Bilstein Sport damper observations

[poeticfinesse21]

I currently have a full DC5 Type-R suspension installed on my car and I've always been extremely interested in purchasing bilstein shocks for my EP3 once the Type-R shocks are on their way out due to the superior design and benefits of the monotube damper. A lot of people though are skeptical about these shocks due to the fact that here in the USA, the same part numbers are advertised for the EM2/ES1 as well as the EP3. As I'm sure most of you know, there is quite a difference in spring rates between the EP3 and our "little brothers" the EM2 and ES1, due to the coupe and sedan being a few hundred pounds lighter. Now this raises the question of, are the bilstein dampers sold here in the USA under-damped for the EP3? This led me to do some research in which I came across some very interesting information...

While looking through a bunch of part numbers on Bilstein's European website, I found out that the rear Bilstein sport shocks that are sold for the EP3 Type-R have the same part number as the rear shocks for the EP3/EM2/ES1 sold here in the USA.
Bilstein part # 24-114240.

Now the front shocks are a different story. Here in the USA, we are only offered one kind of bilstein shock but in Europe there are actually 3 different kind of bilstein shocks offered for the EP3 Type-R. They are as follows:

Bilstein B4 shocks: direct OEM replacement, twin-tube design (In other words, nothing special)

Bilstein B6 Sport shocks: High gas pressure monotube dampers, at least 30% stiffer than stock, increased power reserves and service life, suitable for stock ride height and lowering down to 30mm.

Bilstein B8 Sport shocks: Same as B6 except specially designed for lowered sport vehicles. Damper is a shortened unit to ensure spring is correcly located and gives less droop and more predictable control of over/undesteer and sharper responses. Suitable for lowering as low as 50mm (according to bilstein)

Now here's where it gets interesting. The Bilstein B6 front shocks for the EP3-R have a different part number than the ones sold here in the USA. They are as follows:

EP3 Type-R Bilstein B6 part #'s:
35-114222 (left front shock)
35-114239 (right front shock)

But the Bilstein B8 front shocks for the EP3-R share the exact same part number as the ones sold here in the USA for the EP3/EM2/ES1:

EP3-R/EP3-Si/EM2/ES1 Bilstein B8 part #'s:
35-114253 (left front shock)
35-114260 (right front shock)

Now apparently, all 01-05 Civics (coupes, sedans and hatches including the Type-R) in Europe share the same part # for the rear Bilstein sport shocks but the front Bilstein B6 and B8 sport shocks for the European EM2/ES1/EP2/EP1 have completely different part numbers!! :meek::meek::meek:

This leads me to believe that the bilstein shocks sold here in the USA should be damped more than well enough for the EP3 spring rates. If the same shocks are advertised for the EP3 Type-R then I don't see why not. Another thing to keep in mind is that these are "sport" shocks which according to bilstein are at least 30% stiffer than the stock shocks but possibly more. The only question now is what advantage (if any) does the B8 shock (same as the ones sold here in USA) have over the B6 shock (not sold in the USA)? The B8 shock is a shortened unit and our chassis already has very little suspension travel to begin with so maybe the B6 shock is the better option? I could be completely wrong about everything but I just don't see why Bilstein would sell the exact same dampers for the EP3 Type-R if they are under-damped.

Link to Bilstein's online catalog (choose English unless you can read German):
http://www.bilstein.de/de/produkte/suche-service/online-katalog.html

I would love to hear Mustclime, Zzyzx and any other suspension guru's input on all this.

[Eddie Murphy]

Go here for more info on Bilstein...
http://cart.bilsteinus.com/search/mmid=174459/drivetype=FWD

AND it's a US website...hope this helps.

[EP3Lov3]

damn, that was confusing haha good luck and let me know if you get the bilstein shocks! im curious to see how the ride is

[poeticfinesse21]

Yea I got really into it lol. When I have nothing to do at work, I just spend my time looking through honda diagrams and part numbers. That's how I learned what parts are interchangeable between the all the k-series motors and chassis. I'm definitely getting bilstein shocks in the future, I just don't know when. Next thing on my list is wheels and tires, we'll see after that.

[poeticfinesse21]

Go here for more info on Bilstein...
http://cart.bilsteinus.com/search/mmid=174459/drivetype=FWD

AND it's a US website...hope this helps.

I saw that before and the funny thing is, bilstein has the B14 and B16 coilovers listed on their US website for the EP3 but no one is the US carries them :mcry:

[sir_2002]

I have ordered in january the bilstein b16 for my ep i'm from montreal canada but pretty sure they can still deliver to you

Try contacting those guys i made the order they are located in british comlumbia en canada
http://www.essexdistributors.com/contactus.php

Still waiting to receive them its a special order and take 8 to 12week to get
I expect to get them around april 10th

[poeticfinesse21]

I have ordered in january the bilstein b16 for my ep i'm from montreal canada but pretty sure they can still deliver to you

Try contacting those guys i made the order they are located in british comlumbia en canada
http://www.essexdistributors.com/contactus.php

Still waiting to receive them its a special order and take 8 to 12week to get
I expect to get them around april 10th

Post pics when you receive them and pics of the install :thumbu:
How much did it cost you in total?

[sir_2002]

It cost me 2200 shiping and taxes include,

i'll post pic in my built thread when i get them

[EP3Lov3]

Yea I got really into it lol. When I have nothing to do at work, I just spend my time looking through honda diagrams and part numbers. That's how I learned what parts are interchangeable between the all the k-series motors and chassis. I'm definitely getting bilstein shocks in the future, I just don't know when. Next thing on my list is wheels and tires, we'll see after that.

is this at your job in the mornings?? sounds like a laid back place, makes me wanna work there even more lol

[poeticfinesse21]

is this at your job in the mornings?? sounds like a laid back place, makes me wanna work there even more lol

Lol no this is at my afternoon job. I'm actually going to quit the morning job cuz I just got a sweet promotion :mbiggrin:

[EP3Lov3]

Lol no this is at my afternoon job. I'm actually going to quit the morning job cuz I just got a sweet promotion :mbiggrin:

don't forget to put in a good word for me before you leave! :tehehyper: and now with that promotion, time to get those Bilstein coilovers and come auto-crossing with me!

[Eddie Murphy]

Those Bilstien Yellows paired up with Eibach Pro's is how Bilstien sets them up as a Strut/Spring set up, and the coilovers look sweet. for me I was looking for a sport but comfortable ride with a very moderate drop and I couldn't pass up on going with the A-Spec suspension. But those Bilsteins are real sweet.

[sir_2002]

Got my suspension today

Bilstein is simply awsome

http://imageshack.us/a/img221/1640/dsc0090nz.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img59/8453/dsc0092iu.jpg

with todd's caster plate
http://imageshack.us/a/img211/1036/dsc0108cy.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img213/8683/dsc0104sy.jpg

[ep_hatcher_510]

very nice!

[ep_hatcher_510]

Bought them haha!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/ephatcher510/IMG_0756_zps8bee9314.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ephatcher510/media/IMG_0756_zps8bee9314.jpg.html)

[poeticfinesse21]

Got my suspension today

Bilstein is simply awsome

http://imageshack.us/a/img221/1640/dsc0090nz.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img59/8453/dsc0092iu.jpg

with todd's caster plate
http://imageshack.us/a/img211/1036/dsc0108cy.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img213/8683/dsc0104sy.jpg


Bought them haha!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/ephatcher510/IMG_0756_zps8bee9314.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ephatcher510/media/IMG_0756_zps8bee9314.jpg.html)

Very jealous of both of you lol

[ep_hatcher_510]

Alrite so i finally got the Bilstein sport dampers installed this weekend after having them sit in my closet for the last 2 months. They are paired up with Eibach ProKit springs. Now the original question was if the shocks had enough dampening force for our chassis. The answer is yes, they are pretty firm for just off the shelve shocks/struts. I previous setup was koni yellows with the eibach springs, and the yellows was not as firm as the bilstiens and i was running them at 1/4 from full firm. I believe they are the highest damped shocks/struts you can get for this chassis for something that is OTS. Because they are monotube design they also react really well to the road.

I thought the konis did pretty decent on the track when i went to Laguna Seca, so i am hoping these will perform better when i have a chance to go back ;)

Anyone looking of a sporty setup for the ep3 should look into these, they are on the expensive side (800+) but the quality and performance you get makes up for it.

[Hasbro]

Noice! The Eibachs sound like a good choice at about a 1" drop. About 300ish/500ish lbs. at full force combined with Bilsteins should be a sweet street ride. Probably a good alternative to A-Specs. What kind of tires and alignment are you using? Keep us informed.

[ep_hatcher_510]

Noice! The Eibachs sound like a good choice at about a 1" drop. About 300ish/500ish lbs. at full force combined with Bilsteins should be a sweet street ride. Probably a good alternative to A-Specs. What kind of tires and alignment are you using? Keep us informed.

I'm currently running 205/55/16 star specs z1s. I haven't done an alignment yet (spending too much time at work haha), my previous one was set at -1.5F and -1R with 0 toe. It will be aligned to something similar to that, but i replaced my ingalls/spc front cam bolts with some H&R Triple Cs so i will see how much front negative camber those H&R bolts will actually give me. I'm also currently trying to get new wheels that will let me run a wider tire.

I would recommend these to anyone that would be willing to spend the money to get them, and I'm wondering do anyone here also have these dampers? I don't see much talk about them.

[poeticfinesse21]

Good shit. Some bilsteins should pair very nicely with my Type-R springs :mbiggrin:

[Hasbro]

Good shit. Some bilsteins should pair very nicely with my Type-R springs :mbiggrin:

That sounds like the best match.

[Waldo129]

Damn those bilstein's are a nice chunk of change!

[BeaterEP]

Hmm...you guys that know think these would pair nicely with a set of Tein S-techs?
Pretty stiff spring rates on those, and according to the page I'm looking at the drop should be OK, though technically it will be 2mm lower in the rear than what the B6 Bilsteins are spec'd for.

[poeticfinesse21]

S-techs are not stiff enough for the
amount that they drop the car. You'll be blowing through your suspension travel quite often. Tein H-techs would be the better match.

[BeaterEP]

Ah, good info there!
Thanks man!

So what's a comparable spring to the HFP setup I've been running.
Sorry, came as one package, never had to think about separate springs/struts before :D

[BeaterEP]

Aaaand I'd completely forgotten about the A-spec option, which is likely my best solution LOL!
Fuuuck, threadjacking and wasting everyone's time! My bad. :mconfused:

[poeticfinesse21]

If you're already on HFP suspension then just throw those springs on some bilsteins. That seems like the perfect combination.

HFP/A-spec/Type-R springs + bilstein shocks = sex :mtongue:

[BeaterEP]

Yeah, that's a thought.
Hmmm...

[WhiteComet]

If you're already on HFP suspension then just throw those springs on some bilsteins. That seems like the perfect combination.

HFP/A-spec/Type-R springs + bilstein shocks = sex :mtongue:

Bringing this back from the dead.

Does anyone know if the Bilstein shocks actually lower the car height at all? I'm on HFP suspension and plan to get Bilstein shocks, but someone else posted that the HFP/aspec springs are actually the same length as stock, and that it's the strut that lowers the car by .75" - 1", not the spring.

If the Bilstein shocks are designed for the EP3R then it woudl'nt be a problem as the EP3R suspension is already 1" lower, but since these are sold as OEM replacements in the US, I'm worried that it'll raise my car back to stock height if I put the HFP springs on there. Can someone confirm this?

[DigitalGawd]

I have these as well on my 02 EP3 with Tein H tech and love them!

[Her-Name's-Ally]

mmm bilsteins and todds caster plate....nut

[maksym]

Bringing this back from the dead.

Does anyone know if the Bilstein shocks actually lower the car height at all? I'm on HFP suspension and plan to get Bilstein shocks, but someone else posted that the HFP/aspec springs are actually the same length as stock, and that it's the strut that lowers the car by .75" - 1", not the spring.

If the Bilstein shocks are designed for the EP3R then it woudl'nt be a problem as the EP3R suspension is already 1" lower, but since these are sold as OEM replacements in the US, I'm worried that it'll raise my car back to stock height if I put the HFP springs on there. Can someone confirm this?

Can anyone confirm that the front B8 Bilstein shocks will retain the .75" drop since essentially the HFP springs are stock springs on a shorter strut?

Also, wouldn't this set up be a bit better if the 02-04 Type S springs that have 279 spring rate vs 248 spring of the stock/HFP spring were used with the B8 Bilstein strut?