Bilstein B8/b6 Combo, Or B8s All Round...

S

saabboy

New Member
I have a T5.1, currently on standard springs all round. Because I often have up to 400kg in the back I'm about to fit a pair of sportline springs at the front to help level out the van, so it is rarely lower at the back than the front.

I also need new dampers at the rear, so thought it would be a good opportunity to fit a new set all round. I'm considering Bilstein B8s for the front and B6s for the rear. However one supplier has advised fitting B8s all round, despite the fact that the B6 damper is designed to be used in conjunction with a standard height spring, not the B8. When I queried this they didn't really give me an answer. As far as I am aware, the B6 and B8 are exactly the same in terms of damping set up, its just one is slightly taller than the other. Am I missing something?

Any advice much appreciated

Cheers
 
The B6 and B8 are identical in side but the B8 is more suited to lowered cars , the reason is simple the shaft is droop limited to keep a shorter spring in place in case the car is lifted from the ground . If you are fitting a stronger rear spring for load carrying reasons my recommendation would be the KONI adjustable shock because we can adjust the rebound characteristics to cope with the stronger spring recoil . No brainer really the car will be much more comfortable and will have less roll and pitch making it much safer in the bargain
 
Hi thanks for the quick reply. No plans to change original rear springs, although will fit new cups at same time as dampers are fitted. Its a T28 btw, so the springs aren't massively stiff. The front are brand new Eibach rated at 35mm drop from standard (not yet fitted). But you still think KONIs all round? It hadn't occurred to me as everyone seems to universally plump for Bilsteins.
 
Yes the problem KONI had in UK was that they supplied Andrew Paige and they didn't promote or push KONI . Bilstein had same issue but woke up and took the distribution back into their own hands and the results of this shows because specialists are now pushing the [produst,,

Koni is now back into specialist hands but we have some catching upo to do

Koni and Bilstein are the 2 best shocks in the world but KONI place too much importance on MONO tube technology and KONI get much better comfort from a Dual tube adjustable shock . As we do more and more you will see the KONI s being pushed .

Definitely fit all around to get best from the performance . it wont help iof only one axle is working well and the other Not
 
@CRS Performance
Hi Steve
Rob has passed my your number I'm going call you next week for some advice not too dissimilar to this above.
My pm you now while its in my head !
 
Great, thanks. And what are your thoughts on fitting an ARB to the rear axel only? My thinking being that most body roll is generated at the back end, taller springs/van height. Is this wrong-headed?
 
The theory is actually the reverse . the rear anti roll bar controls the front axle and the front ARB helps the rear Axle . there is no doubt that lifting the van we need more stability as you are raising the Roll Centre . Ideally the roll centre should sit on the centre of gravity but in real terms this is rare . The slam it down guys on this forum are actually pushing the Roll centre underground which isn't good . Ill try find my calculator for roll centre and centre of gravity and ill try to explain it better asap .
 
Just uprating the rear ARB and leaving the front on the standard would in theory, promote oversteer and potentially make the van, tail happy.

Obviously other variables to consider and throw into the mix but goes against the grain, where most production vehicles have the chassis tuned for understeer, mainly for safety.
 
Spot on generally cars are set up to understeer rather than oversteer , Its an easier problem for a novice driver to deal with
 
Thanks for all the info. Koni dampers first... and hopefully that will make a significant difference over the original set up.

Cheers
 
would adding koni or bilstein shocks to h&r 40mm springs improve comfort , or do you have to increase spring height for that ?
 
Yes putting quality shocks will improve comfort , The KONI is the better Choice because it isn't a hi pressure MONO tube damper .

You don't have to change height or wheels to accomplish this

I usually set the shocks up before dispatch after consulting you on the spec of the van and mods done ( this is quite important )
 
Hi saabboy the shocks are due in very soon , ill let you know when they arrive and you can decide if you want to do it ,
 
Any suggestions on a starting point for setting the rebound on Koni special active front shocks for a van with heavier 30mm lift springs, as they need to be removed to change the setting and I definitely don't what to have to do that!
 
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