Can't find front shocks!

[Morgan A]

is it the same mag shocks for both convertible and coupe ?

[bsn]

Rears are different.

[Annatar]

Originally Posted by Whisper1

BTW. when these struts fail do they normally have the leaking symptom first or can they just stop working unrelated to the amount of fluid they hold?

They don't stop working, although you could get "Service StabiliTrak" message in the Driver Information Center display.

What happens is that the car starts bottoming out pretty hard, to the point where one can plainly hear it, and the shocks are wet upon inspection.

[Annatar]

Originally Posted by ZMEnow

BWI builds these for AC Delco, did you ever try calling them?

"BWI" is a company somewhere in China (PRC) which deals only with vehicle manufacturers: eventually, I was able to locate their website and people must have tried to contact them before, because on the front page of their website they explicitly state that they will not deal with retail costumers.

[Annatar]

Originally Posted by LevonH

BTW who are BWI group.

It's a company in the People's Republic of China.

[Annatar]

Originally Posted by Whisper1

Part Number: ADO-580-445

Guys, is this the correct rear strut for replacement on our ZL1? Just want to confirm before I drop $1300.

Yes:

AC Delco ADO-580-445	GM 19300041	replaces 20942614

[sinisterZL1]

I need fronts bad.

[Lou gill]

I watch Wheeler Dealer all the time and Mike is constantly finding companies that rebuild all different parts, there has to someone who rebuilds these shocks?

[Robmnrd]

I recently heard an interesting tidbit from a guy who runs a local speed shop.

He told me the company that produce(-d/s) these shocks (BWI I believe) 'officially' stopped production (as we all know) but that they actually do run short-term batch production on a very seldom schedule.

He told me that even recently he's been able to source shocks 'reliably' from a number of the big wholesale sources. When they're listed as out of stock, you need to actually call and speak to someone. Oftentimes they'll say 'out of stock' because they have no real way to consistently say when they'll get the next small batch, don't want to have too many orders placed, etc., but if you call and speak with someone they oftentimes will say 'yeah we got a batch of them xx weeks ago sitting on a shelf' or whatever.

I have done zero truth-seeking for myself on the matter. It's just what he told me, when I was there. It may be worth some phone calls for you guys that are in dire need.

[ZMEnow]

Originally Posted by Robmnrd

I recently heard an interesting tidbit from a guy who runs a local speed shop.

He told me the company that produce(-d/s) these shocks (BWI I believe) 'officially' stopped production (as we all know) but that they actually do run short-term batch production on a very seldom schedule.

He told me that even recently he's been able to source shocks 'reliably' from a number of the big wholesale sources. When they're listed as out of stock, you need to actually call and speak to someone. Oftentimes they'll say 'out of stock' because they have no real way to consistently say when they'll get the next small batch, don't want to have too many orders placed, etc., but if you call and speak with someone they oftentimes will say 'yeah we got a batch of them xx weeks ago sitting on a shelf' or whatever.

I have done zero truth-seeking for myself on the matter. It's just what he told me, when I was there. It may be worth some phone calls for you guys that are in dire need.

I would bet this to be untrue. For the reasons BWI is under contract to build these exclusively for Delco and since Delco could sale every single one built they wouldn’t allow them to be sent to another parts supplier for resale. Pretty sure GM has that contract locked with Delco as well. The only way these are every going to get reproduced is if you could persuade someone and Chevy engineering specifically the performance group at Warren or Milford to request a special run. They would most likely end up in the performance catalogue vs Delco web, that way Chevy could get a premium for them.

If there was ever a time it would be now as Mary is being forced to rethink ICE. My friends in engine performance are very busy..

[ZL1togo]

I have received some BWI replacement front struts for my 2013 ZL1 but the BWI number is different than the stock BWI number and the piston is 1-1/2” longer. The body of the strut is identical to the original. So my $1600 question is…. Are these truly the replacements for my car. The exterior of the box says AC Delco with the proper number 580-429 and 428, but the struts piston rods are longer. This whole magneride strut issue is ridiculous. Original BWI strut number is 22252200
New BWI strut number is 22282143 and has 1-1/2” longer piston rod

[VChula]

The front and rear mag ride struts were redesigned around the 2014 time frame and received new part numbers, which is why the BWI numbers are different.

The ACDelco 580-428 and 580-429 front strut assembly part numbers are the latest design.
The new design rear strut assemblies are ACDelco 580-445 for the coupes and 580-446 for the convertibles.

Per Rock Auto, these part numbers supposedly have a limited lifetime warranty.
(I installed these on my 2014 ZL1 coupe in 2020 and have had no issues after 40K miles of use since then)

[sinisterZL1]

Originally Posted by ZL1togo

I have received some BWI replacement front struts for my 2013 ZL1 but the BWI number is different than the stock BWI number and the piston is 1-1/2” longer. The body of the strut is identical to the original. So my $1600 question is…. Are these truly the replacements for my car. The exterior of the box says AC Delco with the proper number 580-429 and 428, but the struts piston rods are longer. This whole magneride strut issue is ridiculous. Original BWI strut number is 22252200
New BWI strut number is 22282143 and has 1-1/2” longer piston rod

Where did you source the fronts?

[Whisper1]

Originally Posted by sinisterZL1

Where did you source the fronts?

Yes, same here. I just paid almost $3000 for two front struts on my 2012 ZL1. The dealer found one at a Texas Chevy Dealer and the second was from a Dealer in California. Obviously, they just mark them up to whatever price suits them. After installation I think my total bill was around $4000 - forgot the exact number although I certainly have the reciept as they have a one year warranty. Have an extra set of rears through Summit if memory serves that were around $1200 for pair. If someone is making fronts that would be great news.