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R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
ABC Removal Coilover Conversion
The decision to pull out the entire ABC system was tough but no longer avoidable. After searching out and acquiring the necessary parts I made the space to start all the removal.
The removal process has been fairly. So I have removed the the ABC pump, front valve block, rear valve block and most of the lines. The lines are the most time consuming and messy.
If anyone here needs the pump or valve blocks by all means let me know before I put them out for sale
R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
It takes time to get at the parts you want to remove and then it takes patience to get the lines out
FYI; the front accumulator is 15 months old and 400 mi and paint still came off due to CHF
Last edited by Hary Gahtoe; Dec 29, 2023 at 11:22 PM.
R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
If someone from the forum is interested I would take $1100 for the pump and both blocks and the 4 struts but you must pick it up in person. I'm not committing to any timeline so first cash offer takes it but this will end shortly.
With regards to shipping I'm willing to send but; shipping will be on seller
Good luck with the work Harry. Yes CHF will remove paint! Do not get it on the car's paint! Let us know how the car responds once your work is all done. Merry Christmas!
R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
The Silvers Neo coilovers are well received and the VVK sway bars should have a similar if higher level of performance than hydraulic fluid except for adjustability then I would be satisfied.
The weight reduction for removing all the lines, blocks, hardware and pump will more than offset the bars especially for the front of the car
R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
The whole point of the removal/conversion is reliability. The system was not roadworthy while it was diagnosed as “ no error detected “ by two different shops and my own DAS.
The hydraulic lines are by far the most difficult and time consuming part.
So far the process has been fairly simple but messy
Last edited by Hary Gahtoe; Dec 24, 2023 at 01:19 AM.
Harry, I just completed the coil over conversion using the Silvers Neomax. Interested to see what settings you end up with. After a few weeks of driving, I have settled on 20 front and 14 in the back. Question for you, what PS Pump did you use?
R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
Hi Mike
I live in an area that supports an active sporting low and mid range driving speeds with Continental DWS sport 20” tires so I will start slightly higher than midrange
Thr steering pump is a Bosch pump listed for a ML55
R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
When I couldn’t get clear positive fault I began to put together a list of tools and techniques to make sure the sure the car is safe and reliable. Besides the frame support devices my son reminded me the vehicle had to be corner balanced in order to keep the suspension from being too heavy/overloaded on one corner of the car as to upset the balance under cornering.
After I finish setup and corner balancing the car can go to alignment for the last step
Thanks for the lead on the PS Pump. I have the base SL550 and really wont be pushing the car like you will. I have driven about 3-400 miles and love the conversion. Reliability was certainly the driving force behind the decision. I have not installed sway bars and while I can tell a small difference as opposed to the ABC, it certainly rides and handles a well as most GT/Sports cars that I have had in the past.
R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
Good to hear. Safety and reliability are absolute goals. All that matters is you personally enjoy the drive. There is no paradigm that says you must run sway bars.
But; given that weight and size of an R230? You definitely should have the car corner balanced to have all 4 coilovers set at exact heights so as to not over stress the suspension and frame. If you don't even braking and acceleration will be effected
I'm thinking that the sway bars will be a good idea. Back in the late 1980s I had friends who were mechanics at an indy Ferrari shop in California, they were the most amazing mechanics. (The only mechanics I know today that come close, are the twins I found last summer, for whom I am quite grateful!!)
Back then, I drove a 1972 Buick Riviera, and they said "You should get sway bars". So I said, Okay. There was a street called Clipper in San Francisco that had a long, sweeping curve with a hill, the most perfect place to test a car's curve-handling. I went down that every morning. Without the sway bars I could go about 50 MPH before hearing the tires making noise. After the sway bars were installed, I could easily go 75 or so before the tires were making noise. They definitely made a great difference! I would even advise, do the coilover conversion without sway bars and drive the car a few weeks, and then add the sway bars, and then you can physically tell the difference. I'll bet it will be noticeable and a desired effect.
Those guys did a lot of other things to that car too, that were incredible for the late 80s. My Buick Riviera was ... a lot like... driving... an R230! You should have been there.
LoL
R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
The purpose of the ABC is to react “like sway bars” by using hydraulic pressure to each strut to counteract the force a car encounters while driving.
Problem is; marrying-in the opposite (negative force being drawn downward ) direction to the force being applied upwards in a natural or organic pattern with hydraulic fluid being applied by a computer and have the car feel as controlled as the performance of a conventional high end sport based suspension system.
Which is why MB chose conventional sway bars; no
ABC for a higher level of performance and control in the Black series R230
A car with sway bars when the correct level of force is factored in together with decently valved struts can properly absorb the movement allowing pure driving efficiency.
Last edited by Hary Gahtoe; Dec 27, 2023 at 12:15 PM.
R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
Caveat To VVK Youtube Video
If you watch the Youtube video Sway bar install be advised the exhaust was removed and so were the motor mounts. Another issue is the frame cross brace straps were removed and need to undone. So were both front struts. Removing these parts was not difficult just time consuming. All this is only accomplished After; all the hydraulic lines are removed and fluids cleaned up
Kudos for the engine support location. It will hold up nicely
Make sure you have the Torx sockets to remove the subframe bolts. The threads feel like they are metallically bonded to the chassis and quite a high torque to break loose
Additionally, you "could" do this just with car on jacks but it would be much tougher than using a lift as the video shows.
R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
Originally Posted by Hary Gahtoe
It takes time to get at the parts you want to remove and then it takes patience to get the lines out
FYI; the front accumulator is 15 months old and 400 mi and paint still came off due to CHF
Time to pass on to someone who needs all the this
Including all the above parts listed;
Is a 2nd front valve block that needs to be rebuilt with a valve block seal rebuild kit to altogether.
$500 total for everything, pickup only price. Location is NW Wa area
Thanks
Last edited by Hary Gahtoe; Dec 31, 2023 at 03:53 AM.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Maybe too late, and certainly uncertain, but Arnott Industries used to buy ABC struts to rebuild. However, I don't see that now. But they do say to call.
I was lucky two years back when I sold mine to Arnott. Have some parts still on the car but removed the front components including the tubing!
Have a front valve body rebuilt around, and if someone wants it, pay for shipping and will be in your way! I threw the rest in the trash can!
R230, C5 Corvette Convertible, Audi Allroad, Lexus RX350, AE86 Hachi Roku
I just looked for someone to ship, the cheapest I found was >$ 300 without ins. possibly $400 or more We're talking in the neighborhood of </> 200 lbs shipping weight. Each strut is 30 lbs each before shipping
So from Wa to NE possibly more than my parts price all said and done
I'd rather not go that route but thanks for the offer
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