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Hello all i have tested different OEM R35 Bilstein Shock Absorbers on a Roehrig Shock Absorber test bench.

The following dampers were tested
2009 front and rear
2012 front and rear

 

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Here you can see the 2012 front damper
in all three modes.

green line in R mod.
red line in normal mod.
blue line in Comfor mod.

 

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In order to measure the R mode, the damper does not need to be controlled.

in order to control the normal mode you have to energize the damper with 0.9 amperes.

In order to control the Comfor mode, the damper requires 1.5 ampere.

 

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This is a comparison of the 2009 front damper blue line to the 2012 front damper red line.

 

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Here you can see the comparison of the rear damper.
2009 green line
2012 red line.

both in R mode

 

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Here I have a modified front damper which I have 6 different modes installed.

With 0 Amper this is always R mode
0.9 amp
1.0 amp
1.1 amp
1.3 amp
1.5 amp

the damper characteristic changes very nicely with every adjustment

 

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To understand the graphics.
Everything up the 0 line is the Compression, all below the 0 line is the rebound.

 

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Here is a picture on the suspension dyno with the ampere simulator.

 

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You normally can not open the 2012 dampers.
The sealing heads are mechanically crimped to the damper housing.

see image

 

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The 2009 damper sealing heads are removable, they are only secured with a C-clip.

But be careful first the nitrogen (pressure) must be drained.

 

[hunter]

Great info..........

 

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Drill a hole in the foot of the damper so that the pressure (nitrogen) can escape.
Now you can open the damper.

 

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Piston and shims

 

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To be able to fill the damper with nitrogen again later, you have to turn a few threaded bushes on the lathe.

 

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These threaded bushes must then be welded to the hole on the damper foot.

 

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front Damper with welded bushes.

 

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Some shim changes,ready to Close the Damper.

 

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bleed up and down.

 

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Now the damper is filled again with nitrogen.
16 bar / 232 psi

 

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So far, the damper is ready for the dyno.

Next, I'll show you how to open a 2012 Model Damper and what needs to be changed to overhaul or modify it.