Current FFR Bilstein Shock Issue!

[convincor]

Agree. I'm not saying I think it's right, but I'm not going to park the car because of it. As is, I'm now buying a third set. What they "engineered" for the rear with the pin drive IRS the shocks are to short. At ride height there at full extension. So I'm know buying two longer shocks for the rear. atleast I'll be able to sell a pair and recoupe some of the cost and maybe help someone out that needs a pair for the front or std. width IRS..

[jhv48]

This horse is being beaten to death.

Yes, the Bilsteins are too fragile for these cars.

No, neither Bilstein nor FFR knew they would eventually break.

This issue has been known by FFR customers for years.

If you own a FFR roadster with these shocks, you had to make a decision, when you first found out about this problem, to either gamble that it wouldn't happen to you or buy upgraded shocks.
Once you became aware of the problem, it became YOUR responsibility to address it on your personal car.

Whether you buried your head in the sand or not was your decision.
Personally, I bought Gordon's adjustable Konis and springs (about $1800) for the better ride qualities and the peace of mind, and never looked back.

I was chastised heavily by the FFR forum members months ago when I suggested they do the same.

The majority jumped on the band wagon that the shocks were safe and that I was playing Chicken Little based on a couple of Bilstein failures.

My how things have changed.

Am I pissed that FFR is now offering their Koni shocks for a fraction of the price that I paid for Gordon's?

Nope. This is a race car. I expected to make repairs and upgrades continually. No big deal. And also, the Bilstein's rode like crap!

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by jhv48

This is a race car.

FFR sells it and labels it as a "race car" for liability purposes only. The only real race car FFR markets correctly is the Spec Racer.


Ok, you can now beat that statement to death if you like.


Oh, and by the way, FFR's customers have been dealing with the Bilstein shock issue for a longer than they should have. I have data going back over two years, TWO YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thankfully my current FFR (yes the one for sale in my signature line) does not have Bilsteins installed, or I'd be yanking it off the market and letting it sit collecting dust until replacements could be sourced.




Bill S.

[Ant]

I have Bilstein custom shocks on my cobra, this was a saga as originally I was supplied with the front set with 11mm shafts and a floppy dust seal as when they are fitted upside down the seal fell down.....! After finding someone at Bilstein who actually knew what they were about I showed them some photos of my car, and sent the shocks back to them, well the service couldnt have been better back they came with 14mm shafts, and great backup service with valving/spring rates etc.

I read where forum members say how Bilsteins dont have a very good ride etc and other shocks are better, surely the ride would depends on the valving, the main issue between Bilstein and Konis is that the Bilstein can achieve the same result, but on less expensive models they have to be dismantled to alter the valving, setup properly they can be as good as more expensive shocks.

I questioned why would you fit an 11mm shafted shock to a high performance sports or race car in the first place, and having issues with shocks at full extension at ride height is the fault of whoever spec'd the shocks!

I would have preferred Konis on my car due only to the fact of minor adjustability that is if the internal valving is basically in the middle, then you can make adjustments for different tracks etc with a turn of a knob!
The custom Bilsteins I have are probably considerably more expensive than the FF spec'd shocks, so reading between the lines what was supplied may have been an economy shock, but I wont go there to much as I dont know all the facts.

I am now working with one of the most successful single seat and saloon teams in this country, these people maintain/restore Formula Ford, Formula Toyota, F5000, F3000, Canam, LeMans cars, and mostly use Koni, but on some single seater driving school cars they use Bilstein and inform me the same result can be had if you spend the time sorting the valving etc, but when they are racing they prefer the koni.

So good luck if you have the same service I had from Bilstein, and uprate the shocks, and valve them properly for your application, and re-check the open and closed lengths, and there is no major misalignments issues, which the spherical bearings cant cope with.