bilstein coilovers? anyone?
#21
The B-Spec GE8 racecar that was in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill race used the exact same Bilstein suspension setup and placed like around 15th out of over 60 cars. I don't have a GE8 yet but it's already on my "mod list"
#25
I've had these since the beginning of the year. I daily commute and autocross the Fit. These coilovers do both exceptionally well! I like the fact that it's quality Bilstein, and they took the time to do the R&D. It shows.
Here's some pics:
Here's some pics:
#26
I have the similar set on my Mazda 2. Installation was pretty easy. Took me about 5 hours in my driveway. I could do it in three now.
I did the front without spring compressors by laying the strut flat on the ground with my foot on top of it. Knocked the top nut off with an electric impact tool. The spring caused the strut to jump a few inches when the nut came loose.
When you do the rear you may have to put the back half of the car up in the air on jack stands so you can do both sides at once. Otherwise the beam won't droop far enough to get the springs out.
Highly recommend blue loctite when re-assembling.
John
I did the front without spring compressors by laying the strut flat on the ground with my foot on top of it. Knocked the top nut off with an electric impact tool. The spring caused the strut to jump a few inches when the nut came loose.
When you do the rear you may have to put the back half of the car up in the air on jack stands so you can do both sides at once. Otherwise the beam won't droop far enough to get the springs out.
Highly recommend blue loctite when re-assembling.
John
Last edited by Racebrewer; 07-20-2011 at 08:14 AM.
#27
I have the similar set on my Mazda 2. Installation was pretty easy. Took me about 5 hours in my driveway. I could do it in three now.
I did the front without spring compressors by laying the strut flat on the ground with my foot on top of it. Knocked the top nut off with an electric impact tool. The spring caused the strut to jump a few inches when the nut came loose.
When you do the rear you may have to put the back half of the car up in the air on jack stands so you can do both sides at once. Otherwise the beam won't droop far enough to get the springs out.
Highly recommend blue loctite when re-assembling.
John
I did the front without spring compressors by laying the strut flat on the ground with my foot on top of it. Knocked the top nut off with an electric impact tool. The spring caused the strut to jump a few inches when the nut came loose.
When you do the rear you may have to put the back half of the car up in the air on jack stands so you can do both sides at once. Otherwise the beam won't droop far enough to get the springs out.
Highly recommend blue loctite when re-assembling.
John
Are either of you running camber bolts? I was going to put a set on since my car looks to have zero camber in the front. (actually almost looks like positive camber).
#28
Got home from work tonight and figured I'd at least pull the wipers, cowl covers and wiper motor. That took all of about 15 minutes. Really easy if you follow the instructions in the service manual. It's also easy to remove the cowl cover without breaking the clips off if you pay attention to the sequence in the service manual.
Here's what I ended up with.
Was going to call it a day but a storm moved in and cooled things off a bit so I went ahead with the whole install.
I had been studying the service manual and these DIY's.
2009 Honda Fit Function Form Type 2 Coilovers Photo 5
Lowering your GE8 Fit | Honda Fit DIY
Pretty easy. Here are a few pix.
In the right hand corner of this pic you can see the OEM bump stop and boot. You can also see the piece of pipe I used to push the bump stop out of the upper mount which you need to re-use.(the mount not the bump stop.)
Here's oem spring cradle, mount and bearing on the new spring. Fit's nicely.
then I put the rubber cushion on and adjusted the height. From what I had seen on the bilstien vid it looked like the front struts were about 1-1.25 inches up form the bottom of the threads so that's where I put them. Measures out to 10 1/4 inches from the bottom of the shock tube to the bottom of the spring.
Didn't take a lot of shots of the strut assy going on but it's pretty simple stuff. I kept another floor jack under the lower control arm to keep the axle from popping out. Didn't have any problems with that.
Looks like the height can be adjusted without even removing the wheel
Here's my contribution to the install tricks. When you get ready to put the little plastic hinge covers back on it makes it real easy if you pull the white clips off of the car.
Just pinch the back of them with some pliers.
Then slide that white clip in the slot on the corner trim piece.(hinge cover)
Now that all the pieces are back on the front it's time to move to the rear. I almost installed all these parts in one trip under the car but had to come up for one misplaced shock bolt.
Also installed some ichiba 15mm adapters.
Got her all buttoned up and went for a quick spin. Holy Crap!! It's way smoother than the stock setup. I suspected it sould be but it was amazing how much better the ride was. Nice freaking setup!!!!
Not sure if I love the spacers yet but here she is after a quick settle in drive.
The back is adjusted all the way down but the fronts could come down at least another inch. This is fine for me but the rear could probably be lower by removing the adjuster.
I like it the way it sits but I didn't get this setup to slam the car I got it because I love bill-schteens.
Here's what I ended up with.
Was going to call it a day but a storm moved in and cooled things off a bit so I went ahead with the whole install.
I had been studying the service manual and these DIY's.
2009 Honda Fit Function Form Type 2 Coilovers Photo 5
Lowering your GE8 Fit | Honda Fit DIY
Pretty easy. Here are a few pix.
In the right hand corner of this pic you can see the OEM bump stop and boot. You can also see the piece of pipe I used to push the bump stop out of the upper mount which you need to re-use.(the mount not the bump stop.)
Here's oem spring cradle, mount and bearing on the new spring. Fit's nicely.
then I put the rubber cushion on and adjusted the height. From what I had seen on the bilstien vid it looked like the front struts were about 1-1.25 inches up form the bottom of the threads so that's where I put them. Measures out to 10 1/4 inches from the bottom of the shock tube to the bottom of the spring.
Didn't take a lot of shots of the strut assy going on but it's pretty simple stuff. I kept another floor jack under the lower control arm to keep the axle from popping out. Didn't have any problems with that.
Looks like the height can be adjusted without even removing the wheel
Here's my contribution to the install tricks. When you get ready to put the little plastic hinge covers back on it makes it real easy if you pull the white clips off of the car.
Just pinch the back of them with some pliers.
Then slide that white clip in the slot on the corner trim piece.(hinge cover)
Now that all the pieces are back on the front it's time to move to the rear. I almost installed all these parts in one trip under the car but had to come up for one misplaced shock bolt.
Also installed some ichiba 15mm adapters.
Got her all buttoned up and went for a quick spin. Holy Crap!! It's way smoother than the stock setup. I suspected it sould be but it was amazing how much better the ride was. Nice freaking setup!!!!
Not sure if I love the spacers yet but here she is after a quick settle in drive.
The back is adjusted all the way down but the fronts could come down at least another inch. This is fine for me but the rear could probably be lower by removing the adjuster.
I like it the way it sits but I didn't get this setup to slam the car I got it because I love bill-schteens.
#29
Saw them on tire rack
Then JC Crimson from the GD3 group, brought them to my attention again.
They seem easy. You only adjust the height. Don't have to mess with ride comfort. Everything is pre set. Are there any other coilovers like this?
Anyways. They seem fairly priced and easy to use. The drop seems fair too about 2" front and back. So ill be lower than my pro kits now. But not "slammed".
Does anyone have these yet?! Pictures?!
Then JC Crimson from the GD3 group, brought them to my attention again.
They seem easy. You only adjust the height. Don't have to mess with ride comfort. Everything is pre set. Are there any other coilovers like this?
Anyways. They seem fairly priced and easy to use. The drop seems fair too about 2" front and back. So ill be lower than my pro kits now. But not "slammed".
Does anyone have these yet?! Pictures?!
My choice. And justified.
#31
They're awesome. Tons more control but ride better than stock. Much less bouncy but still firm.
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