Spax Suspension

[troyrevill]

Hey all, What's you're views on Spax Suspension??

Is it as good a brand as it used to be years ago? and is it still as popular??

Any help would be much appreciated

[podwin]

Depends, but I bought some for my Spitfire 5 years ago, and wouldn't buy Spax again.

[Biker's Nemesis]

I didn't know they were still on the go. I used them 25 odd years ago on various cars, only problem I had was the adjuster would stick after a while.

[anonymous-user]

I have Spax on the Mini and they're very good.

[AndyCowman]

We have Spax Adjustables on a mk3 Golf GTI - compared to what was on it when we got the car and the rubbish that turned up whilst trying to order new stuff (cheap coilovers such from JOM which I rejected as the welding was appalling) it appears well made and solid.

Been on the car about 5 months now, turns into corners like nothing else but can be a bit crashy compared to the softer standard set up (I expected this, trade off is it flys around corners!).

Spend some time playing with the adjustments on the shocks if you go for it.

I ordered straight from SPAX who were very helpful although they did cock up and forget to send some bits on the first attempt.

[troyrevill]

Thanks for your views guys. Just weighing up a couple of options really.

[andye30m3]

troyrevill said:

Is it as good a brand as it used to be years ago?

I thought it was always considered to be a fairly budget product.

I think I'd generally choose something like Koni or Bilstein over the spax alternative.

[TheDoggingFather]

PSBuckshot said:

I have Spax on the Mini and they're very good.

Interesting, I've been in several Mini's with Spax suspension and found them to be ludicrously stiff and incredibly uncomfortable, even with the adjusters wound to soft. I run AVO's on my Mini, whilst firm they are also compliant and it still handles great.

[R11ysf]

I had Spax on the golf (well when it was my friend's) about 15 years ago. The quality couldn't be faulted but they were hard as nails. Great on track and crap on country potholed roads.

No idea what their quality is like nowadays I'm afraid.

[sim16v]

I run Spax on my track car, and for value for money I think they are very good.

The car has done about 300 laps of the 'ring and the suspension is still fine, with no failure yet.

Not as good as Koni or Bilstein, but less than half the price, so a good compromise!

[v8will]

andye30m3 said:

I thought it was always considered to be a fairly budget product.

I think I'd generally choose something like Koni or Bilstein over the spax alternative.

The last car I did suspension work to, went with Koni shocks and Eibach springs and never looked back. The paint finish on the Konis isn't the most durable though, mine had flaked and looked terrible after less than 9 months whereas the OEM gear I removed looked almost like new after 10 years.

Spax appeals on price but I've heard more than once that the ride is very very hard.

[B'stard Child]

I might fall foul of the name and shame thing here but I'll try not to..... You may need to refer to the original post "subject line"

I had a set of four adjustable dampers from a "company" for my track car and while the fronts were fine the backs were effectively solid - when I spoke to the "company" they said they would "free up" after some use - they never did (fronts I ran on 12 but backs if I went more than 0 it pattered badly and didn't handle very well - OK it's a Monza and not your usual track fodder but I was dissapointed with the product)

The only time the car rode nicely on the road on the base 0 setting was when it was two up and loaded with all the camping gear and supplies for a week at Le Mans (this should give an indication of just how over damped they were - if I ever recieve anything like this again I would probably return for a refund and not put up with it)

Incidently and somewhat related a friend who also runs a Monza as a track car and he'd gone for GAZ units and whilst he had a similar issue the rears were softer (not as soft as they needed to be as he could run at or around 6 on the setting avaliable.

I put up with the situation for about 5 years but when one of the rears popped it's seals and started losing fluid I contacted the "company" for replacements but asked for a softer damping rate - I actually said can you take the stock unit as a base and make the std base setting 12 so I had a better range of adjustment.

I was advised that this would then fall into a "custom" unit and the price suggested was nearly 3 times the stock item. Not only this but I would need to complete a specification document that detailed damping rates etc so that they could build the units. (I got sent the customer request form and 99% of it made no sense to me at all as I'm not a suspension specialist I just knew what I had was too hard and expected the "company" to advise according to my needs)

Consequently I made an equiry to Gaz and asked for a softer damped version (based on my friends units) of their off the shelf unit for a Monza - they could not be more helpful (with both advice and questions with regard to the application) but the best bit was they turned them round in 2 weeks for same cost as an off the shelf unit - I was very impressed.

So how were these modified dampers - Much better damping for both road and track and if and when the fronts need to be replaced or I have any other need for adjustable suspension units I will definately go back to GAZ as both the service and flexibility I recieved with regard to what I wanted put the other "company" in a very poor light

So there you are - I can't recommend GAZ more.

[troyrevill]

I ran a set on my mk1 fiesta a few years ago and I found them to be pretty harsh on the ride.

Was great for track but no good for anything else.

[Sam_68]

andye30m3 said:

I thought it was always considered to be a fairly budget product.

I think I'd generally choose something like Koni or Bilstein over the spax alternative.

Spax is very much the 'bargain basement' end of the adjustable damper market.

You're probably better off with a fixed rate Koni or Bilstein than an adjustable spax, if there's one available for your particular application.

If you want adjustables, Protech are arguably better value these days, if you're on a budget. If you can afford better, Nitrons, Penske or Ohlins are the much better, but also much more expensive.

[B'stard Child]

Hmmm while I was writing a long post some other replies have come in and it appears that I'm not alone.

[The Wookie]

I had a similar experience. Had them on my Focus for about 60,000 miles. They lasted perfectly well, even looked OK when they came off, but they came off because they were absolutely rock hard.

Having said that, they made it handle well, sharp body control and nicely balanced... probably nice for a track car that had more than 98bhp