The Better Bilstein Ebay Coilover Thread
#1962
Retired Mech Design Engr
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Seneca, SC
Posts: 5,011
Total Cats: 859
Spring Isolators: Energy Suspension Coil Spring Isolators 9.6103G
I attempted to mount these to the Maruha top hats using 3M 90 High Strength contact cement, after first cleaning with brake cleaner. It did not seem to really hold in place.
Now I'm concerned that the springs will move them off-center, and the top of the shock will crunch the Isolator, rather than pass though it to the bump stop.
Questions:
I noticed that someone above mounted theirs with screws. What other choices of mounting are used? Is my concern valid? Are there other / better top pieces (like the really big one that is well bonded to the NB top hat that FCM supplied?)
Side comments:
1) FCM used a short little sleeve that had no squared-off area to interface with the circlip. Only an internal tapered interface. Seems to have worked fine.
2) FCM had an o-ring between the sleeve and shock body to keep the sleeve from rotating when adjusting the perch. Nice feature. I cut off the Altstar sleeve such that there was no room to put the o-ring. If I were doing it again, I would leave 1/4" or so above the second sleeve ring (internal fit to shock body) to place the o-ring.
What I have done is 425 Front @ 5.5" to pinch, and 275 Rear @ 5.7" to pinch. 1.063" solid roll bar in front. Similar to FireinDC's set-up. Hard to bottom out. Seems neutral, but have not had it on track (Oct 20). When crossing road crown, or roughness on one side only, car wants to change direction a bit, making me think I have a bit of toe-out on the front.
All for now.
I attempted to mount these to the Maruha top hats using 3M 90 High Strength contact cement, after first cleaning with brake cleaner. It did not seem to really hold in place.
Now I'm concerned that the springs will move them off-center, and the top of the shock will crunch the Isolator, rather than pass though it to the bump stop.
Questions:
I noticed that someone above mounted theirs with screws. What other choices of mounting are used? Is my concern valid? Are there other / better top pieces (like the really big one that is well bonded to the NB top hat that FCM supplied?)
Side comments:
1) FCM used a short little sleeve that had no squared-off area to interface with the circlip. Only an internal tapered interface. Seems to have worked fine.
2) FCM had an o-ring between the sleeve and shock body to keep the sleeve from rotating when adjusting the perch. Nice feature. I cut off the Altstar sleeve such that there was no room to put the o-ring. If I were doing it again, I would leave 1/4" or so above the second sleeve ring (internal fit to shock body) to place the o-ring.
What I have done is 425 Front @ 5.5" to pinch, and 275 Rear @ 5.7" to pinch. 1.063" solid roll bar in front. Similar to FireinDC's set-up. Hard to bottom out. Seems neutral, but have not had it on track (Oct 20). When crossing road crown, or roughness on one side only, car wants to change direction a bit, making me think I have a bit of toe-out on the front.
All for now.
#1973
So i have been running my setup for a while daily driving it and was having the issue of the rear springs clanging around and making awful noises. It was getting worse and I just assumed I needed the isolator to be screwed in and trim the sleeves. After living with it for far too long I finally took it all out and was greeted with this. These are ISC top hats. Has anyone else seen this happen before? I put my oem nb top hats back in and it rides and sounds a million times better than with the ISC top hats.
#1974
So i have been running my setup for a while daily driving it and was having the issue of the rear springs clanging around and making awful noises. It was getting worse and I just assumed I needed the isolator to be screwed in and trim the sleeves. After living with it for far too long I finally took it all out and was greeted with this. These are ISC top hats. Has anyone else seen this happen before? I put my oem nb top hats back in and it rides and sounds a million times better than with the ISC top hats.