V8 Vantage shock absorbers

[Roo3Stuart]

Afternoon all

My V8 Vantage has been diagnosed as having leaky rear shock absorbers (which is quite annoying at only 12k miles but it is a garage queen). Before I get them replaced with the same thing, would anyone recommending using this as an opportunity to upgrade to something better all round? Or is it not worth thinking about without changing the springs too? I know nothing about the world of modding (you can probably tell..) and my driving ability is enough of a limiting factor to not worry too much about optimising the handling but given I've got to spend some money anyway I would look at spending a bit more if it was worth it.

Any thoughts/experiences most welcome!

Thanks

[robgt]

My Vantage S has and is being extensively modified by Bamford Rose. One of the best mods so far is their fitment of switchable suspension . Please do not go down the route of going to a main dealer to replace your existing set up with more of the same. I now have a button which when pressed transforms the car's ride into something much more relaxing . We floated upto London last Saturday. Touch it again, then it will revert into a much sharper handling Beastie. Any pogoing on high speed corners will be a thing of the past. I cannot recommend this mod enough!

[Lunablack]

The cost of a replacement shock, compared to the cost of a complete suspension upgrade, may well be a deciding factor

[yeti]

Lunablack said:

The cost of a replacement shock, compared to the cost of a complete suspension upgrade, may well be a deciding factor

Well he's replacing a pair, not one... If the rears have gone, the fronts will follow... He wants new springs anyway... Suddenly, with a bit of man maths, the switchable suspension isn't far away!

OP, as Rob says, the switchable system is astonishing, turns the car from a relaxing GT cruiser to a harder edged sporting car. The ride quality on both settings is just so good.

Edited by yeti on Friday 5th April 09:18

[marceltay]

Last time I checked, a set of 4 sports pack shocks (including coils) was about the same price as the switchable suspension from BR.. Needless to say, as soon as mine start weeping, that would be all the justification I need

[mikey k]

yeti said:

Lunablack said:

The cost of a replacement shock, compared to the cost of a complete suspension upgrade, may well be a deciding factor

Suddenly, with a but if man maths, the switchable suspension isn't far away!

Luna is one of the few guys I know who is not prone to Man Maths
In the OP's situation I think I'd be booking in for switchable suspension.

[Jockman]

mikey k said:

Luna is one of the few guys I know who is not prone to Man Maths

+1

[matg]

One of mine leaked while under warranty, that got replaced for free but as they are changed in pairs I have to pay to replace a perfectly good one as well.

[DangerMonkey]

This do you?


http://astonmartinbits.com/models/5-V8-Vantage/par...

If switchable suspension is this cheap then I'm on it!

[Arjxh56]

So how much is the BR switchable suspension anyway?

[Arjxh56]

So how much is the BR switchable suspension anyway?

[mikey k]

DangerMonkey said:

This do you?


http://astonmartinbits.com/models/5-V8-Vantage/par...

If switchable suspension is this cheap then I'm on it!

I thought for a moment they were the dampers off RobGT's car
That price is plus VAT
They are NOT the same springs and valves as the Sport Pack dampers, they are stiffer (more like V12V)

[Lunablack]

Roo3Stuart said:

Afternoon all
and my driving ability is enough of a limiting factor to not worry too much about optimising the handling
Thanks

I was also taking into consideration this comment, ^^^^ when I made mine

[yeti]

DangerMonkey said:

This do you?


http://astonmartinbits.com/models/5-V8-Vantage/par...

If switchable suspension is this cheap then I'm on it!

Not switchable obviously - the BR kit is magnetorheological stuff, these are just regular dampers and springs!

But a great price if someone wants to switch to Sports Pack gear reasonably cheaply and could fit themselves

[Roo3Stuart]

Thanks for the responses! Sounds like I need to at least speak to BR although those sportspack ones sound tempting - from the comments they will give a ride more like a V12? I was quoted about £1300 from the main dealer to do the rears hence it isn't hard to justify a full new set of something more interesting (and I'm an accountant which means I do man maths for a living).

And my driving isn't that bad, I can tell that the handling on my car isn't quite as good as it should be

[sadlerj]

When one of mine started leaking the "man maths" well and truly kicked in and Sports Pack was fitted. It has been brilliant, the car feels like new and a lot more focussed but not too harsh..

[Veg]

I was wondering are the springs on a dynamic shock the same size and rating as those for bilstein?