STI(tS Spec) Bilstein Struts

[Hyper4mance2k]

Originally Posted by Createddeleted

Umm no. Because there is an extension.

B6/B8 stroke is different for sure. We know that. But regardless the B6/B8's have an extension that go beyond the bottom mount as seen from the pictures below. BUT, is the extension the same size between B6/B8 and the TS Bilstein. I don't believe they are, but can someone just measure their Bilstein struts?

Originally Posted by mike156

You guys should do some more research before you post "information." It took about 5 minutes on the phone with Bilstein to get this information.

Here are the specs for the B6 and B8.

Front (B6/B8)
Length [Extended] - 18.95/18.17
Length [Collapsed] - 15.9/15.9
Valving [Rebound] - 179/179
Valving [Comp] - 116/116


Rear (B6/B8)
Length [Extended] - 15.45/14.66
Length [Collapsed] - 10.7/10.7
Valving [Rebound] - 141/141
Valving [Comp] - 70/70


The ONLY difference in specs is the extended length. Now, there could be differences in the valving curves at the low end but they end up at the same place at the high end where they take the specification from....but I doubt it.

If you are using springs that are wound to stay captive on the stock struts, IMO there is no reason to get the B8s over the B6s as they will simply reduce droop travel. If you are using springs that rattle around on stock struts...well, they are probably crappy springs and you should get different springs? Point is, the B8s absolutely do not increase compression travel and any spring that's a bad idea on a stock length strut is still a bad idea on the B8s.

[Createddeleted]

Originally Posted by Hyper4mance2k

That entirely did not answer the question at all. Let me rephrase this:

What is the extended length of the stock strut?
What is the compressed length of the stock strut?

We have known values for B6/B8

What is the extended length of the TS strut?
What is the compressed length of the TS strut?

The dampening/valving is going to be different, that is a given vs. stock. The dampening is assumed to be different for the TS but is irrelevant as it is proprietary.

What I want to know, specifically, is what is the amount of travel the entire assembly has; regardless of what is considered in summation as "useable".

[krayzie]

Is that picture from FT-86 SpeedFactory even legit cuz the spring perches are installed upside down for the rear shocks.

[fourdegrees]

Reviving on old thread, but with the TS kit of STi pink springs and Bilstein struts, do you reuse the stock bump stop in the rear, or is another one included? The front should have an internal bump stop from what I know about inverted struts. I don't believe the rears are inverted.

[Hyper4mance2k]

Originally Posted by fourdegrees

Reviving on old thread, but with the TS kit of STi pink springs and Bilstein struts, do you reuse the stock bump stop in the rear, or is another one included? The front should have an internal bump stop from what I know about inverted struts. I don't believe the rears are inverted.

I can't speak to the tS Bilsteins, but you are correct. The fronts are inverted and have an internal bump stop that should be trimmed with most springs. The rears would require you to reuse the stock, or a modified bump stop.

[fourdegrees]

Since it's a replacement strut, and comes paired with the pink springs, no trimming should be required in the front. Not so sure about the rear.

[Hyper4mance2k]

Originally Posted by fourdegrees

Since it's a replacement strut, and comes paired with the pink springs, no trimming should be required in the front. Not so sure about the rear.

It's a personal preference for how you want to set up the car. There is never a requirement to trim a bump-stop. E46 M3 owners trim the stock bump-stops in stock classes to increase grip. Mini guys trim the fronts to increase front grip and let the rear slide more. You can tune the bump-stops like any other part of the suspension. They're not just a safety device to prevent shock bottoming; they also play a role in increasing roll stiffness, spring rate, etc.

[fourdegrees]

Fair enough. What I'm looking for is this: does STi intend for you to reuse the stock bump stop or use a shortened bump stop? In the rear that is.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by fourdegrees

Fair enough. What I'm looking for is this: does STi intend for you to reuse the stock bump stop or use a shortened bump stop? In the rear that is.

Depends on the instructions that come with it, won't know until someone opens the box and reports back.

FWIW Bilstein has you re-use the OE stop without cutting, I would be surprised if sti instructed differently. IMO it should be cut.

[Hyper4mance2k]

Originally Posted by fourdegrees

Fair enough. What I'm looking for is this: does STi intend for you to reuse the stock bump stop or use a shortened bump stop? In the rear that is.

Order the kit and find out. I highly doubt there would be instructions from a factory performance division to ever cut anything. The kit will either include new bump stops or have you reuse the stock rears.
But why even ask a question that can't be answered without ordering all the parts since we've already determined that the kit can't be sourced part by part.
It won't help in determining whether to cut the bump stops when using B6/8 Bilsteins: it's a different setup, and it should be tuned for your preference/driving conditions, just like any other part of a suspension that's being pieced together. It's a false equivalency argument to assume that what STi did with their setup would be best for something similar you might be putting together. There are too many variables.
@lamune Did your Bilsteins come with new rear bump stops?

[lamune]

Originally Posted by Hyper4mance2k

@lamune Did your Bilsteins come with new rear bump stops?

Nope, re-used stock

[fourdegrees]

Why ask? Because there are people who have this kit already.

[gpvecchi]

Sorry to re-up, so B6 are longer than B8, right?

[Hyper4mance2k]

Originally Posted by gpvecchi

Sorry to re-up, so B6 are longer than B8, right?

Just the strut shaft when fully extended. The physical housings of the B6 & B8 are identical. The B8 is a little shorter to keep really short springs captured under full droop. With my Swift Spec Rs, the B6s are fully captured under full droop. There is no need for the B8s unless you're running a spring that is more than 1" shorter than stock. The only springs that I know of that are that low are the Eibach Sportlines.

The debate was between the B series and the tS Bilsteins. The tS Bilsteins appear to have a longer body, but they're valved for stock springs.