shock absorbers

[len]

hi
am about the refurb my suspension,, polybush everywhere , only decision i havent made is which shock absorbers to fit, the standard shocks only seem to have a part number and not a brand name, which leads me to think they wont last long.so do i go for a brand i.e Spax or similar even though they are probably going to stiffen up the ride, i like the standard fitment but the parts are dubious,
what experiences do Spax or similar users feel ?
thanks
Len

[V Mad]

Spax are adjustable so no need for a hard ride. Saying that, a friend had some Spaxs which didnt last as long as you would expect. They tell me that they were taken over since then and quality has risen, if you believe it.

As for the cheaper ones, just ask the supplier what brand they are, they will tell you.

[Gresley]

I fitted KYB to mine front and back and I'm really impressed. The ride is still comfortable and smooth and the general handling is excellent. I had standard fronts previously which lasted four years before both leaked

[martin]

Hi Len, after 38 years my old girl's still on the originals, so I don't think there's a survival issue Martin.

[404ROD]

I have had Spax adjustables since 1995 and still going strong. No problem with durability.

Rod

[KOY 23]

Spax are adjustable so no need for a hard ride. Saying that, a friend had some Spaxs which didnt last as long as you would expect. They tell me that they were taken over since then and quality has risen, if you believe it.

As for the cheaper ones, just ask the supplier what brand they are, they will tell you.

Chris.

Yes Spax front shocks are adjustable from hard to solid. Everyone I know has them on the softest setting, which is much harder than standard. Rears I have around 4 clicks from soft. Handles well though.

When was the change of ownership?

[73stagman]

I've put GAZ adjustable shocks all round but havent driven it yet..... Sometime next year.....maybe

[Rubce]

Our car has KYB's fitted front and back.

On a slightly different note, it always amuses me why people call them "shock absorbers". The springs are the items which absorb the shock of potholes etc. What people often calls "shocks" are actually there to dampen the motion of the spring after it receives a shock. Hence their proper name is "damper".

So the coil springs are the "shock asborbers"
and the Spax, KYB etc are "Dampers"

Hey ho

Bruce

[martin]

Our car has KYB's fitted front and back.

On a slightly different note, it always amuses me why people call them "shock absorbers". The springs are the items which absorb the shock of potholes etc. What people often calls "shocks" are actually there to dampen the motion of the spring after it receives a shock. Hence their proper name is "damper".

So the coil springs are the "shock asborbers"
and the Spax, KYB etc are "Dampers"

Hey ho

Bruce

If you're going to go all American on us, the correct word is "dampner".

[Rubce]

Nowt American about calling them dampers. I work in an engineering industry and vehicles we deal with can have up to four types of damper fitted, "primary vertical" as used on a car, "lateral" to stop side to side, "yaw" to stop body roll and "secondary vertical" to further smooth the ride. Cheers Bruce

[72BLUE]

Hey Bruce, what do you make of this of Wiki?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_absorber

Spring-based shock absorbers commonly use coil springs or leaf springs, though torsion bars are used in torsional shocks as well. Ideal springs alone, however, are not shock absorbers, as springs only store and do not dissipate or absorb energy. Vehicles typically employ both hydraulic shock absorbers and springs or torsion bars. In this combination, "shock absorber" refers specifically to the hydraulic piston that absorbs and dissipates vibration.


Cheers, Keith.

[ChasR]

KYBs seem to be good, and they are composed.

IMO Dampers are the one aspect of the car many people (and I) do not consider changing. Once changed, you wonder why they were not changed sooner (I guess the gradual deterioration of them does not help).

[V Mad]

"In this combination, "shock absorber" refers specifically to the hydraulic piston that absorbs and dissipates vibration."

I think that is confusing; it should say that it prevents or reduces oscillation. A car spring with no shock absorber will oscillate (bounce continuously) until something like a shock absorber dampens it.

[Rubce]

Yes well we all know how reliable Wikipedia is!

Even Triumph referred to them as "Dampers" in the ROM's for the Stag, Vitesse, GT6.

Koni themselves refer to them as "Dampers" on their website!

http://www.koni.uk.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=255:koni-raid-dampers&catid=16&Itemid=287

Cheers

Bruce