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SVT Shelby GT500
Retrofitting '13/'14 GT500 Bilstein Damp-Tronic's to any '07-'12 GT500
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<blockquote data-quote="Tob" data-source="post: 13500534" data-attributes="member: 83412"><p>Thank you Sam.</p><p></p><p>I figured I'd start out back just to get it out of the way. After pulling the "carpet" over the spare tire well and the two side panels, the shock hardware up top was exposed.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]508324[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>Of note is the rubber bushings that both the stock '07-'09 and KR used which was very similar. When those two bushing halves are compressed together there are some internal voids. </p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]508325[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>Shock lengths, from left to right, stock '07-'09/KR/'13-'14 Track Package.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]508326[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]508327[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>As I mentioned, the two on the left use similar bushings. The Track Package Bilstein uses <em>much</em> harder durometer bushings that are a <em>very</em> tight fit. Finer thread on the shock ends too.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]508328[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>Different hardware up top too as the wiring harness pigtail needs to fit inside that nut. </p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]508329[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>I could not install the Bilsteins the same way the other two shocks were done. It is very difficult to compress them whereas the other shocks are like a rubber band. I'm 6' and 215lbs. I stood one of the Bilstein shocks on the concrete and allowed my body weight to be transferred down into the shock body in an attempt to compress them. I could, a little, but they are extremely stiff. So I had to install them by attaching each one at the axle, then line up the rod/bushing up top with the hole in the floorpan, then carefully raise the axle assembly via a jack. I then kept jacking until I was raising the car off the stands. At that point I threaded on the upper bushing and tightened it down. A much tighter fit than either of the other two shocks.</p><p>At this point, I'm very happy I listened to Jack regarding using springs to match these dampers. </p><p></p><p>They...are...stiff!!</p><p></p><p>I did use the FRPP (on the right) supplied jounce bumpers out back. Some have neglected to use them as they felt they were the same as the stock units. They aren't.</p><p></p><p> [ATTACH=full]508330[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>Here's an interesting comparison of the free height of the springs...</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]508331[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>The stock as well as the KR springs are obviously used. I went back through my <a href="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/svt-shelby-gt500-150/689714-bits-pieces-kr-more.html" target="_blank">KR shock/strut/spring install</a> and found the dimensions I had recorded then...</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The KR's measure pretty much what they did when they were new and I'd venture to guess the stock ones do too. So my fingers are crossed that the 5300-L springs don't <em>raise the body</em> over what the KR springs had. The KR springs have 9 coils vs the 5300-l's 14 coils. Wire diameter for the KR's are ~ .527" and the 5300-L's come in at ~ .483" (or 13.39mm vs 12.27mm).</p><p></p><p>So with the hardware out back swapped I took some quick ride height measurements. These are preliminary, as the vehicle is up on stands, but measuring it before and after should still show any change.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]508332[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>Before...</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]508333[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>After...</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]508334[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>:dw:</p><p></p><p>For now, ride height is essentially the same. So the 5300-L's compress quite a bit right off the bat. When the car is back down on the ground I'll keep an eye on them with respect to additional settling.</p><p></p><p>So aside from the wiring, the rear is done.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]508335[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]508336[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>My initial thoughts - tolerances are tighter. Shocks are much firmer. Springs look to be a match. When I die, there's going to be way too much crap for my wife to deal with. I need to start selling stuff I'm not currently using. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Tob, post: 13500534, member: 83412"] Thank you Sam. I figured I'd start out back just to get it out of the way. After pulling the "carpet" over the spare tire well and the two side panels, the shock hardware up top was exposed. [ATTACH=full]508324[/ATTACH] Of note is the rubber bushings that both the stock '07-'09 and KR used which was very similar. When those two bushing halves are compressed together there are some internal voids. [ATTACH=full]508325[/ATTACH] Shock lengths, from left to right, stock '07-'09/KR/'13-'14 Track Package. [ATTACH=full]508326[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]508327[/ATTACH] As I mentioned, the two on the left use similar bushings. The Track Package Bilstein uses [I]much[/I] harder durometer bushings that are a [I]very[/I] tight fit. Finer thread on the shock ends too. [ATTACH=full]508328[/ATTACH] Different hardware up top too as the wiring harness pigtail needs to fit inside that nut. [ATTACH=full]508329[/ATTACH] I could not install the Bilsteins the same way the other two shocks were done. It is very difficult to compress them whereas the other shocks are like a rubber band. I'm 6' and 215lbs. I stood one of the Bilstein shocks on the concrete and allowed my body weight to be transferred down into the shock body in an attempt to compress them. I could, a little, but they are extremely stiff. So I had to install them by attaching each one at the axle, then line up the rod/bushing up top with the hole in the floorpan, then carefully raise the axle assembly via a jack. I then kept jacking until I was raising the car off the stands. At that point I threaded on the upper bushing and tightened it down. A much tighter fit than either of the other two shocks. At this point, I'm very happy I listened to Jack regarding using springs to match these dampers. They...are...stiff!! I did use the FRPP (on the right) supplied jounce bumpers out back. Some have neglected to use them as they felt they were the same as the stock units. They aren't. [ATTACH=full]508330[/ATTACH] Here's an interesting comparison of the free height of the springs... [ATTACH=full]508331[/ATTACH] The stock as well as the KR springs are obviously used. I went back through my [URL="http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/svt-shelby-gt500-150/689714-bits-pieces-kr-more.html"]KR shock/strut/spring install[/URL] and found the dimensions I had recorded then... The KR's measure pretty much what they did when they were new and I'd venture to guess the stock ones do too. So my fingers are crossed that the 5300-L springs don't [I]raise the body[/I] over what the KR springs had. The KR springs have 9 coils vs the 5300-l's 14 coils. Wire diameter for the KR's are ~ .527" and the 5300-L's come in at ~ .483" (or 13.39mm vs 12.27mm). So with the hardware out back swapped I took some quick ride height measurements. These are preliminary, as the vehicle is up on stands, but measuring it before and after should still show any change. [ATTACH=full]508332[/ATTACH] Before... [ATTACH=full]508333[/ATTACH] After... [ATTACH=full]508334[/ATTACH] :dw: For now, ride height is essentially the same. So the 5300-L's compress quite a bit right off the bat. When the car is back down on the ground I'll keep an eye on them with respect to additional settling. So aside from the wiring, the rear is done. [ATTACH=full]508335[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]508336[/ATTACH] My initial thoughts - tolerances are tighter. Shocks are much firmer. Springs look to be a match. When I die, there's going to be way too much crap for my wife to deal with. I need to start selling stuff I'm not currently using. :) [/QUOTE]
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Retrofitting '13/'14 GT500 Bilstein Damp-Tronic's to any '07-'12 GT500
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