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BILSTEIN Shock Absorbers Aftermarket Development Division is seeking vehicles for the purpose of design/installation confirmation and tuning of dynamic characteristics (damping/valving).
Vehicle usage would encompass approximately 200 miles of on-road evaluation within a week’s period of time.Vehicle owner is required to deliver vehicle to the Bilstein Aftermarket headquarters in Poway, CA, and make arrangements for alternative transportation during the time of product installation and tuning.
In exchange for use of subject vehicle, vehicle owner will receive, at no charge, one set of shock absorbers (front & rear) installed on his/her vehicle, four wheel alignment and a full tank of fuel. ThyssenKrupp Bilstein offers a full “Garage Keeper’s Endorsement” providing vehicle owner insurance.
Passenger Cars Needed:
'04-'11 Chevrolet Cobalt including SS model
’10-’11 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible
’10-’11 Chevrolet Camaro V6 coupe/convertible
’09-’12 Mazda RX-8 any trim level
If interested in supplying your Passenger Car, please submit Ride Testing Form. "
I know for a fact the price point is going to keep some people away but if you want to play you have got to pay.
Lead time on the SP struts is approximately 60-90 days the shocks can be found now.
The HD struts are available come Monday 27 October 2014 and the shocks are again the 60-90 day lead time.
The lead times are due Bilstein doing a build as ordered or "special order" from what I have gathered this past week.
If I was closer I would totally do it lol ohh well
BILSTEIN Shock Absorbers Aftermarket Development Division is seeking vehicles for the purpose of design/installation confirmation and tuning of dynamic characteristics (damping/valving).
Vehicle usage would encompass approximately 200 miles of on-road evaluation within a week’s period of time.Vehicle owner is required to deliver vehicle to the Bilstein Aftermarket headquarters in Poway, CA, and make arrangements for alternative transportation during the time of product installation and tuning.
In exchange for use of subject vehicle, vehicle owner will receive, at no charge, one set of shock absorbers (front & rear) installed on his/her vehicle, four wheel alignment and a full tank of fuel. ThyssenKrupp Bilstein offers a full “Garage Keeper’s Endorsement” providing vehicle owner insurance.
Passenger Cars Needed:
'04-'11 Chevrolet Cobalt including SS model
’10-’11 Chevrolet Camaro SS convertible
’10-’11 Chevrolet Camaro V6 coupe/convertible
’09-’12 Mazda RX-8 any trim level
If interested in supplying your Passenger Car, please submit Ride Testing Form. "
I know for a fact the price point is going to keep some people away but if you want to play you have got to pay.
Lead time on the SP struts is approximately 60-90 days the shocks can be found now.
The HD struts are available come Monday 27 October 2014 and the shocks are again the 60-90 day lead time.
The lead times are due Bilstein doing a build as ordered or "special order" from what I have gathered this past week.
The images below have matching part numbers for the cobalt but are for an Opal Astra G or H. These struts are in production for the Opal platform and are available directly from Germany along with possible vendors state side.
The only difference that I can see are the tabs on the struts which are used for the brake lines on the Opal. The rear shocks we already know fit and the struts will also I believe so long as the Opal Astra has the same size knuckle to mount the strut. truckspring link shows the new tab style struts and also list them for the cobalt directly. The B4 are oem replacements, B6 are a performance strut while the B8 are also performance struts but are designed shorter for lowering springs and the reduced travel needed to dampen the springs properly.
Shipped to Holland the front set comes to $410.
Rears are available from US sellers for around $190 shipped the set.
Tempting...
If only I knew for absolute sure they would fit...
Shipped to Holland the front set comes to $410.
Rears are available from US sellers for around $190 shipped the set.
Tempting...
If only I knew for absolute sure they would fit...
The majority of the time with manufacturers the only time a part number changes is when the part changes to an extent that is out of the original part numbers specs. Remember truckspring is listing them for the cobalt state side just not at the following price per strut.
I am looking myself at picking up a set that can be shipped to the states from Germany at around $185.3 per strut "now" or a total of $370.06, but the dam exchange rate continues to fluctuate so it has increased since I first posted the newer information.
Last edited by SatFan91; Aug 29, 2017 at 11:25 PM.
Morning everyone,
So burning some midnight oil last night and found and alternate source from Sachs part #400 079 and also now have a measurement of at least the length of that strut at 66cm/26in. That length could also be the B6 series not the B8 as that is shorter for lowering springs. Ac delco 506-683 are 24.5" as per amazon? Another note worthy piece of information is the actual connection to the mount and have a link for the Bilstein 35-114666 below. You have a possible pin style connection or a threaded style. This is all based on information found from sellers in England and Europe so take it all with a grain of salt if they are like any sellers who just list stuff for the sake of listing it like you sometimes see here state side. The last link is an Opel Astra forum discussing suspension for that platform interesting and may help. If the first link is accurate max lowering is 1.97" for the B8 series. More information to come.
Item specifics
Condition:
New: A brand-new, unused, unopened and undamaged item in original retail packaging (where packaging is ... Read more
about the condition
manufacturer number left: 35-114666
use for: Series Replacement or max. 1.97" Lowering Manufacturer number right: 35-114673
damper design: 1 Tube Gas Pressure 0.79" Rebound Stock Number: PLS/2
Area Of Application: Front Axle Brand: Bilstein
Scope of Delivery: 2 Shock Absorbers for a Axle Manufacturer Part Number: 35-114666 + 35-114673/2
Colour: Yellow damper type: B8
Again take into consideration one size only being listed for the B6 series and used incorrectly for the B8 which is shorter up to possibly 1.97" its maximum lowering. These links below show applications for both Cobalt's and HHR's exactly what we are looking for and where current measurements come from. The video below shows the removal and replacement of a strut from an Opel. What I am looking at there is the type of connection at the top of the strut which is threaded. So the "pin" style I had posted earlier may have been just what its called in England or Europe. There are other videos this one just seemed quick enough and helps identify the type of connection.
Have a great day.
Talked to the Channel Sales Manager @ Bilstein USA
He wrote:
Thank you for your message.
You have done some great research on this topic. However, we purposely pulled the B6/B8 front struts for the Cobalt after conducting a fitment back in 2015.
We tested the B6 Series and the issues found were:
- Front strut spring seat somewhat inaccurate, overall dimensions on tube too long
- Clevis dimensions inaccurate, width and bolt hole dimensions
- OE clevis bolts are pressed in and require specific material dimensions
- Rear shock length longer than OE, otherwise confirmed fitment.
Last edited by 100% METH; Sep 6, 2017 at 03:15 PM.
Talked to the Channel Sales Manager @ Bilstein USA
He wrote:
Thank you for your message.
You have done some great research on this topic. However, we purposely pulled the B6/B8 front struts for the Cobalt after conducting a fitment back in 2015.
We tested the B6 Series and the issues found were:
- Front strut spring seat somewhat inaccurate, overall dimensions on tube too long
- Clevis dimensions inaccurate, width and bolt hole dimensions
- OE clevis bolts are pressed in and require specific material dimensions
- Rear shock length longer than OE, otherwise confirmed fitment.
Basically just go Koni's and Bilsteins arent worth the trouble even if you can find them. Interesting that the rear shocks are longer than OE
Last edited by rocco11189; Sep 8, 2017 at 05:54 PM.
Again take into consideration one size only being listed for the B6 series and used incorrectly for the B8 which is shorter up to possibly 1.97" its maximum lowering. These links below show applications for both Cobalt's and HHR's exactly what we are looking for and where current measurements come from. The video below shows the removal and replacement of a strut from an Opel. What I am looking at there is the type of connection at the top of the strut which is threaded. So the "pin" style I had posted earlier may have been just what its called in England or Europe. There are other videos this one just seemed quick enough and helps identify the type of connection.
Have a great day.
Bilstein didn't say it wouldn't bolt in... they said it wasn't the correct length on the B6. We want the B8 anyway...
Hmmm... I don't see why these wouldn't work with AC Delco top hats and a set of springs.
The biggest issue I see here is the clevis dimensions with the bolt widths and hole dimensions being off.
How far off, I don't know. Not sure I'm willing to spend $200 for one strut to find out it's to far off to correct with a dremel.
Last edited by 100% METH; Sep 8, 2017 at 01:47 PM.
Bilstein didn't say it wouldn't bolt in... they said it wasn't the correct length on the B6. We want the B8 anyway...
Hmmm... I don't see why these wouldn't work with AC Delco top hats and a set of springs.
The biggest issue I see here is the clevis dimensions with the bolt widths and hole dimensions being off.
How far off, I don't know. Not sure I'm willing to spend $200 for one strut to find out it's to far off to correct with a dremel.
%100 METH,
Thanks for contacting Bilstine USA as that was going to be my next step after gathering as much data as possible on the subject.
Now as far as spending $200 on a strut that may or may not fit there is always a new or used strut from a different manufacturer to do some of the spec checking.
I will need some more time to verify these specific struts as the same for the Opel Astra H as they would also fit the Saturn Astra check knuckles below part #'s along with strut part #'s.
And just to make people go hmmm a little more on the subject, Its an entirely different animal and I can look into this after the end of the Bilstein verification saga since it will help verify the second semi bolt on Koni application. Opel Astra H Koni Street T - 8750-1085L 8750-1085R 8250-1025
It may work, but the clevis ears are either too narrow or wide for our application.
Then there's the issue w/ the bolt hole spacing.
Would require cutting off the clevis ears and welding on a custom set.
There's also still the issue w/ the spring seat.
Though that can also be addressed with a custom adapter/seat.
The more I think about it, the less and less I'm willing to spend $500 on a set of front bilstein struts.
Sure the B8 or B6 Bilsteins may be in theory better than our AC Delco OE replacements, but is it worth the $700 price tag? In addition to the custom work required to make the fronts work.
We don't even know if the Astra B8 Series strut is valved correctly for our car.
It may work, but the clevis ears are either too narrow or wide for our application.
Then there's the issue w/ the bolt hole spacing.
Would require cutting off the clevis ears and welding on a custom set.
There's also still the issue w/ the spring seat.
Though that can also be addressed with a custom adapter/seat.
The more I think about it, the less and less I'm willing to spend $500 on a set of front bilstein struts.
Sure the B8 or B6 Bilsteins may be in theory better than our AC Delco OE replacements, but is it worth the $700 price tag? In addition to the custom work required to make the fronts work.
We don't even know if the Astra B8 Series strut is valved correctly for our car.
I think the best you could do would be to go Koni front struts with b8 bilstein shocks in the rear
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