Four C Suspension Swap

jadnhm · Post by **jadnhm** » 20 Jan 2016, 08:59

Hello XeMODeX

You folks should look in to how to replace the Four C struts/shocks with regular components. It would be really nice to be able to take a Four C car and put Bilsteins in the front and perhaps switch to Nivomats in the back or something like that.

ipdusa.com has an article about the Four C system here: http://www.ipdusa.com/techtips/10083/wh ... vo-have-it

They mention in the article that currently there is no way to accomplish this. It would be nice to have someone do some research on how to trick the Four C computer into thinking everything is ok with those struts/shocks removed, and still have the active headlights, etc still work properly.

ChrisatXeMODeX · Post by **ChrisatXeMODeX** » 20 Jan 2016, 10:59

What would be the reason for this exercise? Is it Four C control unit or shock failures or something else?

Post by **matthew1** » 20 Jan 2016, 11:30

Money. 4Cs are close to $500 each.

Post by **doublebug** » 20 Jan 2016, 12:16

jadnhm, what is the car?

ChrisatXeMODeX · Post by **ChrisatXeMODeX** » 20 Jan 2016, 12:44

I think that Four C emulator will do the trick to keep all other nodes happy. We've built CEM, ECM, BCM emulators already for our test beds. The software development would be very time consuming, just wondering what the market would be for such device.

jadnhm · Post by **jadnhm** » 21 Jan 2016, 06:13

Four C suspension was available on 2004+ P2 cars and a LOT of P3 cars in NA came with it. I had envisioned the solution would be something with 2 aspects:

1 -something to plug in where the solenoid on the shocks connect to fool the Four C computer into thinking they're there and doing what they are supposed to

2 - something to plug in where the accelerometers on the suspension connect, to fool the Four C computer into thinking the car is responding the way it should

I have a 2008 that needs new Four C struts in the front and facing ~$1000 for 2 struts, plus related components and labour.... it would be pretty nice to be able to buy some decent Bilsteins for $300 instead, or even maybe $150 for some Monroes (not 100% sure Monroe has a part, but you get the point).

Also for people doing some towing I would think they would wear out the rear Four C shocks pretty quick and probably be looking for a Nivomat swap to handle their towing. Nivomats are expensive but only half as much as those Four C shocks.
It would take some R&D for sure - I'm really new to this system and unsure of how all of it works. I had been envisioning a mainly hardware based solution, but I'm sure an emulator could be made to work too - and you are the experts! You would have to do the market research though - I know there have been solutions for Nivomat-to-conventional swaps in the past, but those have been completely hardware-based solutions (new shock mounts, new springs, etc). I know there is a market for this, but I have no idea how big that market would be or whether you could make your product for a price that would make sense for people.

Four C works awesome but some of these cars are getting pretty old and I'm sure there has been at least one case where a car has been retired and crushed simply because the owner decided it wasn't worth the huge cost to get new shocks to get it through inspection and make it safe.

Post by **scot850** » 08 Mar 2016, 23:11

I was quoted $1100 CDN for each rear 4C shock on the rear of our 2006 XC70. Ultimately paid less by importing them from US dealer, but they are stupid expensive and made by Munro.

So someway of being able to remove them for a more standard system would open up the options we can use from 1.

Neil.