Chimaera Shocks

[IdrisMerv]

Any ideas on which shocks to fit on a Chimaera 450. I use it daily as a road car, all weathers and often on bumpy country lanes. Never been on a track

[Gaffer]

I have Gaz Gold shocks on my Chim - same as you, 450 and around 180 miles a day.

Speak to Derek about them.

Claire

[Sharky500]

Gaffer said:

I have Gaz Gold shocks on my Chim
Claire

I was looking at Gaz - they are attractively priced - but are they OK quality?

Do they make the ride less crashy than before?

[cln1]

Yeh I use Gaz on my Griff, not the most expensive but seem to be well made and although I'm no expert seem to perform well. I'm pleased with them.

Colin.

[Gaffer]

They are quite good actually, I have mine set to quite stiff so the ride is a lot harder than most people like.

Ian aka TorqueRVT also has them on his cerb 4.5 LW.

Derek is based down south - www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0&memberId=55963

Give him a shout, he was at Ians yesterday/this morning so try him tomorrow.

Claire

[FunkyGibbon]

I've got Gaz Golds on my chim 450 - I'd recommend them highly.

FG

[macdeb]

Have GAZ Gold, definately better than standard. Dont know a lot about suspension to be honest, apart from that you don't need track day suspension for everyday use. Can say that Derek [ab' shocks] is a bloody nice bloke and very helpfull. No doubt some 'johnny concrete' will be along shortly to say otherwise, just passing on what I know.
MAC

[Sharky500]

What I am looking for is something as stiff or slightly less stiff than standard Chim 500 set up. I am not a track-day hound, so don't need absolute touring-car set up. I just need an agile car that can soak up the bumps on the bumpy A- and B-roads that dominate the area I live in. Right now, if I give it some beans, the car feels like it wants to bounce off the ruts into the verges...

Do you think Gaz would do the job? I really dont want to spend fortunes on Nitrons or Ohlins...

Oh, and Mr Macdeb - what sort of wheels can I see there on your profile? They look similar to Estorils, yet...different.

[Tunnelmeister]

Sharky500 said:

Do you think Gaz would do the job?

Yes, i had them fitted on my Chim, once a few niggles were sorted out it transformed the cars handling on all road surfaces, easily adjustable as well.

[Gaffer]

They are adjustable so you can set the stiffness to your liking.

I personally like them set to very hard even though she will never be going near a track.

Its all down to your driving style and ride preference.

Claire

[Lizzy Dexic]

I had nickel plating on mine and despite being garaged over the winter the corrosion is appalling. My next shocks will be Leda.

[Tunnelmeister]

Lizzy Dexic said:

I had nickel plating on mine and despite being garaged over the winter the corrosion is appalling. My next shocks will be Leda.

are they not Guaranteed for 2 years, suggest you contact Gaz Directly and get em changed.

[chassis 33]

Lizzy Dexic said:

I had nickel plating on mine and despite being garaged over the winter the corrosion is appalling. My next shocks will be Leda.

I'm sure you'll forgive me for laughing at the irony of that statment.

Regards
Iain

[the gazman]

Apart from hard anodised alloy, which will still chip on a coilover shock, most shocks will show some signs of corrosion.
Nickel plating is less porous than the old zinc plating but I would still advise a good wallop of the old clear/muddy coloured waxoil when fitting any shock.

[GreenV8S]

I recommend fitting protective boots, keeps nasty stone chips and spray away from your expensive dampers.

[the gazman]

GreenV8S said:

I recommend fitting protective boots, keeps nasty stone chips and spray away from your expensive dampers.

Or inexpensive, I am always amazed that the Mini boys all ask for a cover as standard and IIRC they are £35 shocks.

[trackcar]

the gazman said:

Apart from hard anodised alloy, which will still chip on a coilover shock, most shocks will show some signs of corrosion.
Nickel plating is less porous than the old zinc plating but I would still advise a good wallop of the old clear/muddy coloured waxoil when fitting any shock.

When Derek came to see me the other day i was building some dampers up so showed him what i do before sending them out .. i always remove the adjuster and pack it full of grease and refit so i know it will come apart again in 2 years time, and i spray the damper body thread with ceramic grease and the outside bodies with a protective wax finish which gives good protection .. Derek's idea of painting any new shock with waxoyl is a good one though.

[the gazman]

trackcar said:

the gazman said:

Apart from hard anodised alloy, which will still chip on a coilover shock, most shocks will show some signs of corrosion.
Nickel plating is less porous than the old zinc plating but I would still advise a good wallop of the old clear/muddy coloured waxoil when fitting any shock.

When Derek came to see me the other day i was building some dampers up so showed him what i do before sending them out .. i always remove the adjuster and pack it full of grease and refit so i know it will come apart again in 2 years time, and i spray the damper body thread with ceramic grease and the outside bodies with a protective wax finish which gives good protection .. Derek's idea of painting any new shock with waxoyl is a good one though.

I liked the ceramic wax that Joo uses and commend that as well, rust on the steel shocks is a problem as well as pitting on alloys but I had a 6 year old kit in the other day for a rebuild and once we gave them a wipe down with oil they came up ok and I see no reason why they couldn't last another 6 years with a bit of waxoil every now and then, you wouldn't leave your wishbones unprotected would you?

[the gazman]

Lizzy Dexic said:

I had nickel plating on mine and despite being garaged over the winter the corrosion is appalling. My next shocks will be Leda.

Leaving nickel plated shocks with road film in a garage all winter will obviously not be helpful, garages can be quite damp.
Leda shocks are not immune from pitting and corrosion we actually rebuild them as well because my man at Gaz is the ex R&D man from Leda.

[Aaron C. Reskew]

Lizzy Dexic said:

I had nickel plating on mine and despite being garaged over the winter the corrosion is appalling. My next shocks will be Leda.

Leda do the same unfortunately.

Unless the dampers are made from marine grade stainless steel (never come across any) , all dampers will corrode unless suitably protected.