pedrosixfour Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Hey folks. In the process of upgrading the suspension on my NA. Does anybody know if the JDM factory option Bilstein suspension has "Made in Germany" stamped on the bottom of the damper body or should it be "Made in Japan"? Also does anyone have any idea how the identity markings on Bilstein springs translate into spring stiffness and what would be on JDM Bilstein springs? Any help would be greatly appreciated guys. Thanks, Damien. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_Mac Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 The JDM yellow dampers are a Bilstein design made under license by Toyota, so it shouldn't say made in Germany. I had a set on mine and don't remember seeing that. I have genuine Bilsteins on mine now and I think they do have that on them though. Can't help you with the other Q's - sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suprab1 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Mine has Bilstein toyota. Do you know where i will find the rest of the info & i'll go out & check for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedrosixfour Posted May 9, 2010 Author Share Posted May 9, 2010 Mine has Bilstein toyota. Do you know where i will find the rest of the info & i'll go out & check for you? Might be next to impossible to check while still on the car bud. The country of origin is stamped just above where the damper is bolted to the lower control arm. My springs have a Bilstein logo painted onto one coil and then directly below this on the next coil is Z189A00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suprab1 Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Sorry mate just had a look but can't see anything other than Toyota Bilstein & some warning sticker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedrosixfour Posted May 9, 2010 Author Share Posted May 9, 2010 Yeah I thought it might be something you'd only spot with the dampers off the car. But just to clarify do your dampers have a Toyota logo directly above the Bilstein logo on the body of the shock? Mine don't you see. In fact the dampers that I've just taken off my car look UNBELIEVEABLY like the German made, Chris Wilson upgraded dampers that I just bought from a club member! Even the Bilstein springs on my old dampers are a bigger diameter than Chris' custom wound items. Have I just bought good suspension to replace good suspension??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Yeah I thought it might be something you'd only spot with the dampers off the car. But just to clarify do your dampers have a Toyota logo directly above the Bilstein logo on the body of the shock? Mine don't you see. In fact the dampers that I've just taken off my car look UNBELIEVEABLY like the German made, Chris Wilson upgraded dampers that I just bought from a club member! Even the Bilstein springs on my old dampers are a bigger diameter than Chris' custom wound items. Have I just bought good suspension to replace good suspension??? If you have i could use some 'good' suspension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedrosixfour Posted May 9, 2010 Author Share Posted May 9, 2010 If you have i could use some 'good' suspension And you'll be the first one to benefit Martin just as soon as I figure out which springs would be better on my CW dampers! I'll post a picture of the original units and hopefully someone can identify them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Cheers mate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 Bigger diameter equals lower spring rate, given same number of coils and similar wire diameter and heat treatment. A coil spring is just a radially wound torsion bar. The Japanese made dampers with the Toyota logo are made under licence from Bilstein, like the Japanese made "Ohlins". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JODY T Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 the OEM struts have a red band around them, the aftermarket ones are all blue (the sticker at the bottom, not the strut) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JODY T Posted May 9, 2010 Share Posted May 9, 2010 see the pic in my old for sale thread, these are NOT oem ones http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=216779 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedrosixfour Posted May 9, 2010 Author Share Posted May 9, 2010 New unit has the red spring. Last three shots are of my old damper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedrosixfour Posted May 9, 2010 Author Share Posted May 9, 2010 Bigger diameter equals lower spring rate, given same number of coils and similar wire diameter and heat treatment. A coil spring is just a radially wound torsion bar. The Japanese made dampers with the Toyota logo are made under licence from Bilstein, like the Japanese made "Ohlins". Sorry chris when I said the black springs were a bigger diameter it was actually in reference to the wire diameter. I understand how a bigger coil diameter would give a lower spring rate which I am assuming would mean that the spring is essentially softer. I'm just trying to work out if the springs on my old dampers are actually harder than your units. And therefore which ones would be best to use on your dampers for the track. If I was to apply the same weight to each of the dampers and compare the resulting compression would the spring which compressed the least be the stiffer or am I missing some fundamental points? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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