RE: BIlstein HD

["Fadeev, Alex" <alex.fadeev@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Naregindustries@domain.elided [mailto:Naregindustries@domain.elided] wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 4/24/01 8:44:32 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
> owner-bmw-digest@domain.elided writes:
> 
> << Hi,
>  
>  I have a stock 1992 E36 325i, and I replaced the struts and 
>  shocks with Bilstein HDs.  However, after replacement, the
>  gap between the front tire and the wheel well is too high
>  by about an inch or two, and the rear seems to be sitting a
>  tad low.  They seem to be the right shocks, and the springs
>  look like they're the originals.  Does anyone know what 
>  might cause this?
>  
>  Thanks in advance,
>  - -K. Chan >>
> 
> 
> Yes, simple.  Bilstein HDs are not the right shocks for most 
> cars. 

Wow, Gary, 
That's one giant sweeping generality. 
And even if all sweeping generalities were not always false, this particular
statement of yours certainly is.

> Their damping rates are so high sometimes that the car doesn't
> have enough static weight to offset the increase in rebound rates.

A car does not ride on shocks. If it does, your springs are too short or too
soft and you are destroying your shocks. The car is suspended on springs and
shocks are there to return those springs to an equilibrium after one or at
most two rebounds.
Now, regardless of car's weight (what's up with that 'static weight'
moniker?), if you install the shocks with a higher rebound rate the car will
return to an equilibrium faster and a bit more violently. Thus your traction
is actually improved at the expense of the ride quality. 
So the worst thing you can say about Bilstein HDs, Sports or any other
shocks with higher than stock rebound/compression rates is that they will
degrade the ride quality of your car. 

What K. Chan may be experiencing is the initial increased suspension height
with new shocks before everything settles back down. At least that was the
case for the first day or two after I installed HDs on my E30. If the front
of the car stays too high and the rear too low, he either got the wrong
shocks or the his front/rear springs are non stock. 

> Which is why I don't like using HDs unless the car I want to
> use it in is a large and heavy car. Sport is good, but you 
> need lower springs.  

Ahem,
In most applications, the compression and rebound rates for Bilstein Sport
and HD shocks are identical or very similar. The only difference is in the
length of the shock piston: HDs go stock springs, Sports with lowered
springs.

> For all other cases, just stick to the original Boge.

The only two reasons I know off to desire Boges would be to cut the hardware
cost (they will wear out sooner so the labor cost is higher over the long
run) or to preserve the stock cushy ride. 

alex f

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