Coil-over shocks... Options?
Turbo Mini Forums

I'm contemplating going 'coil overs' and am a little bit 'out of it' having not had a mini magazine for 2 years or so...

What setup would you reccomend - or perhaps definately NOT reccomend? I recall the 'protech' alloy shocks were supposed to be good - but that was many years ago!

Looking for something with a good spring availability, and damping adjustment.

Now then.

I've just bought a set of protech alloy rears. Got them from huddersfield but they came the next day.

look good, but i only got them the other day.

front is a z cars subby and it uses protechs as well.

Wolfie mentioned that he had some rebuilt by them while he waited and they were good so customer service has to count for something.

Cant see springs being an issue for coilovers though. The ones on the protechs are progressive, i think 90-140 but i cant remember, i will look when i see them next! (at my folks!)

I've got set of Gaz lowered coilovers on mine, on a 570kg car using the standard springs that come with the huddersfield kit.

the handling is brilliant on them, it still feels like a mini, and has almost no body roll, but is absorbs bumps far better than my previous gaz shock/cone setup did.

the only thing they're not great with is pot holes, where it sounds like a brick has come through the floor!

Mr. Prawn, the friendly Crustacean- slowly making steps towards forced induction.

i like the protech stuff, its a small place fun by the original engineer that did all the leda stuff 13pt adjustable, there only 15 miles from me if you want anything Dave

i have contacted them about a group buy, will wait for response

http://www.protechshocks.co.uk/products.htm

Edited by wolfie on 24th Jul, 2009.

Good skills Wolfie. I'd be interested in a set of standard front and rear shocks if it happens

I drove up there and bought mine direct. He's a real nice guy and we both had a laugh at the shit quality of my old Gaz coilovers!

I would recommend Pro Tech!

Build Thread Click Here

I had coilovers and beem axle on the back of my,n. Took them off last month because they bang when going over the smallest of pot holes. Also the ride hieght can,t be ajusted. I've tried gaz and spax. They are crap and maybe ok on track, wouldn,t use this setup on the road. Not value for money.

www.

Is that not suggesting that you have too firm a spring or too hard a damper?

The only other explanation is the plain harshness because you've moved away from a rubber-insulated suspension to something that has no give whatsoever...

i were finking of going coil overs simply to fit a rear beam to save weight.

BUT
what are the other advantages or dissadvantages?

no longer a series, but still 1.3 turbo.

I think any spax, gaz, avo etc shocks are good, and yes dont forget to get lowerd ones as all theyl do is bottom out?

Ive got protec's on mine and i think the bonus is ther alloy bodied so are lighter than the others.

Rick

I think I'm right in saying pro tech sell an "extra" lowered rear coilover set up too which maybe useful if running very low.

What do people usually run for 13s? lowered or standard? Ive heard standard, but the only reason i can think of for that is the increased height of a 13 inch wheel? Anyone else have any thoughts?

In boost we trust

the actual "height" of a 13 works out to be not that differet to a 10.

depends on tyres obviously,

Thats what i was thinking.

In boost we trust

Dave.

Following on from my post which Rob picked up on on 10/11 July .....

My lowered Gaz are still fine - only had a couple of knocks from the rear on some 4 inch potholes which were way deep.

Definitely the right choice to make a beam and stick coilovers on. It's so light, I can lift the back end up in the air plus camber and toe are a piece of cake to sort !

I'm happier with the Gaz than I was with the Spax but if I had another chance, I think I'd have gone for Protech as I've seen their kit and it's far superior than any of the other brands, plus they're only 4 miles from where I live !

Go on you know you wanna do it.

Richard.

Minivanless, but reluctantly happy living with the decision. There'll be another one day.
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=minimadmotorman#p/u

If there is a group buy, id be interested. Not sure how postage would go to aus though lol. Probs more than the product like usual lol

In boost we trust

No prob's forwarding stuff on to you again.

Just dont use the same ones as Barrichello.

I have Protech on mine and rate them, theyre rebuildable and the valve sizes can be changed also

Paul

I seriously doubt it!

i'd be keen on a group buy too, had spax in the past but the bracketry was rubbishand didnt allow you to run the car low, have to cut chunks out for clearence

Speeding is like masturbating, everyone does it, but not all of us film it and put it on the internet

[quote=fab,8th Oct, 2010]fuck off

The protech stuff looks good in many ways. The rear mount offset unit looks very well engineered.

So has anyone got an idea on approximate cost?

In boost we trust

Dave, i'll put some pics up of the rear offsets tomorrow sometime

they look nicely done.

as if you all sorting a group buy though just after i bought mine!!!

my rears were £208 posted

I'd be interested in a group buy too.