The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

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 Post subject: Sprint shock absorbers
PostPosted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 5:31 pm 
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Joined: Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:47 pm
Posts: 35
Has anyone else had a poor experience with Spax shock absorbers. In the 1970’s I bought a pair of Spax adjustable ride shocks for the rear of my 1850. I only had them on for a matter of weeks before binning them. They rattled constantly on rough surfaces. I have never experienced this with any standard shocks.

In 2009 I had great hopes of making plenty of progress with a Sprint restoration and bought a set of uprated springs and Spax hide and ride adjustable shocks. Only now have I finally got the car on the road, thanks to lockdown. The fronts are as yet untested because the lowered springs even with the spring seat at the lowest setting have the car sitting higher than standard. So I fitted standard springs and shocks for testing.

The rear springs and shocks achieve a near standard ride height but just as years ago these also create a constant rattle on rough surfaces that is just unacceptable. Am I just unlucky or is this to be expected.

I tied off the brake load sensing valve. No change. Substituting standard shocks and all is quiet. Observations are welcome. Standard, Gaz or are Spax better now?

BobM


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PostPosted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 10:06 pm 
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Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:12 pm
Posts: 7013
Location: Highley, Shropshire
I've not had any problems with Spax, but i've not had any since the 80s. But I HAVE got some Gaz with ASPs, have had them on my road/track 2.0 litre Toledo since 2011 without any problems at all and am happy as a pig in s**t with them! The car they are on has a very light 2 door body, i'm running stock Sprint front springs and stock Toledo rears, the car is about 2" lower than (Toledo) standard ride height and would go even lower on the ASP adjustment, assuming I didn't value my exhaust, subframe and sump!

Steve

PS, one thing I would point out is that I also fitted the new Gaz shox with new front springs, adjusted the ride height to what looked about right and drove it. A week or so later I had to adjust it UP about an inch as the new springs settled in. Then again a fortnight later and a final 1/2" or so 6 months after that! Just recently, 10years and 40k hard miles later, i've been thinking it might want to go up a few MM more, but not bad service I think.

_________________
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.


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PostPosted: Fri Apr 30, 2021 11:07 pm 
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Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:13 am
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Location: The continent
15.000km daily driving and the spaxes were tire pumps. Rubbish. Gaz and avo lasted about 120.000km.

Jeroen.

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PostPosted: Mon May 03, 2021 9:51 am 
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Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 9:49 pm
Posts: 59
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk
I've just refitted the standard front springs back to my Sprint as the 1" lower ones made the front too crashy and the subframe hit the ground and found the adjustable Spax that a previous owner fitted about 8 years/6000 miles ago to be completely drained out of oil and the bottom polybush eyelet to have collapsed causing them to rattle.

I've just ordered a new pair of adjustable Gaz ones direct to replace them.

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1976 1850 in Pimento Red with 33000 miles


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PostPosted: Mon May 03, 2021 6:13 pm 
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Joined: Mon Dec 03, 2012 6:04 pm
Posts: 1549
Quote:
I've just refitted the standard front springs back to my Sprint as the 1" lower ones made the front too crashy and the subframe hit the ground and found the adjustable Spax that a previous owner fitted about 8 years/6000 miles ago to be completely drained out of oil and the bottom polybush eyelet to have collapsed causing them to rattle.

I've just ordered a new pair of adjustable Gaz ones direct to replace them.
Judging by some of the reports coming in, I feared that Spax had gone the way of so many companies and it was just a brand on Chinese rubbish. However I just checked and they seem to still be British and made here.

I am wondering if some of these rubbish shocks could be Chinese knockoffs and not the real thing?


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PostPosted: Mon May 03, 2021 10:10 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:49 pm
Posts: 960
Location: Sutton,Surrey.
When I first built my V8 Sprint.
I had a problem with a leaking rear Spax shock.
Rimmers eventually replaced the shock
Despite being out of warranty but had no mileage on them.

I got nothing against Spax or Rimmers.
But I’ll be going possibly GAZ if I need replacements after 19 years.

_________________
2009 Mini Clubman Cooper S Daily Driver.
1980 Dolomite Sprint with a touch of BLTS
Balanced Lightened and Tweaked 13B Rotary and SuperCharged.
Back in my possession 22 September 2019.
Rebuilding the Sprint time taken so far, 111Hrs@15/12/2020
212Hrs @31/12/2021
352 @ 28/11/2022
455Hrs @ 20/10/2023
480Hrs @ 14/03/2024
This is time taken at the Sprint not necessary time worked.

Working on a ratio of just 7Hrs a day not including driving to the Sprint.
That equals to 68 days that doesn’t include weekends.
Member TDC no 0471

Project 13B Sprint now back on.


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PostPosted: Wed May 05, 2021 7:58 am 
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Joined: Thu Oct 06, 2011 1:13 am
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Location: The continent
Quote:
Quote:
I've just refitted the standard front springs back to my Sprint as the 1" lower ones made the front too crashy and the subframe hit the ground and found the adjustable Spax that a previous owner fitted about 8 years/6000 miles ago to be completely drained out of oil and the bottom polybush eyelet to have collapsed causing them to rattle.

I've just ordered a new pair of adjustable Gaz ones direct to replace them.
Judging by some of the reports coming in, I feared that Spax had gone the way of so many companies and it was just a brand on Chinese rubbish. However I just checked and they seem to still be British and made here.

I am wondering if some of these rubbish shocks could be Chinese knockoffs and not the real thing?
These were rubbish 25 years ago also... And we all know the best shocks are from The Netherlands. Koni, Intrax, Reiger etc.

Jeroen

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PostPosted: Wed May 05, 2021 9:16 am 
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Joined: Sun Oct 26, 2008 7:26 am
Posts: 2473
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
I've just refitted the standard front springs back to my Sprint as the 1" lower ones made the front too crashy and the subframe hit the ground and found the adjustable Spax that a previous owner fitted about 8 years/6000 miles ago to be completely drained out of oil and the bottom polybush eyelet to have collapsed causing them to rattle.

I've just ordered a new pair of adjustable Gaz ones direct to replace them.
Judging by some of the reports coming in, I feared that Spax had gone the way of so many companies and it was just a brand on Chinese rubbish. However I just checked and they seem to still be British and made here.

I am wondering if some of these rubbish shocks could be Chinese knockoffs and not the real thing?


These were rubbish 25 years ago also... And we all know the best shocks are from The Netherlands. Koni, Intrax, Reiger etc.

Jeroen
No idea of the others from NL, but Koni are excellent. Streets ahead of Spax/Gaz/Avo. My experience of Gaz is underwhelming, helping on a friends Vitesse. Loads of adjustment clicks, but they are solid at 5 clicks, and had to be set to just teh 2nd click to get an acceptable ride

25 years ago spax where known to be poorly put together. Another friend had 2 (or was it 3) brand new ones that unscrewed themselves so the damping rod became disconnected from the innards. The supplier was adamant it was a fitting issue. But I reckon it was a batch. They swapped for Koni, very happy with that.

Not sure who makes quality shocks for the dolomites. Luckily, I have a set of proper old stock shocks on the car. May be Girling, but the brand eludes me at the moment.

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Clive Senior
Brighton


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PostPosted: Wed May 05, 2021 5:36 pm 
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Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2007 10:27 am
Posts: 112
Location: U.K.
Hi,
Koni shocks are not still available new though are they for our cars?


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