Area Representative Nick Bassett Posted September 12, 2022 Area Representative Share Posted September 12, 2022 My yr 2000 Superlight R has the front Bilstein front damper units fitted upside down and AFAIK has had since the car was built 22 years ago.Yesterday a fellow Caterham owning friend was looking at them and suggested they had been fitted incorrectly and should be the right way up. He said only race dampers can be fitted upside down.Car handles fine and presumably the previous 5 owners were happy with handling too. Car was built by a Caterham employee (Not Caterham) for the first owner.Just keen to know what the truth is?Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLR 11 Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 My 1998 SLR also has them upside down... I asked the same question on Blatchat some time ago and most respondents said it was fine...https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/forum/techtalk/bilsteins-upside-down-0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLR 11 Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 My 1998 SLR also has them upside down... I asked the same question on Blatchat some time ago and most respondents said it was fine...https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/forum/techtalk/bilsteins-upside-down-0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 I've always run them on my R400D upside down without problem, to enable easier adjustment, reduce accumulation of grit where the piston meets the seal and reduce the unsprung weight very slightly (with the body side being a bit heavier than the piston side). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 Mono tubes normally have a floating piston which has a nitrogen charge to reduce aeration these are fine to be inverted in order to reduce unsprung mass, stock dampers are twin tube design which are not pressurised and so should be fitted in the conventional manner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Nick Bassett Posted September 13, 2022 Author Area Representative Share Posted September 13, 2022 Thanks for replies.So, it would seem we have a split decision!I'm assuming my adjustable standard Bilsteins are twin tube and therefore (according to 7 wonders) should be fitted the correct way up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Richard Price Posted September 14, 2022 Area Representative Share Posted September 14, 2022 I'm assuming my adjustable standard Bilsteins are twin tube and therefore (according to 7 wonders) should be fitted the correct way up?No. Bilsteins are monotube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Nick Bassett Posted September 14, 2022 Author Area Representative Share Posted September 14, 2022 Thanks Richard, but in another thread '7 wonders' mentions that standard Bilsteins are twin tube and therefore need to be fitted the correct way up. My adjustable Bilsteins are not of the race type, therefore I assumed them to be of twin tube construction? Or is that incorrect?The other thread I mention can be read here:https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/forum/techtalk/bilsteins-upside-down-0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted September 14, 2022 Share Posted September 14, 2022 Race Billes are mono tube, stock steel ones are twin tube - not sure which version you are running Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Richard Price Posted September 14, 2022 Area Representative Share Posted September 14, 2022 "Race Billes are mono tube, stock steel ones are twin tube"No. I cut up a standard Bilstein a few years ago and it was definitely monotube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 That's interesting Richard, I spoke with a guy a Bilstein just over a year back about servicing them and the conversation got onto 7 dampers and he said the OE units were based around the B4's twin tube.I might have a old bent unit somewhere might need to deconstruct it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisC Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 When the club was invited to the Caterham Technology Centre, not long after the 160 was launched, they showed the how they had changed the values in the dampers for that model. They had a damper there where they showed the process. They also explained only mono tube dampers would work on a 7 due to the weight. Doesn't mean they haven't changed since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted September 15, 2022 Share Posted September 15, 2022 Twin tubes are also problematic at angles of 45 degrees or more from vertical, so the inclination of the front dampers would put them close to that on a wide-track front suspension. Conceivably the rear dampers could be twin tube and the fronts mono tube. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon.Rogers Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 It is actually important to find out if there is a floating piston in the Bilstein. I have never cut one open to find out.If they are emulsion dampers which is entirely possible then they should have the body at the top so that the piston can sit in the oil until it becomes the emulsion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now