Any had their bilsteins re-built?

Before anyone says call Bilstein - I tried 10 times today and left 2 voicemails with their tech department, but am anxious to find an answer.

Question: Do they just re-valve the strut and send back or do they re-finish the whole strut by hot tanking it, painting it etc.

Why I ask: I got a set of used bilsteins from the board and am a little disappointed on the amount of surface rust and chipping paint. I am assuming these came of a daily driver in the salt belt. I would post pics, but I am too disappointed to even look at them again.

I planned to send these to bilstein for re-valving with the Robispec spring specs and am hoping they recondition the strut body.

Else, is it safe to get them blasted and powdercoated? I know the struts say "Do not heat" and I am afraid powdercoating may damage them. Plus, I would want to mask the strut rods, aluminium spring perch etc.

Any advice appreciated!

 

Good questions. I'm interested myself.

 

Someone I know just sent out a set yesterday. I'm curious about this also.

 

when i had mine revalved, they just revalved to my swift springs i was goin to use and didnt touch the finish of them

 

How much does a re-valve typically cost?

 

+1
They didn't do anything to the body of mine when I had them revalved...iirc the cost to do all 4 with return shipping was a little over $300

 

For people who had their Bilsteins re-valved, how long was the turn around time?

 

Funny this topic was brought up, I just sent my struts off today lol
They are still sitting at the fedex location waiting

x2 about the turn around time.

 

I didn't call I just printed the shipping info off the website and sent then in.

 

I have spoken to Bilstein on concerns of re doing my Struts. Here is what was said. The Cost is $75 each strut. You can have them re done to OEM spec or valved to your own specs upon request. Turn around is about 2 weeks, but you can pay extra for priority process. I believe its $90 more per strut for priority. Something crazy like that.

Just wondering why you guys are having yours rebuilt? Are you blowing your struts? or just High Mileage?

I have 45K miles on my MR and the roads where I live are s h i t and not sure how long these bad boys will last. Having all 4 sent in at the same time would have my car down for 2 weeks. Thats the bummer. I have nothing to drive in the meantime.

Jeff

 

I'm getting mine re-valved to the Bilistien HD struts for the swift spec-r Springs.

 

OK, here is the skinny - I talked to Bilstein Tech for a long while about this.

Here is what they will do:
- they will re-valve them for $75 a corner as stated.
- If strut rod, seals, innards etc are damaged, it will cost extra.
- If the stickers are in bad shape, they will apply new stickers (the blue bands and warning labels etc)

Here is what they will NOT do:
- they will NOT re-condition the body of the struts.
- they have no access to powdercoaters and blasters and they will stay away from it.

They said I had 2 options:
- Re-finish struts and mail it to them.
- They re-valve and send back and I can re-finish them.

They said powdercoating heat is OK for them to handle. Don't quote me as the bible, just what the guy said. So, then can be powdercoated before or after. If you did it after, you will have to ensure that is of concern (strut rod and the area where it meets strut body etc) is taped off and protected while blasting and powdercoating. You don't want media or powder anywhere near the strut rod area!!!!!

I also talked to Myles at GTWorx who by the way is pretty freaking awesome - He suggested the 3rd option - I could get a stripper (got me excited, till I realized the wife would kill me), sandpaper, wire wheels and spray cans and this will take some grunt work, but probably be a better way to finish them.

So, I am at the cross roads as to what to do....I have to change all my plans. I think I may just do some looking into and go from there.

Anyone want to buy some bilsteins from me? $400 shipped

Hope this helps everyone!

 

We are doing these so they can be re-valved at a higher rate for lowering specs like GTWorx, Swift Spec R and Robispec. If you are stock, do it when you run lowering springs or your struts needs them aka leaking fluid and blown. But, I think they will last a good long time unless you are putting them thru the ringer.

 

Yep, this is what they told me, so you are correct, sir. Thanks for writing!

 

Check this link. Seems they have different build options available.

http://www.bilsteinus.com/products/s...e/service.html