Source for shock actuators?

Hi, just had my shocks rebuilt by Delta Vee and am very pleased with the ride quality. However, 2 of my shock actuators were faulty. They seemed frozen and I couldn't get them to turn. I got 1 from T. Rutlands and am looking for a 2nd used one. The prices are incredible,a new one is $1,100.

I saw a picture of a corvette shock actuator also from Germany and for Bilstein shocks, will they work?

 

Try GT Car Parts in Phoenix 623 780-2200

 

I may be able to help, PM me.

 

We have two on Ferrariads.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/ferrariads/showproduct.php?product=2102&sort=1&cat=13&page=1

 

I had a '95 Corvette. The '89-'91 model Vettes used one flavor of that shock actuator, while the '92-'95 models used the same unit but with a different "stop" for the motor (fx3 suspension option on all versions).

You can have them rebuilt for $125 here: http://captainzcnc.com/index.html

Or get one from eBay for $300 here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/89-95-CORVETTE-FX3-SHOCK-ACTUATOR-BILSTEIN-REAR_W0QQitemZ150084069364QQcmdZViewItem

The Corvette Delco part number is 22114337.
You can get them new here, as well as the clips and various small parts for them: http://www.dougrippie.com/drm/suspension_components.htm#C4%20Corvette%20Shock%20Hardware%20FX-3

If you play around with them I'm sure that you'll be able to find what you need or make one from another car work perfectly on your 355.

Here's a picture of the Ferrari (Bilstein) version, then two different shots of the Corvette (Bilstein) actuator:
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Here's what the Corvette versions look like when disassembled:
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Thanks for posting my photos. Is that Corvette actuator a true plug-n-play replacement on the F355? Identical specs? I wouldn't have expected the balance of a mid-90's Corvette to be anything like the F355... but who knows? I'm the guy who got thrown out of a local Starbucks for saying "Jesus Christ".



I can't quite understand why Captain Z charges $125 to replace the gear. We have the gears for a whole lot less:

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?products_id=261324

 

No, those aren't identical parts. You could make one work on the other if you're handy, as the units are close...or you could use parts from one to fix another. Or you could use a Corvette actuator rebuilder to have your Ferrari actuator fixed.

Or you could order the minor parts and most likely repair the Ferrari unit yourself.

Lots of options.

 

Awesome!!!

 

Ha! Thanks to Daniel Ferrari 355 parts are cheaper than Corvette parts!

 

As I see it the actuator is just an electric stepper motor, the "balance difference" will be thanks to the valving in the shock absorber and control software. As has been mentioned the gear may be different (stop length and position) but as long as the electrical characteristics are the same I can't imagine there is much difference apart from the colour.

 

While they MAY be similar, I think one should be careful about swapping parts without a VERY careful analysis and confirmation...there may be many more differences than just the color and the internal gear...there could be differences in the total amount of rotation, and the motors may have different amounts of resistance or power...I have no idea, but I think one should be careful with this advice.

And that company is not really "rebuilding" they are just replacing the commonly broken plastic gear with a metal one, that is available from Daniel for much less.

Safest course of action, if the acuator has a broken gear, replace the gear with the ones from Daniel, if it is more involved, buy a used, known good one. New? Wow, if you are loaded with money, Daniel can help you out again!

 

I agree.

Pretty cool that Daniel is making Ferrari 355 parts cheaper than what the Corvette guys have to pay!

 

Better yet, if someone can actually confirm that the Corvette application is otherwise the same, and only requires a $30 change of the gear from Daniel, that would be awesome!

 

"I couldn't afford the Corvette one so I used a Ferrari part instead"

 

Sometimes that's true. Ferrari isn't always the most expensive.

Since the 1995 Peugot 306 uses the same Motronic 2.7 ECU as the 348 and 1995 355, I searched online for the Peugot ignition coil: $230 for Peugot versus $125 for the 348/355 coil.

 

If he did not show up after you called him I can understand why!!!

Maybe everyone was expecting a miracle!

 

Good job you didnt say "that cup of espresso was good enough for Jahova"

 

Thanks for the replies. I have attempted minor surgery on the actuator. I was wondering about the gear since you can buy that metal gear from Ricambi. I thought that it was the gear on top of the shock tower and was puzzled as to how it could fix the shock actuator.

So to see if that gear was actually used to fix shock actuators, I have attempted to disassemble one. Alas this shock actuator didn't make it.

The first picture is of the donor actuator.

The second is with the rubber boot removed. Its a little mashed up because I was trying to rotate the internal gears. Its plastic with a gray center piece that interfaces with the gear on top of the shock. This gray piece is seated with a large black disc. These are within the hole of the tan plastic part under the red main body.

The third is with the tan piece removed. The black disc is a little chewed up and the gears are from underneath the disc. The gear within the main red body is now freely turning. But this is different from the gear sold by Ricambi. I believe it is for the top of the shock for its adjustment, not to fix the shock actuator itself.

I believe that I could fix the shock actuator if I could figure out how to remove the tan piece from the red main body without breaking it. The plastic bits were frozen together from grit and other contamination. The electric motor itself within the main red body is fine.
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Wow!! Great pics!! Let us know what you find out!!

 

Might be time to find a donor Corvette one from Ebay...maybe even a busted one just to see how it compares inside.

 

Right, the cheap gear goes on top of the shock tower, and sometimes the teeth break. The electric shock actuator in question here is a completely different issue.

 

I just installed the new gear however I had some issues that I haven't seen discussed:

1. The new rolled pin was too long and you can see if from the photograph. fortunately I saved the original shorter one. If I were to have used the new pin the shock motor would not have been able to fully engage the new gear, because the hole for the pin is between the teeth.

2. The gear itself had too small an inner diameter by a couple of thousandths and I had to ream it out with my hand drill to get it to slide on the rod from the shock tower.

3. When installing the pin I had to borrow my wifes sewing needles to allign the holes in the gear with the hole in the rod in the shock tower. In fact the taper of the sewing needle perfectly centered the rolled pin so it slid in both holes which were being perfectly aligned at the other side of the gear. You kinda have to actually do this to understand what I'm talking about, but this is a helpful trick nobody has mentioned.

 

Time to bring this post alive. I am actually going through suspension woes right now with my 355. Here is the story to date:

Few weeks ago the suspension light came on. Took it to my service shop and we determined 1 actuator went and needed replacement. At that point the shocks looked good (no leaking). Well the darn suspension light would not go out. I decided to escalate the problem to the local Ferrari dealership. Guess what happened. They said I needed new shocks due to leaking and probably new actuators (est. $10k +). Ouch!!!! Plus the dealership only replaces not repairs shocks or actuators.

I am taking the car over to the service shop again on Thursday to see the shocks and actuators first hand. If shocks do leak, that is fine, I will get them rebuilt. Plus if the actuators are bad then I'll fix/replace them as well. My questions to the forum are as follows:

Does anyone know the model/spec on the shocks?
Have you dealt with Bilstein directly for shock rebuild?
Has anyone tried the Corvette link in earlier posts about actuator rebuilding?
Any other source on actuator rebuilds?

 

Shock rebuilds from site sponsor Delta Vee Motorsports

http://www.deltavee.net/services.htm
$290 each for rebuild

The actuators themselves usually do not fail, but require new gears installed on the tops of the shocks. Ferrari does not sell them (they are plastic), but Hill Engineering makes metal replacements>

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?cPath=99998&products_id=261324
$30 each for part

Don't blame the dealer, they don't always know of these sources for parts, and understandably, may hesitate to use a non-factory part or rebuild.