Honda Elysion Suspension Knock, Bilstein shock expired

[PTR200S]

On 4/17/2023 at 11:47 PM, hughezee said:

Think they're the same as the MK3 Legend on the front p/n: 51306SZ3G01 😉

Found them on amayama.com,  ordered, just waiting acknowledgement now. At £3.58 a piece got to be worth a go....shipping hurts though ..

Cox Honda don't have them in stock so would order from Japan or possibly in stock in Belgium..quote £18.50 🤣🤣🤣

[PTR200S]

Apparently they will be despatched shortly...after they arrive from the "suppliers"  ffs

Just hope they are split type 😛😛😛

[PTR200S]

Well, it didn't take too long to get here ! 

All the way from Japan, despatched last Friday, arrived today via Parcel Farce....as the van arrived I was dreading an import check ☠️☠️☠️ and subsequent costs..but nothing. 😜🥳🥳🥳

Just got to check them out and decide when I might actually do it !!   Probably need to take off the drop links,  one should be OK as its been off recently,,,the other? Well there's the question. 

[PTR200S]

Thats buggered it...front offside shock rebound has gone, developed into a full blown crash through the chassis when a pothole is encountered 🤬🤬🤬🤬

I think the clack was part of the problem but I need a new shock now..

Bilstein BE5-3079J is what I need ...can't just seem to locate any yet 🙃🙃

[PTR200S]

Can't believe my shock has gone after the conversation on here with  "Peter" last year !!!

Never had a shock go like this. 

After a few days of fruitless searching,  several emails/ conversations with Bilstein UK AND the original importer company of the van I have come to the conclusion I am stuffed !!

Looks like the Bilstein were special development stuff in Germany / Honda Japan as the codes on the shock do not match any in the Bilstein back catalogues.

I have found companies like Larkspeed do Tein shocks and that is probably the way I need to go as originals are half as much again from Honda !!

Has anyone used Tein on an Elysion? or, indeed, on any vehicle?? What do you think ?

Peter, you were contemplating it, did you get the originals in the end ?

[PTR200S]

If I go Tein do I get the street version or the higher spec version...decisions , decisions !!!  Another 200 quid plus for the higher spec ones..do I need them !

[PaulS]

Do you know if you only have the options you list or is there another shock absorber with a very similar spec & mountings from another model?  It would seem very likely that someone somewhere would use something similar, or indeed perhaps another manufacturer use the same original part. 

When I restored my Mitsubishi, I found Leda most helpful and crafted my stub axle onto one of their adjustable similar spec stock shocks.....

Alternatively, would a hydraulic repair specialist be able to refurb your existing shock?

[PTR200S]

9 hours ago, PaulS said:

Do you know if you only have the options you list or is there another shock absorber with a very similar spec & mountings from another model?  It would seem very likely that someone somewhere would use something similar, or indeed perhaps another manufacturer use the same original part. 

When I restored my Mitsubishi, I found Leda most helpful and crafted my stub axle onto one of their adjustable similar spec stock shocks.....

Alternatively, would a hydraulic repair specialist be able to refurb your existing shock?

I think you are probably right in that another shock may fit the carrier and suspension fork..the problem seems to be the damping spec, how do I determine that ??

The Bilstein are gas and oil shocks and work extremely well as an alternative to standard but what is standard....

Your alternative suggestion for a refurb would be a good way to go so I have spoken the Bilstein overhaul section...they would look at shock for me and repair if possible,  around 100 ish per shock....if they have the parts..bearing in mind they also can't find the spec for their own shocks !!!!

A local agent might be a way to go...but again what is the spec and also the van is off the road for an indeterminate amount of time...Will check around today.

 

A complete replacement, like Tein,  is an expensive option but gets me back on the road the same day....

[PTR200S]

Having exhausted all options I have ordered the Tein setup.

Two more companies today confirmed they can't rebuild the shock, saying parts from bilstein would be unavailable...not totally convinced there..

I have , though, established that the Bilstein I have were built with a tie up between Honda Japan and Bilstein and are no longer produced.   I haven't time to do any more investigation so ordered the  "Z" spec setup as another problem emerged. The basic road Tein do not have top mounts...they are installed into the existing oem mounts.

As I have an unknown setup I can't risk buying the roadgoing version as oem mounts are not available 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

I am now officially broke 🙃😭😭

Just hope everything fits without any messing about. 

[PTR200S]

The shocks should have been delivered by 12 noon today....still waiting on FedEx  ....

Supplier confirms despatch, with delivery scheduled for today, but I have now wasted a day waiting in 🤬🤬

[PTR200S]

It's now Thursday,  no suspension as of 3.30pm...

So much for going with Tein on the basis I can get the van back on the road quickly....

The supplier is going nuts with Fed-up .....as I am with the supplier....24 hour delivery paid for...now one week down...albeit with BH Monday in there.

The reliable Coupe is taking up the working strain as the daily, yet AGAIN !! .....

[PTR200S]

Finally turned up Friday but today was the first chance to get down and dirty.

Doing the offside front first which is the baddy requires taking the fuse box out above the turret to get at the shock bolts. Just two 10mm nuts and it's off.

Wheel off, blocks under the chassis, undo the lower fork mount nut , 17mm, and knock the bolt out. Undo the shock to fork mount, 14mm, and then get up top to remove the 14mm  nuts off the shock top mount.

Slide the shock out towards the front of the drive shaft...more space there.

New one in in reverse procedure.

Old Bilstein. 

New Tein are slightly shorter than the Bilstein,  about an inch.

 

Installed 🤩🤩

 

The ride height is 1/2 inch lower.....

Just got to do the other side now...might leave rear Bilstein on and see how it is.

 

[PTR200S]

Decided to start dismantling the nearside last night but got stuck with the lower wishbone not going low enough to let the lower end of the shock out of the knuckle.

Tackled it the morning using a rebar to lever it down to give enough clearance. 

Remove the lower suspension fork bolt, 17mm

 

Also the 14mm top fork bolt to shock connection,  this the bit that didn't have enough clearance. 

 

Out with the battery, battery case and the airfilter housing to give access to the top mount nuts on the nearside. The rear airfilter top bolt is a bit of a pig to get to but a small ratchet and 10mm socket is good or through the hinge on the filter top with a rachet spanner.

 

 

 

That's the rear airfilter housing mount centre right in the above pic, the inverted U shape welded to the turret, to give you and idea of its location.

 

[PTR200S]

Back from the test drive.....just about 3 miles.

No noise, clanking, banging or rattles ...extended test drive later this afternoon....

Definitely lower at the front but surprisingly the back seems to be level now ...,🤔🤔🤔🤔

I will investigate replacing the rear suspension but I suspect half the interior needs to.come out...

[PTR200S]

4 hours ago, PTR200S said:

I will investigate replacing the rear suspension but I suspect half the interior needs to.come out...

The good news is that there are small hatches in the interior panelling to get to the top mounts in the rear cab ..no inside panels to dismantle 😛.  Just need to  create some time to do it !!!!