HELP with Bilsteins!!!
#182
02-12-2010 | 09:37 AM
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The diagram from Bilstein appears to be wrong with respect to which formed washers are supplied so I made some correction and add some notation. Any dissenting opinion on the accuracy of the 2 pictures? Who knows, this thread might save some lives, or at least some bad headaches.
From the remaining parts, mine appears to be installed correctly. Nevertheless, I intend to print this and hand it to my installer the next time my car has an alignment check.
Please note my pictures and diagrams are not meant to be official; for the official documentation, please check with your installer and Bilstein.
TTdude, thanks but I would hardly consider myself a suspension guru, especially when it comes to installation! Besides the pro's, eclou is the true guru among posters here.
From the remaining parts, mine appears to be installed correctly. Nevertheless, I intend to print this and hand it to my installer the next time my car has an alignment check.
Please note my pictures and diagrams are not meant to be official; for the official documentation, please check with your installer and Bilstein.
TTdude, thanks but I would hardly consider myself a suspension guru, especially when it comes to installation! Besides the pro's, eclou is the true guru among posters here.
#185
02-12-2010 | 06:20 PM
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From: Bellevue, WA
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I have no clicking, popping. or anything like this. I also have them on both cars .
I feel the lesson I am getting from the thread is not so much about Bilstein but rather what it takes to find a professional installer. A lot of shops might offer a great price or insist that they are the right guy for the job . As an owner who never worked on the car myself I can understand that its hard to differentiate talent from a great sales pitch .
But with 500+ Hp there's just too much riding on who you choose as well as what you chose for the car.
I feel the lesson I am getting from the thread is not so much about Bilstein but rather what it takes to find a professional installer. A lot of shops might offer a great price or insist that they are the right guy for the job . As an owner who never worked on the car myself I can understand that its hard to differentiate talent from a great sales pitch .
But with 500+ Hp there's just too much riding on who you choose as well as what you chose for the car.
I left my car with my installer for nearly three weeks so he could trace the source of my suspension noises. He put several hundred miles on the clock. He never found anything wrong with the car that some grease added to the sway bar bushings wouldn't fix.
I agree completely about the selection of a shop to perform modifications and major service on the car. I use a shop highly recommended by local PCA club members, and people that track their cars. This shop runs a couple of Cup cars as well, so I have complete confidence in their abilities.
I have to say that most Porsche dealers in the large metropolitan areas have at least one tech who is completely knowledgeable in the workings of these cars. Porsche requires dealer techs attend their schools quarterly for updates on service procedures and techniques.
#186
02-12-2010 | 09:17 PM
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Joined: May 2009
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From: Houston, Texas
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Hopefully this will clarify. We took some pics today when we installed some Bilsteins in a 997TT. We have pics from the original shock, the new one, the coned washer, the washer installed, etc. We also put a bunch more pics on our Facebook page. 
Notice the rubber ring between the Bilstein spacer and the strut mount. Very inportant too. It can wear and cause noise. It is almost always obvious from looking on the outside if it goes bad.
Notice the rubber ring between the Bilstein spacer and the strut mount. Very inportant too. It can wear and cause noise. It is almost always obvious from looking on the outside if it goes bad.
Last edited by david@autodynamica; 02-12-2010 at 09:19 PM.
#187
02-12-2010 | 09:43 PM
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From: Houston, Texas
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Thanks David for posting the pictures of my install. The drive home from your new location this evening was great. Cant believe how much better the Bilstein's are compared to the stock factory. Its like I'm driving a different car. No more body roll and lane changes are so much sharper. I will be back next week for the alignment.
#189
03-01-2010 | 08:01 PM
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Update
Well, I got sick and tired of waiting on Bilstein to send me my "rebuilt" coilover (guess I shouldn't complain since odds are it was dealer install error). So, I bought another one. Arrives tomorrow! Am very anxious to look at the other front coilover to see if the magic washer exists! I will still be receiving the rebuilt coilover (some day I'm sure) so let me know of anyone wants to buy one cheap. If I don't sell it, I'll just keep it in case another one breaks!!!
#190
03-01-2010 | 08:08 PM
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Joined: May 2009
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From: TX
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Yes you have to be sure about that OEM washer!!! Other way you will always have problems with the front shocks.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or David at 281 292 7755 or e mail us at tuning@autodynamica.com
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or David at 281 292 7755 or e mail us at tuning@autodynamica.com
#191
03-10-2010 | 09:27 PM
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Update - You guys won't believe this...
Well...I received the car back today, after purchasing another passenger, front strut from Bilstein via AWE (Mike got me a really good deal as a "courtesy" for me)...drove the car home, washed it, went to dinner and the DRIVERS side shock broke in the EXACT SAME FASHION AS THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK!!! This is not a joke. My Porsche tech has always INSISTED that the magical, mystery "washer" was always on the passenger side shock (I cannot verify this because we just pulled the whole thing and shipped it to AWE) but I can now say with certainty the washer WAS on the drivers side unit that broke tonight! My tech was so upset when I called him, he left his family at dinner, got his tools, and drove over to the restaurant I was at, jacked up the car, and examined everything. I personally watched this whole process. He took his flashlight, shone it on the broken shaft and wanted me to look at it first before he wiggled it off the shaft. It was there plain as day. Here's what's ironic: this one broke in exactly the same fashion as the passenger side one originally...here are the similarities:
1. Washed the car
2. Backed it up with the steering wheel completely turned to the left (preparing to park)
3. Placed car in first gear, turned steering wheel completely to the right and began slowly pulling into parking spot
4. Heard the "pop" as I was slowing down to come to a complete stop and park.
I don't know what to think. I now know the washer was NOT the issue as Bilstein has said (I personally do not believe the pictures I received from them were of my ACTUAL broken shock...I will post comparison pictures in a minute for all you conspiracy theorists out there and let you guys decide). What do you all think? Is it possible these are fake Bilsteins? I've never heard of fakes, has anyone else? What else could be the problem?
1. Washed the car
2. Backed it up with the steering wheel completely turned to the left (preparing to park)
3. Placed car in first gear, turned steering wheel completely to the right and began slowly pulling into parking spot
4. Heard the "pop" as I was slowing down to come to a complete stop and park.
I don't know what to think. I now know the washer was NOT the issue as Bilstein has said (I personally do not believe the pictures I received from them were of my ACTUAL broken shock...I will post comparison pictures in a minute for all you conspiracy theorists out there and let you guys decide). What do you all think? Is it possible these are fake Bilsteins? I've never heard of fakes, has anyone else? What else could be the problem?
#193
03-10-2010 | 09:34 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,317
From: WA state
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go buy a lottery ticket RIGHT NOW. The chances of that is crazy odds.
I dont know what to tell you, this sucks!
I dont know what to tell you, this sucks!
Well...I received the car back today, after purchasing another passenger, front strut from Bilstein via AWE (Mike got me a really good deal as a "courtesy" for me)...drove the car home, washed it, went to dinner and the DRIVERS side shock broke in the EXACT SAME FASHION AS THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOCK!!! This is not a joke. My Porsche tech has always INSISTED that the magical, mystery "washer" was always on the passenger side shock (I cannot verify this because we just pulled the whole thing and shipped it to AWE) but I can now say with certainty the washer WAS on the drivers side unit that broke tonight! My tech was so upset when I called him, he left his family at dinner, got his tools, and drove over to the restaurant I was at, jacked up the car, and examined everything. I personally watched this whole process. He took his flashlight, shone it on the broken shaft and wanted me to look at it first before he wiggled it off the shaft. It was there plain as day. Here's what's ironic: this one broke in exactly the same fashion as the passenger side one originally...here are the similarities:
1. Washed the car
2. Backed it up with the steering wheel completely turned to the left (preparing to park)
3. Placed car in first gear, turned steering wheel completely to the right and began slowly pulling into parking spot
4. Heard the "pop" as I was slowing down to come to a complete stop and park.
I don't know what to think. I now know the washer was NOT the issue as Bilstein has said (I personally do not believe the pictures I received from them were of my ACTUAL broken shock...I will post comparison pictures in a minute for all you conspiracy theorists out there and let you guys decide). What do you all think? Is it possible these are fake Bilsteins? I've never heard of fakes, has anyone else? What else could be the problem?
1. Washed the car
2. Backed it up with the steering wheel completely turned to the left (preparing to park)
3. Placed car in first gear, turned steering wheel completely to the right and began slowly pulling into parking spot
4. Heard the "pop" as I was slowing down to come to a complete stop and park.
I don't know what to think. I now know the washer was NOT the issue as Bilstein has said (I personally do not believe the pictures I received from them were of my ACTUAL broken shock...I will post comparison pictures in a minute for all you conspiracy theorists out there and let you guys decide). What do you all think? Is it possible these are fake Bilsteins? I've never heard of fakes, has anyone else? What else could be the problem?
#194
03-10-2010 | 09:44 PM
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Either they are fakes or your installer is klewless, I vote for the latter as there are too many sets out there without issue.
However, this case, along with the bullcrap droplinks they supply makes one wonder about bilstein. Had I known about this, I would not have purchased billsteins at all. personally I find nosignificant improvement in handling (track not 'twisties') vs the gmg spring setup.
However, this case, along with the bullcrap droplinks they supply makes one wonder about bilstein. Had I known about this, I would not have purchased billsteins at all. personally I find nosignificant improvement in handling (track not 'twisties') vs the gmg spring setup.
#195
03-10-2010 | 09:53 PM
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From: WA state
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If you want to send me a the shock I can have the metal shaft tested, I deal with aerospace / defense alloy supply and have the resources to run various tests on the metal.
A bad melt can lead to very brittle metal as can counterfeit replicas simply by cheap design. I've seen counterfeit jet engine blades, make no mistake $hit happens.
A bad melt can lead to very brittle metal as can counterfeit replicas simply by cheap design. I've seen counterfeit jet engine blades, make no mistake $hit happens.