AC Owners Club Forum

AC Owners Club Forum => Mk IV, Superblower, CRS and other Continuation Cars Forum => Topic started by: French Frie on November 23, 2011, 10:18:01

Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: French Frie on November 23, 2011, 10:18:01: Hello,

   I saw several topics talking about shocks (some arguing about the poor quality of factory fitted Spax ones), but I assume no reference was mentioned...

   So, for record, here are the infos from Spax :

   Front: ref G953 - Price: £ 239.98 VAT incl.
   Rear : ref G952 - Price: £ 219.99 VAT incl.

   prices are for each... warning from Spax : "Please be aware for the rear units you will need to source or re-use your existing spherical bearings"

   I found that mine were really comfortable, but way too soft on bumpy roads, with bounces on compression... I played with the adjustable screw at their bottom (not the best I've seen, as it has no stop and looks fragile), and it is far better !

   Olivier
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: administrator on November 23, 2011, 11:52:38: Don't forget Spax offer 15% discount on RRP to ACOC members - details on the members' Home page with other offers.
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: Migge on November 23, 2011, 12:52:52: 240,- for one shock? There are definitly alternatives.
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: French Frie on November 23, 2011, 16:21:04: I assume springs are included, so doesn't seem that expensive to me ...
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: Migge on November 24, 2011, 09:34:59: Springs are 30,- each
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: cobham cobra on November 24, 2011, 11:37:00: FYI – Thunder Road and Speed Shop have good experience setting up the suspension on Cobras, particularly the MkIV. I am thinking of having some suspension work done on my car over the winter and have talked with the guys at Thunder Road about the springs they have made to their spec and the anti-roll bar kit they produce.
   http://thunderroadspeedshop.co.uk/4.html

   If I go ahead with the work I will post updates.

   John.
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: French Frie on November 24, 2011, 18:19:25: I'll be highly interested for both infos ! Thanks ...
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: AK1161 on November 25, 2011, 07:33:39: Wealden Engineering set up the suspension on AK1161 and it is superb. I will post all the details later and let you know which shocks we have and prices. Luke
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: French Frie on December 02, 2011, 22:04:23: Some update, again, for the records ... I passed the MKIV to the " controle technique" (French equivalent of MOT), and apart from the fact it passed it easily, it was the opportunity to tweak the suspension.

    I've read before that older Spax shocks have 14 steps setting (28 for newer), and you have to turn clockwise to stiff the damping, and anti-clockwise to soften it (of course !)... BUT, there's no stop clockwise, so the only way to know where you are is to fully turn it anti-clockwise, then count each click clockwise.

   At first try, the efficiency of my suspension was rated 86/80 RL/RR ( in %) (remember I already played with it last week, but blindly ) and 75/63 FL/FR.. After reset, and after 10 clicks on each damper, it was respectively rated 80/80 and 80/81. Quite a good result !

   On test drive, the suspension is far better , and I Assume that a setting between 8/12 clicks is the good compromise... Maybe not as good as new dampers, but mines are only 11,500 miles and it now can wait...
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: jbottini on December 02, 2011, 23:21:56: congrats!!!!
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: French Frie on January 24, 2014, 12:15:12: update : two years later, I'm about to change the Spax shocks ...

    two options :
   - new Spax ones, for about £875 (ex VAT). BTW , they took more than £100 within two years !
   - custom made Gaz shocks, with uprated springs, sold By Gerry Hawkridge, for £1,060 + £180 (ex VAT) for springs ... they are fully adjustable, with an alloy body and spherical bearings for rear already fitted. Alan Faulkner Stevens used to told me he fitted them to a member's car... who's got them, and do you think it's a nice upgrade, without taking away all the confort ride ?

   thanks !

   Olivier
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: French Frie on February 03, 2014, 08:31:07: nobody has Gerry's shocks (or others) fitted to his MKIV [xx(] ?
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: AK1131 on February 04, 2014, 18:20:39: How about Koni or Bilstein?
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: nick Godridge on February 04, 2014, 18:33:17: I have a a pair of Gerry's rear shocks, fitted by Redline engineering. They come complete with new spherical bearing. From memory, about 400 pounds the pair.
   Redline also fitted front and rear anti-roll bars. The two things work well together.

   Having said all that, my cars suspension has more in common with the "mk111' than later MK1V's, but that would affect only the roll bar fitting.

   Nick G
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: French Frie on February 12, 2014, 08:55:51: I finally went the Gerry route ... and received the parts yesterday !

   (http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s673/frenchfrie91540/public/7E61DC99-ECB2-4D76-BBEB-4CA4A48EEBEE_zpswmgpgy0v.jpg)

   (http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s673/frenchfrie91540/public/986A5859-7AB9-45D4-8936-663BE9FB813D_zpschilokrc.jpg)

   (http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s673/frenchfrie91540/public/9107F1DA-E08D-4712-8DD2-E741B28C0B33_zps9spglim8.jpg)

   I weighted each part and the aluminium body shock is only 1.8kg, and the uprated and lowered coil is 3.7kg ...

   I let you know how is the ride as soon as they'll be fitted (in March) !
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: Emmanueld on February 19, 2014, 01:56:43: I put 4 Spax shocks on my 428, a month later one shock exploded when the car was put on the lift. JUNK. Never again I was lucky the shock did not come apart on the road. You want the best performance shock, Penske, very expensive but worth it. Entry level price is $2500 for the set, remote reservoir models are double that. I have Edelbrocks for sale cheap if anybody is interested.

   http://www.penskeshocks.com


   Emmanuel[:)]
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: French Frie on April 12, 2014, 17:25:18: New update : i found the time to fit the Hawk/gaz shocks ... Or at least, try to !

   Here are the shocks with springs fitted :

   (http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s673/frenchfrie91540/public/CC117906-1AE3-4D5C-9B66-FDF8FF5A1D11_zpsqmvwk6za.jpg)

   So I started from the front left side ... Shocks (Spax and Hawk) are almost the same height :

   (http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s673/frenchfrie91540/public/9E73BE7C-E851-4718-BB26-056891CDE766_zpslqdrp5bw.jpg)

   But when I tried to fit the upper bolt, there is obviously an issue :

   (http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s673/frenchfrie91540/public/2E3B3773-EC43-42E1-854B-47352E2D93E1_zpsmi07e30x.jpg)

   The upper plateform is fouling the touret, and bolt can't be inserted, no matter how I tried !

   And the answer is obvious... The "neck" between the plateform and the eyelet is shorter by about 12 or 13 milimeters !

   (http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s673/frenchfrie91540/public/6279764A-296F-48E1-AD96-AA3F603430D8_zpsowde9frv.jpg)

   I'll contact Gerry H to sort out that, but I can't imagine i'm the only one who experiment that [:(] !
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: jbottini on April 12, 2014, 22:01:47: Looks as if not only is the neck shorter, but, the concave portion of the top that retains spring is shorter. Were these sold to you a replacement parts for a MKIV?
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: French Frie on April 12, 2014, 23:48:49: Hi Jim,

Definitely ! The "concave portion" (what I call the plateform) is flater, indeed, but keeps the same diameter as the Spax, and it shouldn't be a problem... The point is really concerning the neck...
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: Flyinghorse on April 13, 2014, 01:30:31: My initial thoughts looking at your photos and having just looked at my CRS is that someone has put the rear tops(blue dished pieces) on the front dampers and the front tops on the rear.
   In your photos the longer dampers (rears) have longer necks on the tops.
   I believe they just screw in so should (!) be an easy reversal unless heavily thread locked. On your photos I may have "spied" a lock nut in which case you should be able to swap them over.


   The necks (blue tops on yours) on my rear CRS konis are short but best check MKiv rears to be sure.



   Graham
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: jbottini on April 15, 2014, 16:59:04: Outcome?
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: Flyinghorse on May 23, 2014, 00:54:38: What was the story with these shocks FF? You have been very quiet about them.
Graham
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: French Frie on May 26, 2014, 16:21:00: no story 'til now, Graham [;)]... I didn't find the time to write to Gerry ! now it's done... wait and see !
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: French Frie on May 27, 2014, 17:10:19: end of story : shocks should have been fitted with extended top eyelet; like rear ones ... for an unknown reason, supplier didn't do so !

    they'll send correct tops directly to me, but in black, as anodized blue are no longer produced [:o)] !

   thanks to Gerry and Dave ...
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: Flyinghorse on May 28, 2014, 17:19:17: Thats good that you found a solution in time for all the summer outings coming up.

   Will be good to hear how they perform on the car in due course.

   Graham
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: AK1131 on May 29, 2014, 18:29:19: My left rear Spax shock is leaking fuild at a very low drip rate. What should I do? Have Spax rebuild all four shocks or buy new ones? Any manufacturers such as Koni or Bilstein I can fine in the USA?
Title: SPAX Shocks
Post by: French Frie on June 04, 2014, 21:29:00: I received the correct (but black) top today :

   (http://i1311.photobucket.com/albums/s673/frenchfrie91540/public/8E67003A-5A8D-4917-8AE5-E24126115D58_zpsh7twu6jo.jpg)

   The shocks will be fitted in few days , and I'll you give you my feedback asap...