Custom Bilstein inserts, where to get them??

[TERRA Operative]

I'm looking at rebuilding my TRD coilovers for the Super Strut suspension in my AE101 Levin.
It's the last piece until I have a completely rebuilt suspension and it's all sorted and done.

The stock TRD strut inserts are made by KYB and are 4 way adjustable. I can only get them from Toyota (exclusive dealership deals FTL) and they cost $440 or so a pop. $1760 for all four corners....


So now I'm thinking of getting some custom valved, adjustable Bilstein inserts to do the job. I expect the cost to be similar, or not much more (I hope), and they can be customised to suit my application. Not to mention the superior build quality and valving etc.

So, where in Australia can I talk to, to get a set quoted and made? I'm in Brisbane so a local place would be best, but postage isn't much of an issue. I can send my old struts off to be measured up too.


Any ideas?

[jonathan yee]

can't help with brissie but if you were over here in WA i'd say to go ask wilkinsons susp in bayswater as would most if not all others.

if you want i can give them a call for you.

[MWP]

Why Bilstein?
Should be easier to find a Koni Yellow that fits, will be more flexible adjustment wise, and wont need re-valving.

[Duk]

Why Bilstein?
Should be easier to find a Koni Yellow that fits, will be more flexible adjustment wise, and wont need re-valving.

http://www.quadrantsuspensions.com.au/

I recon Koni's are over rated. And he Yellows are only rebound adjustable. Adding some decent spring rates could very well leave you with some serious over damping (I'll find out eventually )

A properly set up set of digressive valve equipped Bilsteins would be my preferred choice, but it would take some decent work with a very patient suspension guru who knew what they were doing.

[thechuckster]

Fulcrum or Murray Coote in Brisbane (edit: Murray is the 'go-to' guy for suspension - is also known as mcasuspension.com)

Will be other folks in Sydney

And a DiY thread for the highly adventurous

[TERRA Operative]

The problem with these inserts is I can find an insert with similar dimensions, but the shaft doesn't match. I have had 3 different suspension shops search and nothing turned up.

The only aftermarket solution that wasn't custom is a KYB insert, that is only sold in Japan. KYB won't sell stuff that isn't in their regions catalogue at all. no questions asked. I tried that with KYB Australia to get some replacement standard super strut shocks. They told me to go to KYB in New Zealand to buy them because they couldn't sell them to me directly at all, as in sorry but not at all....

So it's TRD, KYB Japan (guess what response they gave... I gave up waiting after a few months) or custom, and if I am going custom, I may as well do it right.

I have the damping rates for the TRD shocks (front: 2323/774N, rear: 1793/598N), so if I can get a set of Bilsteins made to the same rate, I'll be set.

[thechuckster]

In that case, Murray is your man.

edit: He's not cheap but once folks try MCA, they don't go back.

[jonathan yee]

did you ask amamaya if they could get you some from JP?

there are other way's to get stuff from JP, look up gorilla ind's they're a forum sponser on mr2aus and i'm sure could get you something.

can you get coilovers for super strut design?

[TERRA Operative]

I am getting trade price from Toyota AU, but I'll contact Amamaya and see what they quote.

Tein, GAB, and TRD are pretty much the choice for super strut coilovers.

I'll contact Murray too, see what he can advise.

[oldcorollas]

sydney + bilstein = Heasmans

[MWP]

I recon Koni's are over rated. And he Yellows are only rebound adjustable. Adding some decent spring rates could very well leave you with some serious over damping (I'll find out eventually )

Koni Yellows most definitely do have compression adjustability.
Try it yourself, with one end in a vice, set and full soft and compress, then do the same at full hard.

But if you dont believe me, see the dyno charts here:
http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets18.html

The problem with going for non-adjustable dampers like the Bilstiens is they do need to be revalved if they are not setup correctly to begin with, which is almost always going to be the case.
The guy setting them up may tell you "this will be correct", but in reality its only a guess.
Same goes with if you change springs, or want to go from the road to the track.

Koni's may not be as good as a well setup set of Bilstiens, but for flexibility & price, Koni Yellows win.

[TERRA Operative]

So you can't get a set of adjustable Bilstein inserts made? That's a deal breaker if so.

The KYB made TRD inserts are 4 way adjustable.

[jonathan yee]

yeh i was meaning asking amamaya to get some KYB's sent over to you.

[Youngy]

sydney + bilstein = Heasmans

+1

Paul Joyner is the man

[Duk]

Koni Yellows most definitely do have compression adjustability.
Try it yourself, with one end in a vice, set and full soft and compress, then do the same at full hard.

But if you dont believe me, see the dyno charts here:
http://farnorthracing.com/autocross_secrets18.html

The off-the-shelf valving is usually pretty good, the knob is rebound-only with very little crosstalk onto compression

........