Pro Tech shock settings

[A900ss]

All,

Just had new pro techs fitted today and on my drive home they felt a little softer than I was expecting.

I haven't pushed them hard yet but if I do feel the need to play with the settings (no doubt I will) what are people with pro techs currently using? (I don't know what the garage have set them to yet as I haven't checked)

Is the rule more clicks at the front generally?

Thanks in advance.

[V8 GRF]

My Nitrons are harder at the rear than the front. The best way is just to add a click at a time to get the car feeling the way you want it. When you adjust the shocks make sure you're starting from the same settings side to side and that you click them the same way.

When I initially adjusted mine I wound them all back to zero (counting the clicks) to ensure they matched and then added the original clicks back on and then you can either add or reduce to get the setting I wanted, in your case I assume you'll be adding a click to make them a bit firmer.

[spitfire4v8]

Do you know what spec they were built to? you can configure the protech differently and your seller will be able to advise you best .. you can have 12 or 16mm piston rods, bushes or rod end bearings, compression bleeds and different spring rates of course. Asking for advice on number of clicks is not going to help much unless you find someone running the same spec as you. In the absence of any advice from your supplier the best thing is just to get under the car and start adjusting as said above ^^

[A900ss]

spitfire4v8 said:

Do you know what spec they were built to? you can configure the protech differently and your seller will be able to advise you best .. you can have 12 or 16mm piston rods, bushes or rod end bearings, compression bleeds and different spring rates of course.^

I don't know any of that!!!!

All I know is that they are standard Pro Tevhs with the regular 400/325 springs so I assumed if anybody had recently fitted Pro Techs, they would have been supplied these standard specs.

Thanks anyway.

[rigga]

Currently 9 front 7 rear, but the performance was much better after a settling in period and id messed about with tyre pressures on 17" wheels, so might well be different for you.

[A900ss]

rigga said:

Currently 9 front 7 rear, but the performance was much better after a settling in period and id messed about with tyre pressures on 17" wheels, so might well be different for you.

Thanks Rigga , that gives me a place to start from.

[phazed]

When I had a set, about half clicks at the rear and plus 2 clicks at the front for road use.

Adjust by 2 clicks all round up or down depending.

For track, all clicks to full until they fade!

[A900ss]

I've checked the settings this morning and out of 13 clicks, they are set 9 clicks front and 6 clicks back. Therefore they are there or thereabouts what others have suggested.

It's the rear that feels a bit soft so I'm going to try 10F and 8R and see where it goes from there.

[rigga]

You still need to give them time to settle in,felt different and better after a time being used than when they were first fitted.

[jmini23]

I have just been tweaking my Protechs this morning and am running with 8 clicks om the adjusters + I have preloaded the front springs to 32mm (measured from the bottom of the threaded body to end of lower end of spring) with around 26mm on the rears.

When I first picked up my car from the garage it felt very floaty and loose + had a level/nose up stance.

Initially I wound the clickers 2 clicks tighter all round (1 click back from the maximum stock setting) - this made the car feel much more composed but slighly overdamped. I have rub the car for around 1200miles like this, so everything should be well bedded in.

I have yet to try my new settings, but I have a friend with a 500 and Protechs set much lower than mine which has a nice supple feel to it.

[jmini23]

OK back from the shake down and having lowered the front about 1cm the front shocks now feel a little underdamped, so I have wound the clicker one notch tighter - hopefully I now have the ideal setup (for B Road blasts/urban driving)

[A900ss]

To update the thread with my own findings....

I spent about three hours today changing clicks up and down, front first then the rear so I could feel what each change would do.

Strangely I ended up with a result I wasn't expecting. From the initial settings of 9 front and 6 rear when they were fitted, I have actually softened the front and that gave me the biggest difference for my driving on the type of roads I drive on.

I have ended up with 6F and 9R which makes the car feel fantastic in high speed bends and still have a very compliant ride.

I am slightly conscious that the harder setting at the rear could increase oversteer tendencies so could be interesting in the wet if I'm pressing on.

Thanks all.

Edited by A900ss on Sunday 29th September 20:44

[QBee]

Mine hopped on tight hairpins at speed with the rears set hard (on GGPs, not Protechs, but the principle's the same), so I had to soften them even on the track.

[rigga]

A900ss said:

To update the thread with my own findings....

I spent about three hours today changing clicks up and down, front first then the rear so I could feel what each change would do.

Strangely I ended up with a result I wasn't expecting. From the initial settings of 9 front and 6 rear when they were fitted, I have actually softened the front and that gave me the biggest difference for my driving on the type of roads I drive on.

I have ended up with 6F and 9R which makes the car feel fantastic in high speed bends and still have a very compliant ride.

I am slightly conscious that the harder setting at the rear could increase oversteer tendencies so could be interesting in the wet if I'm pressing on.

Thanks all.

Edited by A900ss on Sunday 29th September 20:44

Interesting that's the way you finished up ....

[michielp]

Am driving with protechs for a year now.
Adjusted the settings many times.

Last adjustment was the springs a bit tighter (ride height became too low)
settings are at this moment 7 at rear and 9 for the front.

The back still feels a little bit soft but it's comfy

[A900ss]

Just a bit of an update for anyone else with Protechs.

I had them set to 6F and 9R but I've felt for some time that the rear was still a bit 'springy' over large bumps. I've therefore upped the clicks to 10 (out of 13) at the rear and it feels a bit better. It's less 'springy' but still not rough over the bumps. I'll try this for a few weeks and report back but I am a little concerned about have the damping quite a bit stronger than than the rear and potentially affecting rear end grip.

PS - I know a Wiki was set up for this but I don't know how to update it.
Springs are 400lbs front and 325lbs rear. Standard 15/16 inch wheels.

[spitfire4v8]

Forget what people say about soft rear stiff front, it's more to do with spring rates anyway .. but the whole point of adjustable suspension is so YOU can set it to what YOU want rather than what someone else says it should be ..
Im at burghley tomorrow with my double adjust protechs on a little demonstration rig i made up .. come and find me if you want to know more.

[A900ss]

spitfire4v8 said:

Forget what people say about soft rear stiff front, it's more to do with spring rates anyway .. but the whole point of adjustable suspension is so YOU can set it to what YOU want rather than what someone else says it should be ..
Im at burghley tomorrow with my double adjust protechs on a little demonstration rig i made up .. come and find me if you want to know more.

Jools, I'd love to see that but I can't get to Burgley. Thanks anyway and best of luck tomorrow.

Karl.

[donski58]

Are Protech the shocks of choice for a Chim please?

Don

[A900ss]

donski58 said:

Are Protech the shocks of choice for a Chim please?

Don

That depends upon your budget and what you use the car for.

The Track Day boys generally go for Nitrons or Gaz Monos and pay accordingly.

For road use only Protech get good reviews at half the price.

Good luck.