2006 Shock Options
06-17-13, 09:28 PM
#17
Driver School Candidate
Bilstein rears
you can use the bilsteins front and rears. must order gs 300 shocks hd. rears must be cut 11/4" an your good to go. I use the bilstein sports but I did much more work to them. fronts reduced from 30% to 10% and revalved for the 430sc. rears reduced from 30% to 10% revalved for the 430sc, cut rears 11/4. you don't need to do what I did. get bilstein hd fronts install, rears must cut 11/4 from valve body install. bilstein will cut them for you just send them to them an your good to go. I a happy camper with them. you will have to change the springs, I use Swift Springs for the 05 drop front .8 and .6 rear. must use 05 springs.
06-17-13, 09:54 PM
#18
Hi Bacardi, I took your advice and had Bilstein USA modify the rears. The fronts were installed, no probs. However, the installer couldn't fit the rears as the bottom retaining ring supplied with the rear GS300 Bilstein, do not fit the sc 430. The installer said that I needed to obtain the bottom retaining ring for the rears, as ones that are the same size as the front shock retainers. Did you encounter this problem ? I assume I simply need to order two gs300 front shock retainers ? Help!
06-18-13, 06:04 PM
#20
Driver School Candidate
Replacement shocks for sc 430
Hey Bacardi (and other sc430 members), Following your advice, I went for Bilstein all-round. As you say, if you use shocks for a 1998-2005 Lexus GS 300, the fronts will bolt up to the sc 430 with no probs. However, I hit a snag with the rear shocks. While Bilstein cut them to fit (size wise), as the donor shocks are from a GS300, the spring bottom retaining ring that comes with the donor GS 300 Bilstein does not fit the 2005 sc430 spring. It is way too big. Presumably, the rear GS 300 spring is a larger diameter.
The correct size spring retaining ring for the rear Bilstein is the one that comes with the front Bilstein. I am now on the hunt to purchase the two front spring retaining rings as a separate item. Any hints/tips appreciated.
The front shock part number (USA) is 24-027434 for a 1998-2005 Lexus GS 300
. Hopefully the rings suit a number of Bilsteins and are available. The process of custom fitting can test you, but I want the Bilstein experience !
regards
The correct size spring retaining ring for the rear Bilstein is the one that comes with the front Bilstein. I am now on the hunt to purchase the two front spring retaining rings as a separate item. Any hints/tips appreciated.
The front shock part number (USA) is 24-027434 for a 1998-2005 Lexus GS 300
. Hopefully the rings suit a number of Bilsteins and are available. The process of custom fitting can test you, but I want the Bilstein experience !
regards
06-18-13, 06:12 PM
#21
Driver School Candidate
I have a 2005. I have emailed Juan Alvarez from Bilstein USA who has been EXTREMELY helpful with this project. 'Hopefully all will be sorted. The installer said that the spring mounting ring from the original kyb rear shock could not be used with the Bilstein rear shock (?)
06-18-13, 06:30 PM
#22
towns
you use the retainer that come with the bilstein shocks your 05 springs did not change till 06
towns
I ues the Swift Springs from 01 to 05 and fit perfect. I payed 214.00 for all 4 springs and they fit.
you use the retainer that come with the bilstein shocks your 05 springs did not change till 06
towns
I ues the Swift Springs from 01 to 05 and fit perfect. I payed 214.00 for all 4 springs and they fit.
Last edited by bacardi11; 06-18-13 at 06:54 PM.
06-20-13, 06:14 PM
#23
Driver School Candidate
Very timely thread -- my 06 may be in the same situation.
Does the answer to "what replacement shock" depend on what you are trying to achieve? Some have mod the SC into more of a performance racer.
I'm in the "plush and comfortable ride" camp. Assuming that I don't want to get gouged for OEM shocks and will install myself, what recommendation?
Does the answer to "what replacement shock" depend on what you are trying to achieve? Some have mod the SC into more of a performance racer.
I'm in the "plush and comfortable ride" camp. Assuming that I don't want to get gouged for OEM shocks and will install myself, what recommendation?
06-24-13, 12:51 PM
#24
I had the TEIN CS in my SC, and the ride was fantastic. I had them set at 4 on a scale of 16 settings.
I hindsight, I would have done two things differently: 1) put on the electronic controller (I had drilled two small holes in the trunk liner to slide in a long 3mm allen wrench to make adjustments) and 2) raised them up to stock height. From the factory, they drop the car just over 1/2 inch. At such a low damping setting, I would occasionally bottom the shocks out.
I hindsight, I would have done two things differently: 1) put on the electronic controller (I had drilled two small holes in the trunk liner to slide in a long 3mm allen wrench to make adjustments) and 2) raised them up to stock height. From the factory, they drop the car just over 1/2 inch. At such a low damping setting, I would occasionally bottom the shocks out.
07-01-13, 12:58 PM
#25
Lexus Test Driver
I had the TEIN CS in my SC, and the ride was fantastic. I had them set at 4 on a scale of 16 settings.
I hindsight, I would have done two things differently: 1) put on the electronic controller (I had drilled two small holes in the trunk liner to slide in a long 3mm allen wrench to make adjustments) and 2) raised them up to stock height. From the factory, they drop the car just over 1/2 inch. At such a low damping setting, I would occasionally bottom the shocks out.
I hindsight, I would have done two things differently: 1) put on the electronic controller (I had drilled two small holes in the trunk liner to slide in a long 3mm allen wrench to make adjustments) and 2) raised them up to stock height. From the factory, they drop the car just over 1/2 inch. At such a low damping setting, I would occasionally bottom the shocks out.
11-10-13, 07:15 AM
#26
I have a 2005. I have emailed Juan Alvarez from Bilstein USA who has been EXTREMELY helpful with this project. 'Hopefully all will be sorted. The installer said that the spring mounting ring from the original kyb rear shock could not be used with the Bilstein rear shock (?)
12-25-13, 07:44 PM
#27
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Can someone please PM me Juan's address?
Also, can the spring retainer from the rear shocks be used if I purchase stock 04 springs or is that something else I need to get? Does blistein sell the retainers directly?
Thanks.
Also, can the spring retainer from the rear shocks be used if I purchase stock 04 springs or is that something else I need to get? Does blistein sell the retainers directly?
Thanks.
01-01-14, 03:39 PM
#28
Driver School Candidate
01-01-14, 03:43 PM
#29
Driver School Candidate
All I know is that the spring retainers that came with the donor GS shocks did not fit the rear of my 2005. I had to use the same spring retainers from the front GS donor shocks. Interestingly, Bacardi, who has fitted Bilsteins to his model, did not strike this problem. Go figure..............good luck