R34 Gtt Bilstein & Whiteline Suspension

[Wogboy]

I currently have Tein coilovers on my car but they are way to stiff!

(Makes my wifes boobies jiggle to much!) How does the Bilstein setup compare??

[Sydneykid]

I currently have Tein coilovers on my car but they are way to stiff!

(Makes my wifes boobies jiggle to much!) How does the Bilstein setup compare??

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A number of guys have have replaced their Japanese brand name suspension with the Group Buy kit and report MUCH improved ride comfort and superior handling. Comments like this;

Update: I was advised of shipment Tuesday and Delivery occured Wednesday. No sweat on the delay as I already knew some items needed to be manufactured. A couple of items still to come but I now have the important items to smooth out my ride.

How am I feeling? Ecstatic!! What a great shock/spring setup. Massive increase in front grip on bumpy corners.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I spent a long time designing the Group Buy kit so it gave good ride, sporty and great handling, and that's the reports I am getting back from the guys that have fitted their kits.

cheers

[GTRgeoff]

And most of the rattles and squeaks caused by the rock crap-jap suspension have just disappeared.

At the risk of being out of line, just how much boobie jiggling is too much?? I didn't think there was such a thing.

[Wogboy]

And most of the rattles and squeaks caused by the rock crap-jap suspension have just disappeared.

At the risk of being out of line, just how much boobie jiggling is too much?? I didn't think there was such a thing.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mine rattles bad, that's why I'm thinking about changing it, as for the jigglin' it's a bit hard when your tryin' to keep your eyes on the road!

[Sydneykid]

Mine rattles bad, that's why I'm thinking about changing it, as for the jigglin' it's a bit hard when your tryin' to keep your eyes on the road!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, safety is important, you should get one complete Group Buy suspension kit for your car immediately.

cheers

[jmac]

advice: if you're taking out coilovers to put in the bilsteins, you'll need some strut tops, they don't come in the kits with the bilsteins and if you don't have your original ones then you might wind up like me who has to wait another day to get it installed!!!! :lol:

[jmac]

Hey all,

Some feedback for everyone now I finally got the kit installed and aligned. Note also that I got one of GTRGeoff's HICAS bars installed at the same time. I'm running 18" wheels, 235/40 front and 255/35 rear tyres (Bridgestone S-03).

My previous setup was HKS Hiper-D adjustable coilovers, running approximately a 340mm ride height. I believe as far as coilovers go these are on the higher-spring-rate end of things. Everything else was standard.

Installation: Took 2 guys 4 hours, working pretty flat out, to get the old struts out and get the new ones in. No special equipment needed except a hoist and a 12 tonne press for the castor bushes. The back seat had to be removed. The job would've been very tricky with only one person doing it. Note as above that if you don't have your original struts then you will need to source some strut caps, these do not come in the kit and you can't use the bits from your coilovers. These were tricky to source but wreckers should help.

Alignment: I did NOT order or install the camber kits, front or rear. Alignment at Fulcrum this morning resulted in getting the toes into spec and the cambers at about -1.5 degrees front and rear. Caster is about 7.5 degrees. The toes were out a LONG way (up to 13mm) after the install so don't wait too long to get it aligned if you're taking it elsewhere. I'd prefer to get a bit less negative camber on the rear but I'll see how it goes for tyre wear.

Ride: This has improved by a few degrees. Nowhere near "cushy" but the car certainly glides over the bumps a lot better now, it especially handles the big hits a lot better. Previously the car would jiggle all the time and crash through larger bumps, enough to make you wince and the innards of the doors rattle, and if this happened mid-corner it would be enough to throw you offline. The "feel" for the road is still there, I still feel I know what the car is doing underneath me but it doesn't chuck me around as much any more.

Handling: The car is much more predictable. I'm still learning to trust it, expecting that HICAS lurch to be there after I turn in, and the rain lately has meant I haven't really pushed things that hard yet. I have the rollbars set to their softest setting at the moment, still to decide whether to change this but very likely will experiment with this at a track day. Theoretically powerslides might be a lot more fun now, not that I would've done anything like that on a public road...

Noise: The rear subframe kit is set up for the "maximum traction" setting. There is now a deep harmonic hummmm that thrums through the body as you accelerate hard (I guess this is diff noise). It's not obtrusive but it is noticeable - I actually think it feels kinda cool. The rear also let out a few low squeaks at first but I haven't heard this today after the alignment.

Height: I left the circlips at the standard height and I'm happy with the look of the car. It's still "low" and the tyre-to-guard gap looks even around the whole guard, so I'm happy. Yes it's higher than before but this also means I can clear driveways and obnoxious traffic calming a little easier.

Overall I'm pleased with this kit. Sydneykid has been most helpful throughout, answering questions and replying promptly to PM's. I'm happy with how my car stops and turns, now it's time to make it GO... after my credit card recovers... :lol:

Edited November 8, 2005 by jmac

[SS8_Gohan]

awesome mate!! excited to finalise my kit... just left deposit for the the shocks at the moment... and can't really fit anything anyway until i registered the bloody thing...

I didn't think Geoff had any lock bars for 34's?? price?

so we can adjust the height a bit can we?? cool...

any pics at all?

thanks heaps for the write up, never really had a doubt anyway with Gary behind the R+D for the kit

oh sorry, 1 more thing... Centreline fit it and Fulcrum did alignment?

cheers,

daniel

[jmac]

Hey Dan,

Geoff has lock bars for 34's. They're $150 delivered. Arrived in about a week. There's a thread somewhere, just search for his username GTRGeoff.

I didn't take pics, but Gary has some in his gallery section. I can go take some pics but basically it's just some various yellow bits in your wheel well...

There is also a tutorial on how to fit the HICAS bar with pics on here - I actually converted it into a word document and printed it out and gave it to my mechanic. The 33 and 34 HICAS bits look pretty much identical.

The height is very easy to adjust, just compress the spring with those clamp things and move the circlip. One circlip lower than standard is the lowest Gary recommended, I left it standard and I'm happy with the car, I don't much care for the fully sick dumped look anyway.

I got the kit fitted in Brisbane at my mechanics, GMR Genuine Mechanical Repairs on Deshon St, Woolloongabba. Any Brisbanites here give John a call, he's a good bloke, works late (he's often there past 10pm) and very up front about what he's charging you, I use him for my servicing and fitting all my go fast bits.

Fulcrum did the alignment, took about an hour and $88 and they give you a printout.

Very happy with the kit. It's still pretty stiff (especially in the rear) but at least I don't rupture my spleen on bumps all the time.

Cheers

[jmac]

Pic...

[KeeFy]

What suspension is available for the R33 GTS-t ? And how much is it to Perth? Thanks

[Sydneykid]

What suspension is available for the R33 GTS-t ? And how much is it to Perth? Thanks

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There is a Group Buy for each Skyline model, this is the one for R33GTST's

http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...showtopic=85467

If you need any further detail please let me know and I will do my best to help.

cheers

[Sydneykid]

Bilstein Australia received a top up air freight shipment for this model as there were no fronts left. They now have enough for 5 sets, then there will be a delay (of unknown length) until Japan orders and we can tag along.

cheers

[qikstagea]

ok SK suspension is not my thing knowledge wise but it has to be done. Id assume thats your blue stagea in your sig.? how much would the parts be to have mine sitting a similar height (maybe a bit lower at the front). and what size wheels and tyres are they? much room around them? have money waiting.

[Sydneykid]

ok SK suspension is not my thing knowledge wise but it has to be done. Id assume thats your blue stagea in your sig.? how much would the parts be to have mine sitting a similar height (maybe a bit lower at the front). and what size wheels and tyres are they? much room around them? have money waiting.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have a look in the Stagea section there is a Group Buy thread in there that answers most questions. Around 10 of the guys have kits, so plenty of discussion. It was a bit tricky to set up the kit as not many Stagea around when I engineeed it, but all the bugs have been ironed out now. PM me if you need more details

cheers

Edited December 2, 2005 by Sydneykid

[Wogboy]

Are the shocks, springs & dust & bump kits still available?? What is the shipping time to Tas??

Thanks Wogboy.

[Sydneykid]

Are the shocks, springs & dust & bump kits still available?? What is the shipping time to Tas??

Thanks Wogboy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep, still a few sets of Bilsteins left. Shipping to Tas is 4 days for free, can be cut to 2 days if you pay for airfreight (extra $80). If you want them before Xmas you will have to order today as Bilstein needs 2 days to do the revalving and machining of the extra circlip grooves. At the moment springs and dust cover/bump stop kits are in stock at Whiteline.

PM me for order and pricing confirmation.

cheers

[Wogboy]

PM sent

[Wogboy]

PM sent.

[Sydneykid]

PM's received and replied to, orders placed and underway. Thanks for supporting the Group Buy.

cheers

Edited December 17, 2005 by Sydneykid