Discussion
Peter .. ?You sure you want SPAX ? My Chim came with SPAX adjustables fitted by the previous owner - first trip to the Indie for some fettling they asked me what they were doing on the car ! Seems they arent that good on TVR's due to incorrect length of piston travel, type of materials, size of piston - there was more but I tuned out (I hear there is a new model launched recently maybe they are better). I think GAZ, AVO or (if you have the cash) Nitrons are the flavours of the month right now. Discussed in detail here www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=168964&f=8&h=0
Edited to add: Saving my pennies for some GAZ hopefully will get them before the SPAX break !
Dodsy
>> Edited by bigdods on Monday 10th October 10:47
Edited to add: Saving my pennies for some GAZ hopefully will get them before the SPAX break !
Dodsy
>> Edited by bigdods on Monday 10th October 10:47
Am I that predictable? 
The following brands in my price range seem to be generally well regarded:
Ohlin, Nitron, Koni, Bilstein, Protech, Gaz. AVO if you insist.
I have tried other brands not on that list. One manufacturer in particular supplied multiple sets (replaced under warranty) that only worked intermittantly, had non-functioning adjusters and one particularly memorable damper that physically came apart at speed (leading to total suspension collapse on that corner, main road spring jamming the steering, all quite exciting). You don't want to go there. I decided at that point never to use that brand of damper ever again.
The following brands in my price range seem to be generally well regarded:
Ohlin, Nitron, Koni, Bilstein, Protech, Gaz. AVO if you insist.
I have tried other brands not on that list. One manufacturer in particular supplied multiple sets (replaced under warranty) that only worked intermittantly, had non-functioning adjusters and one particularly memorable damper that physically came apart at speed (leading to total suspension collapse on that corner, main road spring jamming the steering, all quite exciting). You don't want to go there. I decided at that point never to use that brand of damper ever again.
cln1 said:
New to the TVR scene, where's the best place to buy spax shocks for a 500 ?
Colin.
as you're in cheshire try to find icb off here (ian byrne) who has a nicely set up car now .. ask him his findings on the world of dampers and set-up. then do a bit of searching here and on the TVRCC site and get a feel for what people ilke and what people stay away from .. you'll eventually find just a few select names coming up again and again .. choose one of those and you'll not go far wrong.
best wishes, Joo
edited because, even for me, that was pretty unreadable first time around!
>> Edited by trackcar on Monday 10th October 14:40
bigdods said:
You sure you want SPAX ? My Chim came with SPAX adjustables fitted by the previous owner - first trip to the Indie for some fettling they asked me what they were doing on the car ! Seems they arent that good on TVR's due to incorrect length of piston travel, type of materials, size of piston - there was more but I tuned out (I hear there is a new model launched recently maybe they are better). I think GAZ, AVO or (if you have the cash) Nitrons are the flavours of the month right now. Discussed in detail here <a href="www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=168964&f=8&h=0"><a href="www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=168964&f=8&h=0">www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=168964&f=8&h=0</a></a>
Edited to add: Saving my pennies for some GAZ hopefully will get them before the SPAX break !
Dodsy
>> Edited by bigdods on Monday 10th October 10:47
What - the stuff in Sprint is only just being released and cannot bethe same Spax as on your car - presumably never intended for a TVR and built by previous owners of SPAX.
Nothing wrong with Spax - had then on 3000M, (Tr4 until recently) and TR6 racer - pretty good, no the best but in a different price bracket to Nitron and Ohlins.
AVO's / GAZ less than SPAX - I may have a go at these - depend on budget come the spring!?
But SPAX make good shocks.
>> Edited by jellison on Thursday 13th October 16:00
I agree, the new shocks are probably better than the ones I have fitted - I saw the article in Sprint so reserve judgement on the new ones. But as to the ones I have right now I have the original SPAX invoice detailing part G3036 TVR Chimaera/Griffith so they were the right ones for the motor. Just not recommended by the indies from what I can tell as they are prone to failure. Not experienced this myself just passing on comments I have had.
I would have to assume that this type of feedback has been taken on board by SPAX hence the release of their new version. But personally I will doing my sheep impression and following the flock to something tried and trusted from GAZ.
I would have to assume that this type of feedback has been taken on board by SPAX hence the release of their new version. But personally I will doing my sheep impression and following the flock to something tried and trusted from GAZ.
Yes
Gaz are currently flavour of the month with a significant number of the Indi's, probably because they took time out to listen to what the experts were looking for on valving and acted on it and are still a reasonable price.
Some call it bargain basement but I prefer to call it value for money
I'm always looking for other ranges and funnily enough, despite the apparant glut of shock manufacturers, something always puts me off taking them on, (apart from Ohlins that is)
Gaz are currently flavour of the month with a significant number of the Indi's, probably because they took time out to listen to what the experts were looking for on valving and acted on it and are still a reasonable price.
Some call it bargain basement but I prefer to call it value for money
I'm always looking for other ranges and funnily enough, despite the apparant glut of shock manufacturers, something always puts me off taking them on, (apart from Ohlins that is)
Bugsy's right, you get to learn what works and what doesn't.
I have yet to try the new Spax dampers, but I know enough about marketting that even though they may now be a very very good damper ( i don't know, i haven't tested them) .. they have to work hard to shake off the image they have based on past reutations. If you have a poor rep you have to market new products aggressively to get your name about. If you have a good product you rescue your reputation and everyone is happy .. Skoda anyone?
I've tested just about every damper manufacturer in the affordable marketplace, Avo, Gaz, Leda, Nitron, Ohlins, JRZ, etc etc. I sell two damper makes because they're the only ones I'm happy with.
I hope spax's new dampers are very good, it opens the choice up again in the market place.
I have yet to try the new Spax dampers, but I know enough about marketting that even though they may now be a very very good damper ( i don't know, i haven't tested them) .. they have to work hard to shake off the image they have based on past reutations. If you have a poor rep you have to market new products aggressively to get your name about. If you have a good product you rescue your reputation and everyone is happy .. Skoda anyone?
I've tested just about every damper manufacturer in the affordable marketplace, Avo, Gaz, Leda, Nitron, Ohlins, JRZ, etc etc. I sell two damper makes because they're the only ones I'm happy with.
I hope spax's new dampers are very good, it opens the choice up again in the market place.
You could do worse IMHO but whatever you end up with, get the car geo checked by somebody who knows what they are doing or you could miss out on the full benifit of the shocks.
How about Richard Thorpe, we chatted recently and he seems to have a good outfit not a million miles from you.
I'm going to see his set-up next week, if you want a proper recomendation
>> Edited by bugsy on Friday 14th October 19:00
How about Richard Thorpe, we chatted recently and he seems to have a good outfit not a million miles from you.
I'm going to see his set-up next week, if you want a proper recomendation
>> Edited by bugsy on Friday 14th October 19:00
Fitted my gaz dampers 4 weeks ago more than happy thanks bugsy. Took a bit of setting up ended up with ride height R 152 full 147 2gal F 135 recamended settings 12F 18-20 R . Found front on 12 a bit hard 18 on rear ok.Round town its bumpy in Manchester setteld on 9 f 17 r.If you want to meet cln1 e-mail me im on nights and you can have a test.PS bugsy hows the bush issue going.
Cheers David for offering the test drive, I'll send a few more prospective customers round over the weekend
BTW, the start click settings are 10/12 front and 18/20 rear, so your prefered settings are not far off. It should be emphasised that the starting point is only the view of one person and not cast in stone, I took two clicks off the front of mine because of the bumpy Herfordshire lanes
The bush issue is apparantly resolved to powerflex's satisfaction and the kits started going out yesterday, everybody should have delivery over the next few working days.
I expect PFtim to post soon with a full update.
>> Edited by bugsy on Saturday 15th October 08:21
BTW, the start click settings are 10/12 front and 18/20 rear, so your prefered settings are not far off. It should be emphasised that the starting point is only the view of one person and not cast in stone, I took two clicks off the front of mine because of the bumpy Herfordshire lanes
The bush issue is apparantly resolved to powerflex's satisfaction and the kits started going out yesterday, everybody should have delivery over the next few working days.
I expect PFtim to post soon with a full update.
>> Edited by bugsy on Saturday 15th October 08:21
I went for a full geo setup at a reputable independent yesterday, and he was adamant that the settings on my Gaz were back to front - ie should be 20 front and 12 rear, theory being that the stronger springs need the stiffer damping.
Certainly made the ride less 'jiggly' (technical term) on the run home. Booked in for an airfield day on Tuesday, so will test various settings and report.
Certainly made the ride less 'jiggly' (technical term) on the run home. Booked in for an airfield day on Tuesday, so will test various settings and report.
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