Best shocks to use on 13" rims?

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big-un1967
998 Cooper
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Best shocks to use on 13" rims?

Post by big-un1967 »

Does anyone have any experience running 13" rims with race tyres circuit racing?

What shock absorbers have they tried? What seems to work the best?

Appreciate any race feedback

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Vegard
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Re: Best shocks to use on 13" rims?

Post by Vegard »

Dampers?
big-un1967
998 Cooper
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Re: Best shocks to use on 13" rims?

Post by big-un1967 »

Still called shock absorbers in the UK, aka dampers.

P
Richspec
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Re: Best shocks to use on 13" rims?

Post by Richspec »

I think what V means is Shock absorbers (Donuts) or Dampers? eg Spax, etc. as there's a variety of both and combinations of both for racing.

I think the answer for dampers is, 'how much do you want to spend?'
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mini_surfari
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Re: Best shocks to use on 13" rims?

Post by mini_surfari »

I’m running gaz on my car,

I am happy enough with them however they’re very firm and adjusted nearly as firm as they go.

I will be swapping for pro tech at somepoint though
Julian Harber
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Re: Best shocks to use on 13" rims?

Post by Julian Harber »

We have professionaly dyno'ed several new sets of mini dampers including GAZ which were the most disappointng of the twin tube dampers - Protect at least still did something after being `worked' and are not expensive, moving to single tube is the way to go if you can afford it
But track time benefit vs suspesion mod cost is almost certainly less expensive than tracktime vs cost of more bhp engine mods - however every one and his dog has an opion for what it is worth this works for me and having run 13" with Avon Slicks it needs all the suspension help you can get
gazwad
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Re: Best shocks to use on 13" rims?

Post by gazwad »

I only have experience on 10" wheels but I have tried several different dampers recently to try and find something decent. First was GAZ, they are ok for the price but don't last long and are in my opinion an ok upgrade from standard on a road car but i wouldn't recommend them. Then I tried protech, fantastic customer service and they look great, but offer about the same handling as the GAZ and all three brand new sets I tried rattled on my car so they had to go. Next was some very old koni's which were just meant to be temporary until i found something better but as it turned out these were really good despite being very old, good handling, comfortable and quiet in operation. The only reason I wanted to change them is for adjustable dampers for occasional track use. These were the red koni's and they do yellow ones which would be better for a track car on 13's.
I am now using KYB AGX evolution adjustable dampers and they are brilliant! The best of the lot. The handling is miles ahead of all the others, wheel control is excellent and they are silent. Time will tell how well they last but i am confident as the quality seems very very good. The only minor downside is on their softest setting they are still stiffer than the others (i'd say the same as roughly around 4 clicks from softest on the GAZ) which is no problem on the front (2-3clicks from softest is still comfortable on the road) but the rears are slightly stiffer than I would like on the road but not uncomfortable, just 'sporty'. They have also reduced body roll alot as I believe they work differently to the others being gas pressurised twin tube.
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