling issues
14. dan_dan_the_saxo_man Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2009 England Posts: 574 1998 saxo 1.1 sx 2001 saxo vtr

    #14 3rd May 2012, 18:27

    alright cheers again guys...its already -70mm at back so i need to match it kind of...anyway ill see what i can get together...thhanks for explaining