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Joined: Oct 2000
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Originally posted by mcgainer:
Here's the BAT springs...
I'd say close to level...
Function before fashion.
'96 Contour SE
"Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998
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Joined: Sep 2000
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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My ride height is as follows.
Also you have to remember the front of my car raised over 1" due to the 100+ lbs I dropped from my car!
Front Fender: 26.2" Front of Skirt: 5.5"
Rear Fender: 26" Rear of Skirt: 6"
Just using the fenders as a point of reference is Very misleading.
As you can see the front fender sits a hair (.2") higher, but the actual ride height (I.E. the skirts) is 1/2" lower in the front.
Before the drop my front fender measurement was around 27.5" 
I nearly had the 4x4 look going...  
My car is noticeably lower and has the great looking front to back rake.
I figure my car dropped ~1.5" front and .75" rear. Lift (which I had HORRIBLY with the raised front!), dive, and any body roll is 100% GONE!!! 
I'm still toying with the idea of cutting out one revolution of the coil bind (it's 1.5 revolutions even!) from the two front springs to get another 1/2" of drop or so to even out the wheel gaps. The front still has a {now} slightly larger gap then the rear.
I have 400 miles on the combo so I think they have had a chance to settle, but will still give them a bit more before I make up my mind. (besides it's a PITA and I just put then on  )
I can tell you my car has at least 2 times the front gap as the one pictured. Yes I dropped that much weight, but the performance and handling love me for it so...
2000 SVT #674
13.47 @ 102 - All Motor!
It was not broke; Yet I fixed it anyway.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,867
Hard-core CEG'er
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Originally posted by DemonSVT:
Originally posted by RogerB:
The TC is a fairly new animal, I think, and so probably doesn't fit in the C-HD-S continuum. I'm not sure where it lies. Lots of VW guys running TC's with lower springs, and they do have a shortened shaft...
I'm getting a sense that these are an "economy" strut aimed at the tuner crowd, but "economy" in the Bilstein sense of the word. As in, that's a good thing.
The struts I am talking about are the Sprintline series.
Every review I have read has said they are a better strut then Koni for handling and dampening.
BTW - What gives you that sense?
The Bilstein struts BAT sells are imported from Europe. Not even available or marketed in the states.
Just had a long conversation with Eric at BAT. We covered a lot of ground, but I??ll try to relate the high points.
1. First off, these struts are built to a very similar spec to the BAT Euro sport. I??m not saying they are equal, or the same, or built by the same people. But back when BAT was trying to get a strut made, they sent their requirements to several companies, one of which was Bilstein. Bilstein finally delivered.
2. Secondly, Bilstein Europe just put out a new catalog with new marketing language. ??Sprintline? is gone, replaced by ??B4 Gas? or TC. The former ??Sport? (formerly ??Ralleye?) strut is now the B8 Sprint, and the former HD is now B6 Sport. (Still with me?) Not sure if these changes apply to the US market. This strut was originally packaged with Bilstein springs, and aimed at competing with other ??economy? suspension kits from Koni, FK, Eibach, Vogtland, etc. So, that accounts for some of the confusion in web research. Lots of websites out there haven??t been updated. The old TC may or may not be the same as the new TC, and frankly, it was a confusing product offering.
3. These struts are not really available anywhere else. BAT??s TC is built by Bilstein to BAT??s specifications. It has a shortened shaft, and damping rates spec??d by BAT. It is very difficult to compare this TC to the one on your friend??s VW.
4. And for good measure, I asked him who actually makes the BAT strut. Well, he couldn??t tell me, and that was part of the original agreement he made with the manufacturer. Retail politics. That??s all. But judging by the Bilstein story, they are definitely not Bilstein.
Function before fashion.
'96 Contour SE
"Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 187
CEG\'er
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Posts: 187 |
it is kinda funny that the consensus is h&r give too big of a drop, while mine only went down 3/4 in front and 1/2 in back with bilstein struts and the bat kit seems to drop what they say the h&r's are supposed to 1.5 to 1.7
HORSEPOWERIC= ALL THE POWER IN THE WORLD STILL AIN'T ENOUGH
98 silver svt, modified y,ngk(indexed),pulley's,shifter,redline. future plans,custom borla exhaust, bilstein/h&r, rota slipstream 16x7 13 lb"s
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 217
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Ok. I guess I'll just leave well enough alone strut wise, add some subframe connectors or foam the chassis and call it a day on the suspension stuff. Now if I could only find a place around here that's not afraid to install a Torsen even though it is in the Ford catalog. 
George Hodge
New: Volvo S60R
Old:2000 SVT Silver Frost 1188/2150
DMD, 75mm Pro-M, HPP rear strut tower bar
Aussie 24mm sway bar (with boxed in subframe)
BAT European Handling Kit, Brullen Y-pipe
Performance Ford spherical bearing end links
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,196
Hard-core CEG'er
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From one Roger to another, thanks for the research on the Bilsteins It looks like I'm getting the Bilstein B4 gas/TC struts with the BAT springs, now for the holidays to end so I can spend some money on me 
"THEE" Roger R
USMondeo@aol.com
2005 Crossfire Limited coupe'
-FOR SALE @buyout price & I'll...
-throw in my 93' Regal as winter car
*Dragon Run 06'...Oct 12-15th*
Puur-fection Auto Detailing
Complete packages from $140.00
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The bilsteins are the best upgrade I've done to my car Roger... you won't regret it.
Bob
99 T-Red SVT
***Intrax, Bilsteins, Azenis, Offroad Y, CAI, Tint, Magnaflow Exhaust, Custom Grilles, Poly Mounts, Silverstar Bulbs, 100W Ion Fogs, Focus SVT Wheels, SHO UDP, Ford Racing Wires ***
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Originally posted by low10s:
bat kit seems to drop what they say the h&r's are supposed to 1.5 to 1.7
Unless of course you read my ENTIRE post wear I specifically stated my front ride height was over an inch above stock to begin with.
I Specifically stated that so folks would not think my drop is typical of this setup!
...on top of that I also stated I still wanted more to have drop in the front because of my prior front ride height increase.
2000 SVT #674
13.47 @ 102 - All Motor!
It was not broke; Yet I fixed it anyway.
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 187
CEG\'er
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touchy touchy, dont be so sensitive man. i was not refering to your car specifically. just stating that the bat kit seems to be lower than some of the h&r kits, including mine. yes all cars are different, mine was high in the from also.
HORSEPOWERIC= ALL THE POWER IN THE WORLD STILL AIN'T ENOUGH
98 silver svt, modified y,ngk(indexed),pulley's,shifter,redline. future plans,custom borla exhaust, bilstein/h&r, rota slipstream 16x7 13 lb"s
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,196
Hard-core CEG'er
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Originally posted by Bob Kulstad:
The bilsteins are the best upgrade I've done to my car Roger... you won't regret it.
Bob
I can't wait and I've decided to go with the BAT springs as well. It seems that the car is a bit higher in the front than it is in the back, so the BAT kit will not only "even things out", but cost a bit less than the Eibachs too In addition to that, why not support BAT! Its our only real "factory aftermarket" parts supplier 
"THEE" Roger R
USMondeo@aol.com
2005 Crossfire Limited coupe'
-FOR SALE @buyout price & I'll...
-throw in my 93' Regal as winter car
*Dragon Run 06'...Oct 12-15th*
Puur-fection Auto Detailing
Complete packages from $140.00
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