rebuild Bilstien struts

[mike walker]

I got some Bilstien struts to install this winter. Do these ever need to be rebuilt/revalved or am I good to go? Bilstien's are correct for a 73 correct?

[RTincher]

Mike, Bilsteins are correct for '73 to my knowledge.

I've got a set of HD's on my '73E that were installed by original owner in '75-76, and I'm pretty confident they have never been replaced or revalved since. No apparent loss of "absorption".

Steve @ Rennsport has written several times about revalving the HD's (the softer version) for purely street cars, and after 10 years in this '73 I'd probably agree with him. See here:

http://www.early911sregistry.org/for...stein+revalved

It's a personal choice, but the ride quality is a little choppier than I'd like for a street car even with 19/24 torsion bars and 19/16 sways. I did just put a set of HD's on my '71T "sports purpose" car and think they are right for that purpose.

Good luck with the project. Love that Dalmation color with Fuchs combination.

[37yrold911]

He said "Bilstein's stock valving is far from ideal and can be revalved (your used, or new shocks) to work FAR better than stock factory valving if someone truly knows what they are doing."

but it was a reply to a question about the Sport Bilsteins. I wonder if he thinks you should do that to the HD version also?

[Steve@Rennsport]

He said "Bilstein's stock valving is far from ideal and can be revalved (your used, or new shocks) to work FAR better than stock factory valving if someone truly knows what they are doing."

but it was a reply to a question about the Sport Bilsteins. I wonder if he thinks you should do that to the HD version also?

LOL,..Bilstein HD's are just fine for stock torsion bars.

I do like HD's on the front with Sport rears when using larger T-bars on the street as that maintains a decent ride quality with good handling. Dedicated track or race cars should use Sport fronts, but revalving (all) will improve performance, depending on T-bar sizes.