Bilstein PSS9s?

David Spratte · **Posted:** Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:25 pm

Bilstein's coilovers. Anybody have any first hand experience with them?

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:27 pm

David Spratte wrote:

Bilstein's coilovers. Anybody have any first hand experience with them?

Les had them on his old SM2 Miata. - AB

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:37 pm

i have them on my miata, ryan had them on his old miata as well. I havnt had them long so cant input a whole lot but les and ryan could.

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:37 pm

IIRC Ryan had them on the ex Freeman Miata also.

TomFreeman · **Posted:** Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:46 pm

Yep...I bought the Bilstein PSS9's that were on the ex Freeman/Holton Miata. Yes, Les does have them on his black Miata.

Very nicely made, good range of adjustability. The spring rates that come on the Miata versions are a little strange. It comes with ~350# springs at all corners. Probably a little much spring in the rear and not enough in the front. I believe Les changed his over to something like 500/250, and Ryan probably did similarly when he had them.

Also factor in that they use 60mm coilover springs, so you can't use normal 2.5" coilover springs. The 60mm springs aren't much more than a comparable 2.5" spring, but you have to look a little harder to find them.

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

Yes, I've had pss9s on my Miata since 2004 and have loved them. Seemed to work pretty darn well for me in autocross, and reasonable ride comfort on the street as that car has seen lots of daily driving duty over the years. As Tom mentioned, I did end up changing the springs as the standard 350/350 rates while they did make for an entertaining car to drive, is not the fastest setup and switched to 470/280. Looks like they have changed the pss9 some as what I have looks more like the pss10 now. No progressive rate springs, and adjustable aluminum body dampers at all four corners. Are you looking at these for the MINI?

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed Oct 28, 2009 4:15 pm

Les Davis wrote:

Yes, I've had pss9s on my Miata since 2004 and have loved them. Seemed to work pretty darn well for me in autocross, and reasonable ride comfort on the street as that car has seen lots of daily driving duty over the years. As Tom mentioned, I did end up changing the springs as the standard 350/350 rates while they did make for an entertaining car to drive, is not the fastest setup and switched to 470/280. Looks like they have changed the pss9 some as what I have looks more like the pss10 now. No progressive rate springs, and adjustable aluminum body dampers at all four corners. Are you looking at these for the MINI?

X 2, I always loved how my car felt on the PSS9's. Good compromise b/w street/track.

David Spratte · **Posted:** Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:44 pm

Thanks for the feedback.

Any issues or re-valving needed for you long term owners?

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed Oct 28, 2009 7:50 pm

David Spratte wrote:

Thanks for the feedback.

Any issues or re-valving needed for you long term owners?

Nope and they were on my car for ~3 years. I'm not exactly known for being easy on equipment either :oops:

Bilstein can revalve them for ~$135/ea the last time I looked.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Ryan Holton wrote:

Bilstein can revalve them for ~$135/ea the last time I looked.

That's a lot more than the $12.50 a corner that I paid for the Koni revalve. :wink:

If they were already on a car that I was considering picking up, it would be a good thing; however, I don't know if it such a system would be my first choice for an aftermarket suspension. I know of Koni Lee, I've never heard of a Bilstein Hans.

Les Davis · **Joined:** Fri Aug 29, 2003 2:04 pm **Posts:** 2059

David Spratte wrote:

Thanks for the feedback.

Any issues or re-valving needed for you long term owners?

No, I was told by the Bilstein tech guy that with my 470lb front spring I'm pushing the upper limit of the valving, but I always loved the way the car handled and no blown shocks in 5 years.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:35 am

Wes Eargle wrote:

That's a lot more than the $12.50 a corner that I paid for the Koni revalve. :wink:

What is the wait time for teh $12.50/corner service, if say, I have a shock that needs service right now? Yeah, about 11 months, have fun with that, otherwise its ~$130/corner for Koni's as well.

Also Monotube > twin tube IMHO

Jason Mauldin · **Posted:** Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:31 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

Also Monotube > twin tube IMHO

I think that PSS9s are twintubes...

Edit. NEVERMIND, the link clearly says monotube. Not sure why I thought that.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:42 am

Jason Mauldin wrote:

Ryan Holton wrote:

Also Monotube > twin tube IMHO

I think that PSS9s are twintubes...

Edit. NEVERMIND, the link clearly says monotube. Not sure why I thought that.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Ryan Holton wrote:

Wes Eargle wrote:

That's a lot more than the $12.50 a corner that I paid for the Koni revalve. :wink:

What is the wait time for teh $12.50/corner service, if say, I have a shock that needs service right now? Yeah, about 11 months, have fun with that, otherwise its ~$130/corner for Koni's as well.

Why wouldn't you just call Steve Ellis?

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