Rear suspension advice

[jaja4421]

Hi All, First real post here, so hoping you may be able to help. Got my Chim in the Summer and have been enjoying it - now laid up for the Winter and some maintenance.

The rear was sitting low when I bought it so I knew there would be some work required - now have it up on axle stands and see that the shocks are well worn - thought about adjusting them to the max, but assume that will not only affect the ride height, but will make it very firm as well - so looking at replacements and seen these on ebay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TVR-Chimera-Gaz-nickel-r...

So, my question is, does that sound like a good price or not?

[QBee]

They are good shocks - I had a pair for a while. Price is fine for new dampers and springs.

Two thoughts -

get a TVR expert to chek your existing ones unless you are confident in your judgement. Are they weeping?
Your rear ride height can possibly be adjusted regardless.

[swallet]

what shocks do you have on at the moment - the standard Bilstein ones?

Surely best to check the fronts as well. Buying a set of four will be cheaper in the long term then just replacing the rears and then you can set up front and rear as you desire. If the rears have sagged then the fronts may not be much cop either.

I have Gaz Nickels on mine (inherited from a previous owner) - seem a lot better than the Bilsteins I had on my old car (although these were 13 years old). My set are around four years old. I adjusted them last week , quite a bit of cosmetic corrosion but seem 100% mechanically (once i free'd up a seized adjuster). The Gaz Golds have an anodised finish which I'm sure would be more durable but I think the Nickels are still good shocks for fast road.

[SILICONEKID346HP]

I would go for Protech . I`ve had the Nickles,pro and Monos absolute rubbish .

If you are in that price bracket you won`t go far wrong ..

http://www.protechshocks.co.uk/products/tvr-shock-...

Edited by SILICONEKID346HP on Friday 27th December 19:33

[PH430]

+1

[jaja4421]

Thanks All - appreciate the info...

[Chilliman]

SILICONEKID346HP said:

I would go for Protech . I`ve had the Nickles,pro and Monos absolute rubbish .

If you are in that price bracket you won`t go far wrong ..

http://www.protechshocks.co.uk/products/tvr-shock-...

Edited by SILICONEKID346HP on Friday 27th December 19:33

So, the mono's I've recently had fitted, which Phazed recommended, which transformed the car, and which I'm very happy with, as are lots of Lotus owners, are.. absolute rubbish?

Can you explain why the Mono's are absolute rubbish Daz?

Ta,

Chilli

[TV8]

I have had both Gaz monos and Gaz gold. Very pleased with both of them. The monos are more expensive and give a smoother ride. With the golds I had something I wasn't sure about and the service was first class. I only put the monos on as I changed cars.

[jaja4421]

Hi again - inspired by the fair weather I decided to have a crack and have removed the shock on one side - turns out it is a GAZ shock (which I assume means it's after-market) and (in my view - photo attached) surprisingly low on the adjustment. Can anyone confirm what I think, which is that adjusting the spring tension won't affect ride height? If that's the case, what does? Thanks in advance.

[jesfirth]

Those look very second hand. Probably time for a new set. The spring platform is what sets the ride height and as importantly the corner weighting. If you have the budget bin all 4 shocks, buy a set of nitrons and then get an experienced race engineer to set it up and corner weight it properly. It will feel like a different car.

[QBee]

I am reliably informed that Gaz dampers have improved dramatically in the last year or two, so when someone says they hated them, or had issues with them, your first question should be "when."

[jojackson4]

Send them back to gaz for service £25 a corner
Just got mine back after being on the car for 10 years
Great service sent mine on Friday pm phonecall Monday pm
There done replaced the tops and the bottoms in with the service
Great guys

[SILICONEKID346HP]

Chilliman said:

So, the mono's I've recently had fitted, which Phazed recommended, which transformed the car, and which I'm very happy with, as are lots of Lotus owners, are.. absolute rubbish?

Can you explain why the Mono's are absolute rubbish Daz?

Ta,

Chilli

Because the direction + - stickers fell off , two of the adjusters seized within weeks and I lost the clicking mechanism , the car nodded up and down with the 400 500lb springs which were recommended by a so called Gaz specialist .

A TVR specialist took the car out on a test drive ,the only thing he said was "they feel cheap"

I would rather spend £200 more and get something which actually works ,they are Nitrons .

I took Brett out and within a few minutes he mentioned the quality of the suspension and mine are running on standard springs ,might firm them up next year .

Edited by SILICONEKID346HP on Saturday 28th December 20:54

Edited by SILICONEKID346HP on Saturday 28th December 20:56

Edited by SILICONEKID346HP on Saturday 28th December 20:59

[jesfirth]

Jaja. It really depends what you are going to use the car for. If its track days, sprinting or for use on circuits you will not beat nitrons unless you can afford Ohlins at double the cost. I won the TVR speed championship 4 times with nitrons so they really do work.

If it is for use on the road then probably any decent aftermarket adjustable shock will be fine. The question I would ask myself if I was replacing the shocks is why I would consider taking a risk on buying shocks with mixed reviews or saving £200 on what is the most important part of a £10k car.

[SILICONEKID346HP]

jesfirth said:

Jaja. It really depends what you are going to use the car for. If its track days, sprinting or for use on circuits you will not beat nitrons unless you can afford Ohlins at double the cost. I won the TVR speed championship 4 times with nitrons so they really do work.

If it is for use on the road then probably any decent aftermarket adjustable shock will be fine. The question I would ask myself if I was replacing the shocks is why I would consider taking a risk on buying shocks with mixed reviews or saving £200 on what is the most important part of a £10k car.

That's why Protech`s are the road use option .

http://www.protechshocks.co.uk/products/tvr-shock-...

[jaja4421]

jojackson4 said:

Send them back to gaz for service £25 a corner
Just got mine back after being on the car for 10 years
Great service sent mine on Friday pm phonecall Monday pm
There done replaced the tops and the bottoms in with the service
Great guys

Hi jojacskon4 - This sound like great advice - I think this may be the way to go - do you have contact details for GAZ?

[jojackson4]

jaja4421 said:

jojackson4 said:

Send them back to gaz for service £25 a corner
Just got mine back after being on the car for 10 years
Great service sent mine on Friday pm phonecall Monday pm
There done replaced the tops and the bottoms in with the service
Great guys

Hi jojacskon4 - This sound like great advice - I think this may be the way to go - do you have contact details for GAZ?

I just googled them and did the email thing one the contact page

[jaja4421]

Ok - thanks

[jaja4421]

I decided on the reconditioning option - sent them to Gaz last Saturday - arrived at Gaz Tuesday morning - Gez called me Wednesday lunchtime saying "all done" - received back Thursday morning - going to refit them today. I'll let you know how I get on and whether it was worth it... Photo's to follow.

[Alun450]

You can't argue with that. Excellent service.