Current FFR Bilstein Shock Issue!

[mrmustang]

The basics are that:
A: Factory Five spec'd out a set of Coil Over shocks (including projected price points) to Bilstein.
B: Bilstein built and delivered those shocks to FFR per FFR's specifications and engineering drawings.

The Fault lies with the person(s) who engineered the shock FFR wanted to supply with their kits.


Bill S>

[ENTDOC]

well bill, that would be FFRs problem to deal with Bilstein not the customers problem, they bought the product from FFR and thus FFR is the responsible party to the customer.

[BobTheBuilder]

Originally Posted by ENTDOC

well bill, that would be FFRs problem to deal with Bilstein not the customers problem, they bought the product from FFR and thus FFR is the responsible party to the customer.

Not necessarily true, but be that as it may, FFR is trying to deal with Bilstein. So far Bilstein has been less than forthcoming!

[TButtrick]

Originally Posted by ENTDOC

well bill, that would be FFRs problem to deal with Bilstein not the customers problem, they bought the product from FFR and thus FFR is the responsible party to the customer.

Well no sh!t. That's what we've been saying all along. The questions was whether or not FFR should be holding Bilstein's feet to the fire. Dave DID dig deep into his pockets but I wouldn't say the same for Bilstein.

[ENTDOC]

well todd, why dont you get on the phone to Bilstein then? Whether FFR holds Bilstein's feet to the fire is of little importance to most customers unless they bought their shocks directly from Bilstein. who cares how much it is costing Dave Smith, it is ultimatly his responsibility.

[TButtrick]

Originally Posted by ENTDOC

well todd, why dont you get on the phone to Bilstein then? Whether FFR holds Bilstein's feet to the fire is of little importance to most customers unless they bought their shocks directly from Bilstein. who cares how much it is costing Dave Smith, it is ultimatly his responsibility.

Clueless in SC,

You have to read more than just the first and last post.

[xlr8or]

Dave/FFR should pony up to the customers and do it as soon as they can. He's admitted it's a safety issue and needs to get it resolved for his customers. Then he can go after Bilstein if he thinks he has cause to do so.

When Ford does a recall for wiper motors they don't have the customers go to thier supplier and try to make a deal on an upgrade. They fix the damn cars and work it out with the vendor on the back side like they should.


Oops there's that common sense thing again.

[ENTDOC]

Originally Posted by TButtrick

Clueless in SC,

You have to read more than just the first and last post.

You are the one that bought the POS, dont talk to me about being clueless

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by ENTDOC

well bill, that would be FFRs problem to deal with Bilstein not the customers problem, they bought the product from FFR and thus FFR is the responsible party to the customer.

But the question remains, just who spec'd out the shocks for the FFR in the first place? FFR or Bilstein? Also, was there a budget constraint like "we do not want these to cost us more than $100 for a set of 4 (regardless of what they marked them up for and sold to their client base)? Finally, if it is one or the other, which company should be eating the costs for the recall and proper replacement items being shipped? Again the blame lies in just who spec'd, designed, or engineered the defective items in question, not necessarily the actual manufacturer.


Bill S.

[marky]

Further to Todd Butricks pics earlier showing failures, I am not going through the 6 pages to see if its been said before in this thread...but what you are seeing is a shaft that is 9mm thick at the threads.

Now it doesn't take a genious to realize that its not enough.

I am guessing Bilstein are not cooperating because they suplied the shock as requested. FFR converted it to a coilover and decided it would work at an angle.

While all these shock threads going on, Dave Smith told us that safety is of the utmost importance and that they were working on it. In two months they have released new products ahead of schedule, but the shock problem is right were it was 2 years + ago. Only difference is no washers and zipties this time round just discounted replacement koni shocks at customers expense.

UNSATISFACTORY AND WRONG

[BobTheBuilder]

Originally Posted by ENTDOC

You are the one that bought the POS, dont talk to me about being clueless

Since you don't have a dog in this fight, why don't you try to act mature about the discussion?

[ENTDOC]

why dont you mind your own business

[mr bruce]

let's hope the lawyers sort this one out BEFORE there is an accident. just can't understand the crying of the factory not having the money to fix the problem

[ENTDOC]

agree. someone without a dog in the fight might be riding along

[nsurence man]

not to make a mountain out of a molehill. It might only take ONE wrongful death lawsuit, to make it even harder for any manufacturer to get these cars titled.

[mr bruce]

true dat, more at stake here than one company's bottom line

[GTA]

I have always believed that the person or company that sells you a product is the person you go to when you have a problem.There is only one person or company that has sold us the bilstein shocks.I feel that person or company is the one to fix this problem. They can go after the the supplier. Thats not my problem.Going to bilstein and asking them to fix this problem is not my job.I'm sure FFR has lawyers to deal with bilstein. They had some for old Shelby.All's I want is for FFR to step up and fix the problem.That means fix the problem and not try to charge me twice for a set of shocks.Roger

[jmimac351]

Regarding FFR engineers spec'ing the shocks... I have no knowledge of how that process actually worked but I'll offer this from recent experience... I have pin drive width front and rear suspension. Many owners have experienced trouble with getting proper ride height in the rear because, apparently, the shocks are not long enough. Also, the suspension bottoms with the 450# spring supplied. These setups constitute a very small percentage of FFR cars. This got a fair amount of interest on the forum recently and Jesper from FFR (their head suspension engineer), piped in to say that the rear spring rate for pin drive had been changed from 450 to 750 and that cranking an enormous amount of preload into the spring (because of the short, standard width spec shock) to get barely enough ride height was not an issue. However, they would offer the longer shocks for those that wanted to make it "easier" to get the proper ride height. Based on my experience with this, there is no way a credible person could think the shorter shocks are acceptable. And, to have the main suspension engineer admit that the springs shouldn't have been 450 but rather 750 and that the shocks should be longer really makes you question the..."diligence"... that went into some things. If you extrapolate that to things like zip ties, who spec'd what, etc. it gives a perspective on things. The car is great but there are certain things that didn't get done the way they should have.

[John McMahon]

Originally Posted by BobTheBuilder

Since you don't have a dog in this fight, why don't you try to act mature about the discussion?

How about you take your fight back over to the forum that keeps editing/deleting your responses????

Don't bring yer fight over here and then piss about the responses!!!!

You don't like it...keep it on FFR.

[TButtrick]

Originally Posted by marky

I am guessing Bilstein are not cooperating because they suplied the shock as requested. FFR converted it to a coilover and decided it would work at an angle.G

That's right, you're guessing and that's not the way these things happen unless FFR is totally over the edge. Company "A" didn't call up company "B" and ask for 200 sets of your part #3224543-98". You get that... right? They met with Bilstein and presented them with a volume purchase proposition to meet a certain set of qualifications to deliver a part to meet a pre-identified set of parameters. We still don't know who was at fault for delivering or spec'ng in the part. "Converted to a coil-over and decided it would work at an angle" Are you for real?

To jmimac351's post, there was some SERIOUS problems with the verbiage descriptions on the FFR web store and I'm not surprised at this confusion. I had a hell of a time ordering the right Konis for my car.

In trying to keep this thread on track, anyone have some data to back up why they think these things are failing? I have some ideas and I think Bobcat has offered some significant observations.

We already know FFR is ultimately responsible. Get over it already. Offer something worth discussing or piss-off.