P5 Puredrive vs Gaz

[Howard-]

Folks,

Puredrive system vs these: http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product... Any thoughts?

[Herman Toothrot]

Puredrive. Gaz on the mx5 forums has too many un-happy customers, so I didn't go for them and went Puredrive and the Puredrive have been faultless and the car handles perfectly. Tony at WIM commented on doing my alignment how everyone praises them, never heard a bad word.

[MX-5 Lazza]

I know 3 cars with GAZ shocks locally. One had to have a shock replaced because it was squeaking and now it's started again. The other also had to have his shocks re-valved but seems to be ok since then. The PlanetMX5 Motorsports car has GAZ shocks & springs but they haven't been on long enough to be able to report on the reliability.

I've only heard of 2 people in the country who have had a problem with P5 shocks.

[Howard-]

So the general consensus is wait till the P5 ones are back in stock in Feb/March? I'm impatient, hehe

[Munter]

Howard- said:

So the general consensus is wait till the P5 ones are back in stock in Feb/March? I'm impatient, hehe

When I asked about the Puredrive shocks phil took my name / e-mail down. And true to his word he sent me an e-mail saying they were in stock. I presume he often keeps these lists so if your sure you want them get him to take your name down.

(I didn't buy in the end as I cant decide if I'm going to swap the car for another after it was damaged)

[Howard-]

Yes he's got my info and I'm on the list I was just curious about the alternatives, but if the P5 kit is really a cut above the rest, I'll suffer my 4x4 ride height for another couple of months!

[kevham]

The problem is that you won't find many folk who have tried both the P5 and the Gaz kit. I can only comment on the P5 kit which I think is great value for the money.

Having said that, I drove my MX-5s for nearly 10 years on standard suspension and was perfectly happy too!

[heebeegeetee]

kevham said:

The problem is that you won't find many folk who have tried both the P5 and the Gaz kit. I can only comment on the P5 kit which I think is great value for the money.

Having said that, I drove my MX-5s for nearly 10 years on standard suspension and was perfectly happy too!

I was happy with the standard suspension too. How's the ride quality on the P5s? Does anybody know who makes P5's shocks?

[ryan-isla]

Gaz shocks are now official sponsors of the Mazda 5 race series. I hope to be racing in this a few races next season (also racing in the PBMWC and Lotus Elise Trophy). They also have a new kit available called Gaz Gold Professional. These are all aluminium (HE15 high tensile) and use self lubricating bearings. Also can supply top collar adaptors to convert the springs to 2.25" ID. I think you have to also take into account how many Gaz kits have been sold compared to the Protech kit. Probably 10 times more, so % wise of problems is less.

[MX-5 Lazza]

ryan-isla said:

I think you have to also take into account how many Gaz kits have been sold compared to the Protech kit. Probably 10 times more, so % wise of problems is less.

I'm not so sure that's true - there have been quite a few problems with the Gaz shocks and I really have only heard of 2 problems with P5 shocks. What you should take into account however is that the Gaz shocks have been sold in fairly big numbers over a long time so some will be getting old and the newest ones have been developed from the old ones so should be better.

[Howard-]

I think I'll wait for the Puredrive

I hate waiting though Tried to phone a bodyshop we know to get a quote on fixing the minor bodywork issues, and they're closed for Christmas now I think! Bah, I wanna spend some money on my car

Edited by Howard- on Saturday 20th December 18:01

[ryan-isla]

Gaz have a very good reputation in the club racing market. We are talking from mini's to BMW's to pick up trucks to Porsche's. Protech only do coilovers for a handful of cars. I have driven cars with lots of different suspension fitted and have been impressed with Gaz. Raced at Silverstone this year on them at the Britcar 24hr event as did the Top Gear team last year in their BMW.

[kevham]

ryan-isla said:

Gaz have a very good reputation in the club racing market. We are talking from mini's to BMW's to pick up trucks to Porsche's. Protech only do coilovers for a handful of cars. I have driven cars with lots of different suspension fitted and have been impressed with Gaz. Raced at Silverstone this year on them at the Britcar 24hr event as did the Top Gear team last year in their BMW.

I agree that Gaz are well respected but the Gaz kits I've seen on racers bear little resemblance to the £500 kits available for the MX-5 (which is what we are taking about here).

What about Nitron? They seem to be well respected in club hillclimb and sprint circles - anybody using them in circuit racing? I'm sure that a kit could be developed for the MX-5 although it would definintely be more expensive than the Gaz or P5 kits.

[ryan-isla]

Gaz Gold Pro's £599 inc. vat & delivery http://www.absolutelyshocks.com/

[Howard-]

ryan-isla said:

Gaz Gold Pro's £599 inc. vat & delivery http://www.absolutelyshocks.com/

Are they £100 better than the ones MX5parts sell?

[ryan-isla]

Definately. Lighter, very strong and have spherical bearings just like Nitron's http://www.ma5daracing.com/

[maz8062]

MX-5 Lazza said:

they haven't been on long enough to be able to report on the reliability.

I've only heard of 2 people in the country who have had a problem with P5 shocks.

This is more apt for the P5 shocks. P5 have probably sold 60 or so of this suspension, but all of a sudden it's better than Tein, Gaz, KYB and every other set up. It is still very early to judge, but early reports are that it is very good. I think it is reckless to claim that these shocks are better than all before when there is insufficient data to back up any claims. When the shocks have done 100k + without problems it can then be compared to the others that have more mileage.

Just my view

Edited by maz8062 on Sunday 21st December 10:54

[Howard-]

ryan-isla said:

Definately. Lighter, very strong and have spherical bearings just like Nitron's http://www.ma5daracing.com/

Worth it for "fast road" use?

[Herman Toothrot]

maz8062 said:

MX-5 Lazza said:

they haven't been on long enough to be able to report on the reliability.

I've only heard of 2 people in the country who have had a problem with P5 shocks.

This is more apt for the P5 shocks. P5 have probably sold 60 or so of this suspension, but all of a sudden it's better than Tein, Gaz, KYB and every other set up. It is still very early to judge, but early reports are that it is very good. I think it is reckless to claim that these shocks are better than all before when there is insufficient data to back up any claims. When the shocks have done 100k + without problems it can then be compared to the others that have more mileage.

Just my view

Edited by maz8062 on Sunday 21st December 10:54

I had Bilstein then KYB and then P5 Protech, they are better than KYB & Bilstein without a shadow of a doubt. Better than Tein, I don't know certainly cheaper. GAZ I just read far to much of people buying them then saying how crap they were and telling others not to waste their money. Leaks, squeeks, adjusters giving different damping each side for the same "clicks" etc. Normally when people buy new stuff they say how pleased they are, GAZ seemed to have the opposite effect.

[kevham]

ryan-isla said:

Definately. Lighter, very strong and have spherical bearings just like Nitron's http://www.ma5daracing.com/

These are definitely a cut above the previous generation GAZ kits. The spec is good for the price - especially the top mount allowing use of 2.5" springs. This makes it easy to fine tune to your particular application. Do you know what the standard spring rates on the £599 kit are? I suspect it will be a bit stiffer than then P5 kit.