modifying stock suspension?

[alex.s]

on the bikes as a cost saving measure instead of buying $1000+/ea adjustable shocks, we would just modify the stock shocks... open it up and change the oil weight or level or drop in new valving/multivalves... i was searching and didn't see anything like that here. is that not a thing on cars?

[strat61caster]

Nope, as a cost saving measure the dampers are all welded up and not rebuildable. It might be possible to take them apart and put 'em back together right but you'd need a few thousand dollars worth of equipment to do so correctly.

You can buy replacement Koni or Bilstein once the OE wears out that would allow you to rebuild and revalve to your own specs (or at least a damper builder to), but that's just under $1k in hardware to get started and a few hundred more on top of that to have someone revalve, and most choose to get shiny colorful XX-way dampers at that price point instead.

That used to be a possibility for awhile for cars that got Bilstein dampers from the factory (i.e. Miata) but I remember reading that Bilstein US wouldn't revalve those types of OE units, could be wrong though.

[alex.s]

Do you know details about the stock dampers? I can fabricate... Is it oil with gas on top?

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[Captain Snooze]

Remember: black cables ties for the oem look and white cable ties for the ricer look.

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by alex.s

Do you know details about the stock dampers? I can fabricate... Is it oil with gas on top?

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Nope, uncharted territory. I don't know anything other than it's a twin tube design likely made by Showa.

Best bet is to buy someone's cheap oe suspension and hack away at it. Good luck, the phrase "not for the faint of heart" is commonly used on projects like this.

[wparsons]

A big problem you'll face is being able to recharge the gas charge in them after replacing the oil.

Plus, without a shock dyno it'll be really hard to figure out if you're actually making an improvement or not.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by wparsons

A big problem you'll face is being able to recharge the gas charge in them after replacing the oil.

Plus, without a shock dyno it'll be really hard to figure out if you're actually making an improvement or not.

on the bike shocks you drill a hole and weld on a high pressure Schrader valve for the gas charge...and in fact the front forks weren't even charged on the bikes... just a set air gap at 1bar that would get compressed by the bikes normal weight

shock dyno... wow. that's real fancy. on the bikes we would just go take a couple laps and see how the change did. readjust and go back out... a notebook is your best friend.

i've found some vague info about the shocks, but nothing really concrete like a technical diagram or something. i think i'm just going to have to order a used one and cut it open and see how it goes

[mav1178]

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by alex.s

on the bike shocks you drill a hole and weld on a high pressure Schrader valve for the gas charge...and in fact the front forks weren't even charged on the bikes... just a set air gap at 1bar that would get compressed by the bikes normal weight

shock dyno... wow. that's real fancy. on the bikes we would just go take a couple laps and see how the change did. readjust and go back out... a notebook is your best friend.

i've found some vague info about the shocks, but nothing really concrete like a technical diagram or something. i think i'm just going to have to order a used one and cut it open and see how it goes

Unless you can swap the oil and/or valves with the shock still in the car, you'll need to do an alignment every time you do this as well (fronts at least, rears not so much). Don't forget that it's much harder to get at the shocks on a car than on a bike...

[chaoskaze]

or just get the sachs from 17+? O.o

[mav1178]

The over/under is around $500.

That's the price point at which you start seeing diminishing returns on modifying shocks vs getting aftermarket replacements.

Whether it's worth it to you or not is an entirely different story. And to just make shock adjustments and do a few laps to see what has changed is really not a good way of testing out shock adjustments.

Good luck.

[alex.s]

Originally Posted by chaoskaze

or just get the sachs from 17+? O.o

They aren't adjustable right?

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[wparsons]

OEM ones aren't adjustable. Koni Yellows are rebound adjustable and are rebuildable (not sure how easily as a DIY), and way less than $1000/shock ($825 for all four corners: http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/koni...-kit-1745.html )

If you want more adjustment, IMO just get these: http://www.ft86speedfactory.com/rce-...s-brz-645.html. They're double adjustable and based on the KW 2-way clubsports.