Shocks leaking, replacement suggestions please

[Hollowpockets]

Hi all, my M400 shocks that were refurbed last year again appear to be leaking, must have blootered too many kerbs on the last euro jaunt,

As much as I love the way the M400 drives on road and track I think I need to bite the bullet and upgrade for the type of driving I'm doing, anyone got suggestions for a top notch set-up for my nob which will mostly be used on track?

Thanks

Graham

[TuxMan]

Depends how much you want to spend mate , the Protechs are good value and work well , Kev GTO 600 runs some posh shocks that work very very well , I have some second hand Nitrons for sale £500 , but no idea how good they are .

Tux

[funkybmx1]

TuxMan said:

Depends how much you want to spend mate , the Protechs are good value and work well , Kev GTO 600 runs some posh shocks that work very very well , I have some second hand Nitrons for sale £500 , but no idea how good they are .

Tux

Very. Or black art

[Adrian W]

Black Art designs

[sundance002]

Also try Mike Gardner racing who made them for my Caterham, 2 way or 3 way in Ali and not over priced, once made they will dynotest them and send the graphs out with the shocks, they also made me new springs, My Noble shocks have just been tested and are fine, but when need changing i will get them to make them.
Num 01226240099 ask for Russel.

[AverageMPH]

I fitted Nitrons to mine, worth a look.

http://www.nitron.co.uk/shop/product/83/noble-m400...

[TuxMan]

The Protechs come with a 3 year warranty and are double adjustable , you might also be able to use your existing springs , do you know what spring rate the springs have ?

[Hollowpockets]

Think my existing springs are past it, lack of paint from many kerb impacts, lol. Love newly painted springs though they are 571 + 686 apparently.

Thanks for the replies guys, I will make some enquiries Monday.

[RobP]

Dynamics Ask Dave.

[Hollowpockets]

RobP said:

Dynamics Ask Dave.

Keep with standard? Or do they offer a "race" setup?

I've had the discussion with him a couple of times but I now feel I'm passed the point where they are working for me, I need the adjustability as last night at KH I was bottoming out the car regularly and rolling too much for a tight twisty circuit. (And they keep leaking)

[RobP]

Hollowpockets said:

RobP said:

Dynamics Ask Dave.

Keep with standard? Or do they offer a "race" setup?

I've had the discussion with him a couple of times but I now feel I'm passed the point where they are working for me, I need the adjustability as last night at KH I was bottoming out the car regularly and rolling too much for a tight twisty circuit. (And they keep leaking)

Seeing as a lot of cars at Le Mans are on Dynamics, I would guess they make more than one damper! But the 'standard' one for the M400 was specifically set up for the car and for most of time is v hard to beat. They should not be leaking from going over kerbs and if they were recently re-furbed, I'd send them back! If you want to reduce roll then stiffer springs will help, but be aware that any change you make in suspension set up will have a knock on effect elsewhere (sometimes good, most times, bad). Getting the perfect suspension set up really is a Black Art! Good luck.

[Adrian W]

Hollowpockets said:

Think my existing springs are past it, lack of paint from many kerb impacts, lol. Love newly painted springs though they are 571 + 686 apparently.

Thanks for the replies guys, I will make some enquiries Monday.

On Ohlins we were up to 800/1000

[Hollowpockets]

Was that on the race car? Interesting, how did that handle, do ohlins do a kit for the noble or was that a 1 off?

[F.C.]

Adrian W said:

Hollowpockets said:

Think my existing springs are past it, lack of paint from many kerb impacts, lol. Love newly painted springs though they are 571 + 686 apparently.

Thanks for the replies guys, I will make some enquiries Monday.

On Ohlins we were up to 800/1000

OMG did you have to wear gum shields to drive it?

[shaunsmith]

RobP said:

Hollowpockets said:

RobP said:

Dynamics Ask Dave.

Keep with standard? Or do they offer a "race" setup?

I've had the discussion with him a couple of times but I now feel I'm passed the point where they are working for me, I need the adjustability as last night at KH I was bottoming out the car regularly and rolling too much for a tight twisty circuit. (And they keep leaking)

Seeing as a lot of cars at Le Mans are on Dynamics, I would guess they make more than one damper! But the 'standard' one for the M400 was specifically set up for the car and for most of time is v hard to beat. They should not be leaking from going over kerbs and if they were recently re-furbed, I'd send them back! If you want to reduce roll then stiffer springs will help, but be aware that any change you make in suspension set up will have a knock on effect elsewhere (sometimes good, most times, bad). Getting the perfect suspension set up really is a Black Art! Good luck.

I agree with Rob plus if the Dynamics are leaking they won't be performing properly.
Dynamics know the car perhaps they could do a race version.
The way Kevin's car handles & performs with the Ohlins needs to be considered.
Recently at Spa in Granty's car his Nitron set up performed majestically which didn't suprise me but I was very impressed.
I had bespoke Race 3 way Nitron's with uprated Eibach springs on my Sagaris, once set up professionally at a Silverstone track day the handling was race quality as the person who set them up was Charlie Kemp who raced in the TVR Tuscan Challenge Championship. He was blown away when the set up was complete & so was I.
At Silverstone & Spa the handling was incredible but on the Ring due to the way the track is bumpy & the fast speeds attained etc, the set up was far to hard & had to drive with extreme caution....
I'm just glad I don't need to replace mine for the time being especially with the Ring in mind.
Good luck mate.

[Adrian W]

F.C. said:

Adrian W said:

Hollowpockets said:

Think my existing springs are past it, lack of paint from many kerb impacts, lol. Love newly painted springs though they are 571 + 686 apparently.

Thanks for the replies guys, I will make some enquiries Monday.

On Ohlins we were up to 800/1000

OMG did you have to wear gum shields to drive it?

Solid mounted engine as well

[Jamescmr2]

my vote would be for protechs... as i just ordered some last week.

I had Nitrons which needed a rebuild but i found them too harsh as a damper for road/bumpy tracks (i.e. prob ok at Silverstone or Spa). Also only 1 way adjustable. The Springs that come on the Nitrons are too soft as well. I up'd the springs on the Nitrons to similar rates to what Tux developed on the Protechs. Racing people i know recommended Protech and they look great with a 3 year warranty.

New springs shouldn't be more than £200-250 so if you are getting daft quotes let me know and i'll put you in contact with someone

James

[Adrian W]

Hollowpockets said:

Was that on the race car? Interesting, how did that handle, do ohlins do a kit for the noble or was that a 1 off?

Yes, i doubt they are car spacific, why not get a selection of springs and have a play.try these people

http://www.dfaulknersprings.com/index.htm

[FUNKSTER UK]

Just bought some Faulkners springs for our racer....... seem great quality and they have a good reputation.

They were actually worked out cheaper from JJC race and rally through Ebay.

One thing I was advised by a guy in the know was to go up at least 100lb at a time as 50lb difference was negligible.

Matty.

[Hollowpockets]

Well ive made some calls, I've heard from various people (customers and industry people) that protechs are not up to the job of racing and the adjustment is poor so im not going to take that gamble, The 3 way Nitron race shocks with all sorts of camber adjustment etc built in seem to get good feedback and come in at £2300 + vat - eeek...

then I called Russell at mike gardner racing and the Ohlin TTX shocks with 3 way adjustment come in at £1170 EACH!!!!! but its the only one of the above which has fully independent adjustment and is used on GT/LeMans cars, I wasnt sure if that included VAT or not but I couldnt bring myself to ask... cough.

Apparently Dynamics do a DSSV race 4 way shock but its in the region of 2k per corner so thats an absolute no fking way sir!

Kinda stuck, its all so much money and the result will either ruin my car or make it even more stupendous! ahhh what to do???