new dampers
Author
Discussion

ceebmoj

Original Poster:

1,899 posts

283 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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hi looks like i'm going to need some new dampers for the locost does anybody have any recommendations?

one eyed mick

1,189 posts

183 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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Contact Dave @Damper tech Gaz adjustables, reasonable prices and great service

ceebmoj

Original Poster:

1,899 posts

283 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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Car is used on the road, don't mind playing but would like to be some where close so have a base point to compare. Price wise I don't really know. I'm sure that it a matter of how longs a peace of string price wise but how much should I pay for a half resnoble damper, I am not an amassing driver.

The damperteck web-sight is horrible loads of flash you cant skip, and no real information once there.

Edited by ceebmoj on Tuesday 11th September 09:19

gtmdriver

333 posts

195 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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Great British Sportscars are now manufacturing their own dampers and can tailor them as needed.

ceebmoj

Original Poster:

1,899 posts

283 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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TheLastPost said:
You might also want to read this thread before forming a judgement on their engineering ability.
interesting reading I'm sure there is another thread on hear about some ones rebuild-able bale dampers not being rebuild-able along with a PR blunder of epic proportions.

one eyed mick

1,189 posts

183 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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After dealing with Damper tech for dampers and springs I can't fault them it helps if you have info on car weight ,wheel tyre spec and intended use ,Gaz will valve to speec if you know what you need and do provide dyno read outs for each shock .I'm lucky living within 10 mins of Dampertech so visits are easy ,Dave also does most of the shows and is a great guy to deal with .I also am very close to GBS and have seen proto types of their dampers which seem v/impressive .NB I speak as a satisfied customer only no other connection

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

220 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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TheLastPost said:
ceebmoj said:
...I'm sure there is another thread on hear about some ones rebuild-able bale dampers not being rebuild-able along with a PR blunder of epic proportions.
Yes, that was Nitron, I think, who to be fair have a reputation for manufacturing quite nice dampers.

There's a bit of a difference between no longer stocking components for your obsolete products and a series of potentially fatal failures, though?

Mind you, what do I know - I'm driving a Toyota at the moment! rofl
No it was GAZ re: the PR blunder. You may have been referring to my comments about NITRON a few months back. I had a set on my westy (2001) on which several of the adjusters failed and when I called to get them re-built was told they no longer supported that design and they couldn't help.

TBF to Nitron though they followed up my grumble by asking if they could help on here - the car was long gone by then however so too late - and they were excellent dampers in terms of performance, just fragile, and the design is now changed.

On the topic of Protech, I know Chris at z-cars uses them on his bonkers minis and gets some superb results with them, so certainly worth looking at. I had a back to back run down the same b road in his mini vs my megabird and the damping on the mini felt equally as good.


ETA Correct name of damper manufacturer.

Edited by rhinochopig on Tuesday 11th September 11:24

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

220 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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TheLastPost said:
rhinochopig said:
No it was GAZ re: the PR blunder.
OK, I'll take your word for it - I was sure I'd read a thread a few years back where someone had sent their dampers off to be rebuilt, only to be told that parts were no longer available and after a bit of a spat on-forum, being offered something like 15% off a new set. I thought that was Nitron, but I could be wrong... my memory isn't what it was!
Both wrong it was AVO - apologies to GAZ.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

mirach

157 posts

245 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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for good alround performance i would recommend protech, we have had a fair few sets from them and they have proved to be a very reliable and useable product, and are a great company to deal with.

Noah Katz

20 posts

167 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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Gaz said:
Using stiffened/up-rated shock absorbers and springs increases the load on other suspension components...

"It certainly does if you tell your customers to lower their cars until their static ride height is just off the (rapidly rising rate) bump-stops, you fking bunch of muppets!!"

Actually their statement is true without condition, and the higher loads continue on to the chassis structure and occupants of course.

AdiT

1,025 posts

179 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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The site you quote doesn't recommend adjusting the ride height to be on the bump stops at all. It simply states that the maximum amount of lowering is just above them and then goes on to say NOT to run on the bump stops. Of course you could give a link to the site for everyone else to read... but maybe that's why you don't; Why let the truth get in the way of a good story! Not only that but it's not from the site of Dampertech, the supplier who was recommended, but Gaz the manufacturer.

I've had Gaz shocks on from new and never had any complaint with them or the advice I got from Dampertech. In fact one of the main issues they stated was to spec the correct length to avoid hitting the bump stop in normal use. Of course, I could have spent a fortune on R+D and had some non-adjustables made to order, or I could have bought some very expensive dampers, set up the suspension and then never had it checked again and gone around telling everyone how perfect it was...

AdiT

1,025 posts

179 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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There's a maximum inflation pressure on the side wall of tyres. I guess you take that as implying that you should inflate to that pressure?

AdiT

1,025 posts

179 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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So you'd recommend looking in the manufacturers hand book for damper settings?

Before you answer... nothing you say will make you seem any less of a dick... but you'll do it aynway, won't you.

Toltec

7,179 posts

245 months

Tuesday 11th September 2012
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At the higher end there is also http://www.quantumracing.co.uk

They are more expensive than Nitron though...

They have a cheaper non-adjustable Zero range, but looking at the site they may only sell these through distributors and for specific cars.

Gaz and Avo both do a monotube damper if you want something a bit better than their twin wall ranges, but still less than Nitron/Ohlins/Quantum etc.

Might be worth talking to some of these companies and seeing what they suggest, if you can supply corner weights, open/closed lengths and wheel/damper travel ratios the chances are you can get at least one of them to sell you dampers with the correct springs, shims and valving to suit.

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

220 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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Toltec said:
At the higher end there is also http://www.quantumracing.co.uk

They are more expensive than Nitron though...

They have a cheaper non-adjustable Zero range, but looking at the site they may only sell these through distributors and for specific cars.

Gaz and Avo both do a monotube damper if you want something a bit better than their twin wall ranges, but still less than Nitron/Ohlins/Quantum etc.

Might be worth talking to some of these companies and seeing what they suggest, if you can supply corner weights, open/closed lengths and wheel/damper travel ratios the chances are you can get at least one of them to sell you dampers with the correct springs, shims and valving to suit.
In that market sector my money would be (and did) be going to EXE-TC. Supplier to numerous WRC teams inc. Loeb's, and many many championship winning rally and GT cars.

Shame they no longer supply their 'budget' single way adjustable range.

Furyblade_Lee

4,114 posts

246 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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Interesting thread. I just had a look on the Penske website, and they offer this advice when fitting their superior quality dampers:

"For best results, after fitting please ensure all your wheels are pointing in the right direction and the tyres fitted to your vehicle were not manufactured in the last century. Failure to do so may result in anything you say in future about your technical knowledge and how much better your car handled over those with cheap aftermarket dampers will be laughed at."

ceebmoj

Original Poster:

1,899 posts

283 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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Thanks for all the input guys. I will give a couple of people a ring and get some quotes. However I suspect that when I have my new shiny dampers, Most of what I think will subjective based on the new and shiny. rather than the true performance of the damper.

AdiT

1,025 posts

179 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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Oh the irony...

Of course there are those that think "irony" is just a term to dscribe the steel like qualities of side walls on ancient tyres... and miss the point entyrely.

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

220 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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ceebmoj said:
Thanks for all the input guys. I will give a couple of people a ring and get some quotes. However I suspect that when I have my new shiny dampers, Most of what I think will subjective based on the new and shiny. rather than the true performance of the damper.
Just remember you can have the best dampers in the world but if the geo is wrong or they're set-up incorrectly the overall effect will be poor handling. Budget for at least a couple of hours set-up time with a company who is an expert in your car model.

Furyblade_Lee

4,114 posts

246 months

Wednesday 12th September 2012
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We will probobly get the Wikepedi definition of "irony" posted up in a two foot long post in a minute!