Bilstein B4 Rear

[01VECCYSRI]

Ok i'm having trouble getting hold of a set of rear Bilstein B4's for 01 Veccy 2.2 SRI Hatch. Courtenay Sport dont have any in stock and could take over a week, all the ones on eekbay look confusing as to whether its the front or rear, saying rear but showing front or showing rear and saying front, or showing ones with a bolt eye both ends, aaagh, using generic pics too, euro only have sachs. Can anyone point me in the right direction of a set that i'm not gonna have to send back as wrong when I get em please. Am I right in thinking mine would be the ones with one bolt eye at the bottom and the piston rod protruding in which to fit my original rubbers etc. Excuse my ignorance, weather hasn't been great here to pull off the wheel and the shock, and i'm having to run the car so I dont wanna be waiting too long for delivery and putting stress on the spring while the damper is shot. Cheers ​

 

[pottsey]

this is what you want ,these are the ones i bought from the same company cheaper than the other link i sent you .you take your shocks off and dismantle them ,put your springs on then the bump stops off your originals then the rest of the shock set up which bolts to the car ,hope that helps

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-Vaux...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f16538190

 

[01VECCYSRI]

Brilliant, thats clear enough, I'll get em ordered, thanks for that mate.

 

[01VECCYSRI]

One set now ordered, Thanks again for the help

 

[01VECCYSRI]

B4's arrived yesterday, have to say that was a quick delivery , looks like a good day today to fit em, picked up a good set of spring compressors.
Maybe I'll take some pics as I couldn't find any at all on the net for changing the Veccy B 2.2 SRI rear shocks. Will get back later.

 

[Matt]

How's the fitting going?

 

[01VECCYSRI]

Both sides are done Matt, just washed up and gonna take it out for a ride see how it feels, not quite convinced yet looking at it one side is sitting higher than the other, will see what a road test brings hopefully they;ll settle down. One more thing i'm concerned about is the spring seats. The B4's are wider than the originals so the old seats wont fit, yet the springs sat nicely on the B4's. But not sure if the rim on the leg is a seat or just a stop for one. Now its back together though I have a bad feeling I may need to get spring seats that hold the springs better..? I got plenty of pics of the job to put up. Bottom bolts were a pain to get off lol.

 

[01VECCYSRI]

Ok ride height seems to be settling down, but not fully convinced I don't have an overcompressed spring, will give it a while longer to settle.
No knocking or funny noises so I'll presume the spring is sat fine on the B4 rim. If anyone has fitted a spring seat over one of these with better results please pipe in. Here's some pics of the job. I want to try to put guide notes with them but not sure if there's an option.

Wheel off

Location of wheel arch bolts, you'll need a hex bit set. There are 3 bolts..


..and two plastic studs. Knock middle out with a small screwdiver and they'll come out

Four bolts to remove, I used 5/8 socket and spanner. Also one 21mm bottom bolt I forgot to take pic.

Ready to dismantle, make sure you got spring compressors on or you could lose a limb or worse.

6/8 spanner on top nut, use small ratchet or similar to hold piston .

Release casing and remove components, take not of orientation.

Then slide spring off damper.

Remove old spring seat.

Slide spring over new Bilstein B4 and replace rubber components. Notice compressors still on.

Replace casing and top mount and new nut then release compressors evenly.

Bolt back on car. Notice lower fitting is different shape but still bolts up.


Hope this helps anyone looking to renew rear shocks and/or springs.

 

[01VECCYSRI]

Looks like a new set of springs next, the rear end is still uneven and weak on the rear offside. Oh well, i'm sure it'll be easier to do second time around. Should've measured springs while I was at it.

 

[Matt]

What springs are you going to go for?

 

[01VECCYSRI]

Probably Eibach, heard a lot about them, I'm not sure which ones yet, I dont wanna lower it too much as I carry a bit of gear when I'm gigging and dont want it sat on it's arse when loaded but at the same time I dont want it looking like a 4x4. I like to see a little air between tyre and rim maybe an inch. So if you have any advice it would be grateful thanks Matt. You can see on some of my pics what the ride height was at originally.
Cheers.

 

[Matt]

I has eibach 30mm with bilstein B4's on my Vectra C


DSC_0103 by Matt Worthington, on Flickr

 

[01VECCYSRI]

Look a bit low for my needs will check out the options ta

 

[Matt]

It was on my driveway which slopes down.

This is it on the flat

Courtenay Rolling Road_03 14 09_0355 by Matt Worthington, on Flickr

 

[01VECCYSRI]

Yeah I can see that looks more like it, might do the trick, what size wheels are those? Arches dont look as tight as mine

 

[Matt]

They were the standard 17" wheels

 

[01VECCYSRI]

Ok cheers Matt, those 17's on mine where on it when I got it, there's not much room where the arches meet the sill, when it bottomed out this is where it caught the tyre

 

[Matt]

Yeah, the arches on the C are quite a bit bigger, given then can run 19"s per the optional extra snowflake wheels.