Update on having Gaz shocks fitted to my Griff 500
Discussion
There was so much debate before Christmas about poly bushes, which shocks were best and what brand of rare alloy gave the best performance at 11/10ths through Eau Rouge that it got a bit confusing for a mortal like me.
So as I've just had the Gaz shocks/uprated springs kit from Absolutely Shocks fitted to my Griff (by Warren and team at TopCats) I thought I'd share some real world feedback for anyone else thinking about it. I'm really pleased with the difference its made but I'll try to be objective. FYI, my Griff is about 10 years old but has only done 18000 miles (most with me in the last 2 years). I didn't change the bushes as they were checked and were fine. In fact the whole car has been very well looked after and the suspension was assessed as being in pretty decent standard shape before I started by a couple of different people who know about Griffs.
1. The ride is firmer but around town but if anything more comfortable for me - I guess a bit less pitching about when turning, braking etc. On the motorway bumps are a little more intrusive than before at around 60mph, less noticeable above that, but in any event not enough to worry me.
2. The steering is lighter (still just as communicative and sharp but I noticed the lightness straight away). I guess this could be down to the wheels being realigned but previous realignments didn't have that effect.
3. Pulling away 'briskly' up to 70 is far better, back end now squats just a little rather than the nose lifting, steering doesn't lighten at all whereas it used to lighten a bit which bothered me when it happened.
4. Best bit is accelerating hard out of tight bumpy turns (typical roundabout etc.). No push on understeer, no pattering of front wheels over the bumps, just grips and goes.
5. Braking was never bad, but now feels incredibly stable when stopping hard from motorway speeds.
6. Motorway cruising, especially long curves (the A41 back from TopCats is very
) feels much more stable, less likely to wander on long curves, hard to describe but just feels rock steady without feeling harsh, you can just hold the line without having to keep making adjustments.
7. Tramlining is less as is the tendancy to pull to the left - again that last bit I assume is just because the wheel alignment has been done properly now.
Overall I couldn't be happier, top marks to Derek at Ab.Shocks and Warren and the guys at Top Cats all of whom couldn't have treated me better. I think the best way I can describe it is a that I feel more connected to the road and more confident. Total cost of bits, fitting (including alignment, corner weighting, i.e. a proper job), VAT etc. was just under £800.
I've got no idea if any other brand would be better/faster, what the cooling performance is like after 30 laps and whether the unsprung weight could be 5% better but I guess if you are interested in those things you'll know already and will be happy to debate them on another thread.
gooner
So as I've just had the Gaz shocks/uprated springs kit from Absolutely Shocks fitted to my Griff (by Warren and team at TopCats) I thought I'd share some real world feedback for anyone else thinking about it. I'm really pleased with the difference its made but I'll try to be objective. FYI, my Griff is about 10 years old but has only done 18000 miles (most with me in the last 2 years). I didn't change the bushes as they were checked and were fine. In fact the whole car has been very well looked after and the suspension was assessed as being in pretty decent standard shape before I started by a couple of different people who know about Griffs.
1. The ride is firmer but around town but if anything more comfortable for me - I guess a bit less pitching about when turning, braking etc. On the motorway bumps are a little more intrusive than before at around 60mph, less noticeable above that, but in any event not enough to worry me.
2. The steering is lighter (still just as communicative and sharp but I noticed the lightness straight away). I guess this could be down to the wheels being realigned but previous realignments didn't have that effect.
3. Pulling away 'briskly' up to 70 is far better, back end now squats just a little rather than the nose lifting, steering doesn't lighten at all whereas it used to lighten a bit which bothered me when it happened.
4. Best bit is accelerating hard out of tight bumpy turns (typical roundabout etc.). No push on understeer, no pattering of front wheels over the bumps, just grips and goes.
5. Braking was never bad, but now feels incredibly stable when stopping hard from motorway speeds.
6. Motorway cruising, especially long curves (the A41 back from TopCats is very
) feels much more stable, less likely to wander on long curves, hard to describe but just feels rock steady without feeling harsh, you can just hold the line without having to keep making adjustments. 7. Tramlining is less as is the tendancy to pull to the left - again that last bit I assume is just because the wheel alignment has been done properly now.
Overall I couldn't be happier, top marks to Derek at Ab.Shocks and Warren and the guys at Top Cats all of whom couldn't have treated me better. I think the best way I can describe it is a that I feel more connected to the road and more confident. Total cost of bits, fitting (including alignment, corner weighting, i.e. a proper job), VAT etc. was just under £800.
I've got no idea if any other brand would be better/faster, what the cooling performance is like after 30 laps and whether the unsprung weight could be 5% better but I guess if you are interested in those things you'll know already and will be happy to debate them on another thread.
gooner
what a bargain!
all four corners sorted and for well under a Grand!
i know derek has done alot of work with these with steve guglielmi and others and it really does seem to be a well sorted package, and with Topcats fitting them...you know it'll all be done properly. there isn't too much they don't know about suspension.
costs do seem to be coming done all the time now. this was one of the reasons i went for a TVR in the first place. someone i know just had 1st gear done on his 911.
"shall we rebuild it sir...seems only sensible"
why not says the punter, how much so far?
"well the synchro and 1st gear are £400...labour is...
HOW MUCH!!!!! no way, just stick it back together!!
makes £800 seem VERY good value indeed.
andy
all four corners sorted and for well under a Grand!
i know derek has done alot of work with these with steve guglielmi and others and it really does seem to be a well sorted package, and with Topcats fitting them...you know it'll all be done properly. there isn't too much they don't know about suspension.
costs do seem to be coming done all the time now. this was one of the reasons i went for a TVR in the first place. someone i know just had 1st gear done on his 911.
"shall we rebuild it sir...seems only sensible"
why not says the punter, how much so far?
"well the synchro and 1st gear are £400...labour is...
HOW MUCH!!!!! no way, just stick it back together!!
makes £800 seem VERY good value indeed.
andy
Simon,
Glad to hear that you are pleased with your purchase, I did run some of dereks shocks for a couple of months last year, I was very pleased with the handling of my chimaera which became a totally transformed car.
Dereks gaz shocks replaced my standard very worn items which I ended up re-fitiing, so again I could appreciate how much better they were than the standard item, that said one of my rears was blown!
so probably not the best comparison...
anyway as part of my restoration project I will be running some of dereks latest shocks, hopfully I will be as pleased as your good self!
Steve.
Glad to hear that you are pleased with your purchase, I did run some of dereks shocks for a couple of months last year, I was very pleased with the handling of my chimaera which became a totally transformed car.
Dereks gaz shocks replaced my standard very worn items which I ended up re-fitiing, so again I could appreciate how much better they were than the standard item, that said one of my rears was blown!
so probably not the best comparison... anyway as part of my restoration project I will be running some of dereks latest shocks, hopfully I will be as pleased as your good self!
Steve.
All good news, especially as I recomended Warren, I know many claims are made for other brands of shocks and people say I have been short sighted just sticking with Gaz and Ohlins but its hard to justify taking on other manufacturers products when everybody seems so happy with the current lines.
BTW with a 50mm barrel, an anti cavitation gas bag and the latest oils, I'm told that track use will not diminish the performance of the steel shocks as much as you might think.
BTW with a 50mm barrel, an anti cavitation gas bag and the latest oils, I'm told that track use will not diminish the performance of the steel shocks as much as you might think.
just had the Gaz Gold's fitted to my chim 450. The difference over the originals is amazing (they were knackered though).
The car is much quicker round the twisty bits, and much more stable at 130 leptons.
I'm well chuffed.
edited to add I agree with gooner's 7 points above. well worth the money IMHO
>> Edited by FunkyGibbon on Wednesday 22 March 17:54
The car is much quicker round the twisty bits, and much more stable at 130 leptons.
I'm well chuffed.
edited to add I agree with gooner's 7 points above. well worth the money IMHO
>> Edited by FunkyGibbon on Wednesday 22 March 17:54
Mine was the test car for the Gaz..... Derek keeps offering to change my rears for the new revalved ones they produced after playing around with my car... I'm just happy with the way is
Its amazing though how a well setup car handles, I've taken a few people out who have ditched their Nitrons and personally I rekcon a lot of this is down to setup and not the fact that the Nitrons were not performing.
Having now had 2 tivs that I've changed the suspension on I would say set-up is 9/10's of it for us road users, I can not comment on track day use (yet )
Its amazing though how a well setup car handles, I've taken a few people out who have ditched their Nitrons and personally I rekcon a lot of this is down to setup and not the fact that the Nitrons were not performing.
Having now had 2 tivs that I've changed the suspension on I would say set-up is 9/10's of it for us road users, I can not comment on track day use (yet
)Hoover. said:
Mine was the test car for the Gaz..... Derek keeps offering to change my rears for the new revalved ones they produced after playing around with my car... I'm just happy with the way is
Its amazing though how a well setup car handles, I've taken a few people out who have ditched their Nitrons and personally I rekcon a lot of this is down to setup and not the fact that the Nitrons were not performing.
Having now had 2 tivs that I've changed the suspension on I would say set-up is 9/10's of it for us road users, I can not comment on track day use (yet
Hopefully on the track soon Steve, give it a go!
Yes Gugi did weave his magic rather well on your car, I remember what it was like before.
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