Sorry folks another shocks thred

[trev4]

After a fantastic day out at snetterton I decided to try and improve the cars handling. So tyres I have gone for t1rs a good all round tyre but the decision on shocks has been much more difficult, if cost was not an issue then it would be a between racing greens ast,s or nitrons but unfortunately cost is an issue so I could go for a full set of gaz gold pros or half a set of the more expensive brands what I'd like to know is, is there a difference in handling performance or is the difference in quality of materials used and the more expensive brands lasting longer. They all tell you there's are the best so if anyone has knowledge of all three I would be eternally grateful.

[TV8]

how about Gaz Mono's? I had Golds on my last car and thought they were good. I have recently fitted Monos to the new on and they seem to be a bit smoother ride and looking at them yesterday for the first time, a very good build quality.

Gaz are also bringing out a new spec of golds shortly. Speak with Gaz or Dan Taylor (he is trying them out on his daily runner)

[SILICONEKID343HP]

Nitrons with uprated springs is what i would go for. I have the federal RSR`s road legal track day tyre ,they are superb .

[900T-R]

Unless I had a reason to want to fiddle with my settings on a regular basis, I would take the current spec Bilstein dampers over any aftermarket dampers in a similar price bracket. They were developed by Bilstein test engineers and TVR chassis engineers ca. 2004/5 (and I think John Miles had some valuable input about the general set up of the cars, too - this is back when NS still meant business ) and provide vastly improved settings compared to what went before. Also they are monotubes of very high quality compared to modestly priced aftermarket options.

Aftermarket upgrades start with Nitrons as a minimum IMO.

[QBee]

You say/imply that you want the car to handle well both on the road and on the track.
That requires at least adjustable front dampers.

I have Gaz Gold Pros on mine. My front dampers where stuffed anyway - absolutely no damping left in them - so I needed to change them, and a nearly new set came up, so I changed all 4.
But the only setting I change for the track is the front dampers, from a road comfortable setting (just below the bite point on the adjuster, where they suddenly go from soft to hard) to as hard as I can make them.

Roads are rough, so your damper settings need to be fairly soft as they are about absorbing the bumps.
The track is smooth, no bumps, so your damper setting is mainly about stopping the nose diving under braking or rising under hard acceleration. If you harden the rear dampers on a TVR, which has a light rear anyway, the back end tends to hop around hairpin bends.

So if I only had £350 to spend, I would change the front dampers for a basic model.
If I had £750 and my rears were ok, I could be tempted by new Nitrons for the front.
But I would make sure my rear ones were fit for purpose.

[trev4]

Thanks for the feed back I think I am going to have to go for the nitrons its quite telling that Qbee could be tempted off of his gaz gold pros as I understand they are a fairly new addition, on the other hand the new bilstiens are appealing after reading some of the horror story's about getting the set up right on adjustable shocks.

[QBee]

You get what you pay for with adjustables. Monos are better than GGPs, according to those who have had both, Nitrons are better still.
My budget only ran to a send hand set of GGPs with T350 springs, which cost me £100 plus fitting, and came from a PHer who didn't like them.
To me they feel great, better than the shagged fronts I had before. I had a great drive around the roads today, car felt really planted. And two weeks ago, with the fronts on their hardest setting, I had a great day at Snetterton.
I love what I have, but acknowledge that if I had more money to spend I coud find something I liked even better.

My advice to you is work out whether you are going to do trackdays or not. If you are, get the best adjustables you can afford for the fronts, then upgrade the rears to match as soon as you can. If not, fit a good quality damper - the original Bisteins are excellent

[Andy JB]

trev4 said:

Thanks for the feed back I think I am going to have to go for the nitrons its quite telling that Qbee could be tempted off of his gaz gold pros as I understand they are a fairly new addition, on the other hand the new bilstiens are appealing after reading some of the horror story's about getting the set up right on adjustable shocks.

Just be aware the Nitrons require quote annual servicing ie removal returning & refitting to work at their optimum - be warned effective dampers that they are - just be honest about your use & application to justify them.

[SILICONEKID343HP]

Andy JB said:

trev4 said:

Thanks for the feed back I think I am going to have to go for the nitrons its quite telling that Qbee could be tempted off of his gaz gold pros as I understand they are a fairly new addition, on the other hand the new bilstiens are appealing after reading some of the horror story's about getting the set up right on adjustable shocks.

Just be aware the Nitrons require quote annual servicing ie removal returning & refitting to work at their optimum - be warned effective dampers that they are - just be honest about your use & application to justify them.

Why would it be every year and not on mileage ?

[QBee]

SILICONEKID343HP said:

Andy JB said:

trev4 said:

Thanks for the feed back I think I am going to have to go for the nitrons its quite telling that Qbee could be tempted off of his gaz gold pros as I understand they are a fairly new addition, on the other hand the new bilstiens are appealing after reading some of the horror story's about getting the set up right on adjustable shocks.

Just be aware the Nitrons require quote annual servicing ie removal returning & refitting to work at their optimum - be warned effective dampers that they are - just be honest about your use & application to justify them.

Why would it be every year and not on mileage ?

Could it be because they carry the load of a1070kg car even when parked?

[trev4]

QBee said:

SILICONEKID343HP said:

Andy JB said:

trev4 said:

Thanks for the feed back I think I am going to have to go for the nitrons its quite telling that Qbee could be tempted off of his gaz gold pros as I understand they are a fairly new addition, on the other hand the new bilstiens are appealing after reading some of the horror story's about getting the set up right on adjustable shocks.

Just be aware the Nitrons require quote annual servicing ie removal returning & refitting to work at their optimum - be warned effective dampers that they are - just be honest about your use & application to justify them.

Why would it be every year and not on mileage ?

Could it be because they carry the load of a1070kg car even when parked?

This decision gets more complicated by the day I wasn't aware shock absorbers needed servicing more research required I think.

[Andy JB]

It doesn't mean you have to change them annually - but it is recommended as a friend with an Elise can testify - best for track use TBH but very good all the same.

[Ab Shocks]

Servicing is one of the hidden costs of running monotube shocks, with an adjustable gas charged shock there is inevitably a gradual loss of nitrogen over a period of time and this is shorter on shocks with low friction seals, a recomended service period of 1 to 2 years is common with the major names.
I should say that Gaz run a slightly higher friction set up because the trade off of performance v longevity is minimal in our opinion and its the major reason we can offer a two year warranty.

I should also say that I would suggest keeping old shocks for when the Mono's are in for service and Gaz charge 39.50 per damper for a service.

[SILICONEKID346HP]

Do the shocks come back ready to fit with the correct ride heights or have they got to be setup again .

[QBee]

Just to clarify that I am reading this correctly, Monos and Nitrons need servicing every 12-24 months due to their construction - and this does not apply to Gaz Golds/Gold pros too? Or Bilsteins or whatever other standard dampers? Or the dampers on my road car.....

[blujay10]

I do 1 track day a year (Goodwood) and use the car every day.
Had some sort of Gaz adjustables (not Gold or pros) fitted 5 years ago.
Thinking of changing back to the non adjustables so am I right in looking at Bilsteins being the only real option?

[phazed]

The more professional dampers need annual servicing especially when used on track.

I sent my Monos back after about 3-4 years.

They fitted new bodies, a few other bits and a full serice, charged me £200.00 + VAT.

As to yours A, better ask em!

[QBee]

Didn't want to bother them, P. Was sort of hoping Ab shocks might tell me.....

[900T-R]

QBee said:

Just to clarify that I am reading this correctly, Monos and Nitrons need servicing every 12-24 months due to their construction - and this does not apply to Gaz Golds/Gold pros too? Or Bilsteins or whatever other standard dampers? Or the dampers on my road car.....

Gaz Gold = twin tube, so no

Bilstein = non-adjustable, so no

[Ab Shocks]

900T-R said:

Gaz Gold = twin tube, so no

Bilstein = non-adjustable, so no

Is the right answer. :-)
But, I'm just starting to get Mono's in for service 3 to 3.5 years down the road off TVR road and Lotus race cars so I wouldn't be stressing and I've got a mate with an Elise that has had Nitrons on for 6 years without a service.
You will appreciate that we sell all sorts of shocks in bulk so we don't have to rely on servicing as a major income like some of the mono only boys. If you know what I mean