Nitron Shocks for GTO-3
Nitron Shocks for GTO-3
Author
Discussion

Naso Grande

Original Poster:

237 posts

228 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
quotequote all
Morning folks,

The Search function appears to be u/s again! I have a leaking front shock so contemplating using this as an excuse to fit a set of Nitrons. The car is never tracked so I'd be looking at fitting the basic sport set.

I'm sure this would be a positive move but just looking for some info on any differences experienced over the standard set before shelling out for new Nitrons over refurbing the existing set.

Much appreciated,
Graeme

Twerlie

1,682 posts

296 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
quotequote all
Naso Grande said:
Morning folks,

The Search function appears to be u/s again! I have a leaking front shock so contemplating using this as an excuse to fit a set of Nitrons. The car is never tracked so I'd be looking at fitting the basic sport set.

I'm sure this would be a positive move but just looking for some info on any differences experienced over the standard set before shelling out for new Nitrons over refurbing the existing set.

Much appreciated,
Graeme
IMHO it's not really worth it for road use but i have not used the Nitrons on my Noble but i'm sure someone will be along to help who has!

Siban01

104 posts

209 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
quotequote all
On a similar note this is something I'm contemplating over the winter. I do track my car and I find the standard set-up too soft for track and want a stiffer set-up, but adjustable so that I can go back to the softer set-up for road.

So I've been looking at the track version (my god there not cheap !!)

http://www.nitron.co.uk/nitron09/index.php?main_pa...

Any experiences with these would also be appreciated....

Twerlie

1,682 posts

296 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
quotequote all
Siban01 said:
On a similar note this is something I'm contemplating over the winter. I do track my car and I find the standard set-up too soft for track and want a stiffer set-up, but adjustable so that I can go back to the softer set-up for road.

So I've been looking at the track version (my god there not cheap !!)

http://www.nitron.co.uk/nitron09/index.php?main_pa...

Any experiences with these would also be appreciated....
It's only worth spending that kind of money if you are going to get them set up properly!

Another alternativie are: http://www.blackartdesigns.com/Index.html - heard lots of good things about them!

nigelw

706 posts

230 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
quotequote all
Anyone any experience of Ohlins ? ... or idea of cost ?

Gadgeroonie

5,362 posts

265 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
quotequote all
you may be able to fit m400 shocks

mrdemon

21,146 posts

294 months

Wednesday 14th October 2009
quotequote all
Nitron make great shocks
If I ever go that route Nitrons will go on the car.

MadMacMcMad

1,267 posts

283 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
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They transformed my car On the road. I have yet to try on track.

nigelw

706 posts

230 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
What problems did you have on the road before fitting Nitrons on your car ? I find it very nervous and twitchy over bumps and it seems to "kick" off the dampers like the bump settings are too hard ....it really spoils the car for me . I would welcome any other views . Nigel

F.C.

3,901 posts

237 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
Changing shocks is an all too easy path to spending money needlessly,
I found my M400 a bit on the twitchy side and thought about changing the suspension.
I decided to get the geo done (find somewhere that understands track and road set-ups)and the car was immediatly more settled / compliant over bumbs etc.
I eventually had the uprights machined for camber adjustment as well this also helped with the overall handling and traction.
I hasten to add the reason for the upright mods was that I destroyed a new pair of Corsa's in under 1500 miles (the outer half was on the wear-bars) subsequently I achieved 5000+.
All in all the geo was the best money I spent on the car.
F.C.

CTO3

334 posts

236 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
i fitted the sport nitrons (~£1000) which are single way adjustable as a rear shock was in need of replacement on my m400. 2 rears from noble was going to be about £600-700 so an extra £300 to allow adjustment was the way to go for me. not sure if could have refurbed the originals. (can still do as jnm have them). i do track the car quite alot so being able to do simple adjustments to change the handling between smoother circuits + somewhere bumpy like the 'ring was a big factor. also to allow it to be nice + comfortable on the drive home from a long day on track.

over all i would say they are a little stiffer on road and can unsettle the car slightly on a poor surface even when set softer, though not that much more than standard m400 set up. on track there is definately more grip. it's got rid of the bit of understeer the m400 can suffer on track, although not making the car hugely different to drive - still beautifully adjustable on the throttle to change your cornering line. it can let go quickly when the grip does run out though.

i'm not sure if the even more track orientated nitrons would be necessary (willing to be corrected by someone with more experience though) as don't really have too much trouble keeping up with stuff on track and i've not got the patience/knowledge to get things set up between different tracks/road driving etc. keeping it simple with one way adjustment was best for me biggrin

hth

conleth

mrdemon

21,146 posts

294 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
I love 2 way shocks and would like to ajust the rebound on its own.

You can dial in just how you want the car to drive then, and also have a great setup for road, dry track and wet track.

I had race Ohlins on my Exige and loved the way it was ajustable.

Yes some times it was hard to get right, and you also have to read alot on how things work and what each thing affects.

But to make a great road and track car 2 ways are the way to go. as on the road you can set the rebound much much softer than the bump and it takes away the bumbs.

Also on a damp track I only ajusted the rebound to get the balance how I liked it.

1 ways are great if you just want a race shock or just a road shock as you asked for them to be set up just for that purpose.

So for me worth the exta money as I can set the car to my driving style.

RobP

2,097 posts

270 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
CTO3 said:
i'm not sure if the even more track orientated nitrons would be necessary (willing to be corrected by someone with more experience though) as don't really have too much trouble keeping up with stuff on track
biglaugh
Don't think you need 2 ways, Conleth!

The type of damper you go for should reflect the type of driving you do most and your level of knowledge/competency in car set-up. By and large most folk (myself included) don't have the skill or experience necessary to get the most out of complex suspension set-ups. The more there is to adjust the more likely you are to get it wrong. If it's mainly road driving you do with just the odd track day thrown in, then I would stick to the Bilsteins (assuming you have a 3 or 3R)and learn how to drive with them. Having owned both a 3R and an M400, the 3R was definitely more compliant and settled over knarly Essex B roads. On smooth A roads there wasn't really anything in it.
When my rear shocks (Dynamics on the M400)gave up the the ghost I got them re-built by BAD for £70 a corner and they are as good as new. Could I go quicker round corners on the track with a set of adjustable Nitrons/Ohlins? Possibly, if I got the set-up right. Could I phaffed with all that arsing about? No.

Urbalizer

481 posts

203 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
MadMacMcMad said:
They transformed my car On the road. I have yet to try on track.
Very interested, more information please, i am only interested in road use.

peterguk M500

2,622 posts

246 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
IIRC Nitron offer a discount for group purchases?

Siban01

104 posts

209 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
CTO3 said:
i fitted the sport nitrons (~£1000) which are single way adjustable as a rear shock was in need of replacement on my m400. 2 rears from noble was going to be about £600-700 so an extra £300 to allow adjustment was the way to go for me. not sure if could have refurbed the originals. (can still do as jnm have them). i do track the car quite alot so being able to do simple adjustments to change the handling between smoother circuits + somewhere bumpy like the 'ring was a big factor. also to allow it to be nice + comfortable on the drive home from a long day on track.

over all i would say they are a little stiffer on road and can unsettle the car slightly on a poor surface even when set softer, though not that much more than standard m400 set up. on track there is definately more grip. it's got rid of the bit of understeer the m400 can suffer on track, although not making the car hugely different to drive - still beautifully adjustable on the throttle to change your cornering line. it can let go quickly when the grip does run out though.

i'm not sure if the even more track orientated nitrons would be necessary (willing to be corrected by someone with more experience though) as don't really have too much trouble keeping up with stuff on track and i've not got the patience/knowledge to get things set up between different tracks/road driving etc. keeping it simple with one way adjustment was best for me biggrin

hth

conleth
Thats interesting feedback and aligns with pretty much what I'm after. I just want a stiffer set-up for my occasional track use. Anyone fitted these to a non M400 car and done the same ???

The track based Nitrons do look way too complex for what I'm after.

MadMacMcMad

1,267 posts

283 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
Urbalizer said:
MadMacMcMad said:
They transformed my car On the road. I have yet to try on track.
Very interested, more information please, i am only interested in road use.
On the road my car before Nitrons felt a little soft and wallowy. It used to dip under heavy braking and to the opposite front corner on hard cornering. The shocks were in good order, so no leaks etc. I can now adjust the shocks to suit me. I like the ride a little harder than the standard shocks gave and the spings supplied with the nitrons are slightly harder too. I can't give the techy reasons, but I am much more confident around fast corners etc now. It feels much more stable on the road.

Twerlie

1,682 posts

296 months

Thursday 15th October 2009
quotequote all
RobP said:
The type of damper you go for should reflect the type of driving you do most and your level of knowledge/competency in car set-up. By and large most folk (myself included) don't have the skill or experience necessary to get the most out of complex suspension set-ups. The more there is to adjust the more likely you are to get it wrong. If it's mainly road driving you do with just the odd track day thrown in, then I would stick to the Bilsteins (assuming you have a 3 or 3R)and learn how to drive with them. Having owned both a 3R and an M400, the 3R was definitely more compliant and settled over knarly Essex B roads. On smooth A roads there wasn't really anything in it.
When my rear shocks (Dynamics on the M400)gave up the the ghost I got them re-built by BAD for £70 a corner and they are as good as new. Could I go quicker round corners on the track with a set of adjustable Nitrons/Ohlins? Possibly, if I got the set-up right. Could I phaffed with all that arsing about? No.
Total agree yes

sustech

26 posts

206 months

Saturday 17th October 2009
quotequote all
nigelw said:
Anyone any experience of Ohlins ? ... or idea of cost ?
I can build a set of Ohlins to suit. Just need to know type (straight coil over or McP) and some dimensions for pricing.

Naso Grande

Original Poster:

237 posts

228 months

Sunday 18th October 2009
quotequote all
Thanks for the feedback guys. I'll make some enquiries about refurb on the existing units before making a final decision but that seems like the way I'll go.

Cheers,
Graeme