High performance shocks - NOT!!!
Discussion
Right, I know the deal with the no naming or shaming on PH so no names here then. But I have one question which I would like as much feedback as possible on:
I have replacement shock absorbers on my 94 Chimeara from a leading manufacturer (gas filled). Fitted professionally and a complete re-bush at the same time. This was 2 1/2 years ago and less than 19,000 miles.... the shocks are SHOT and LEAKING and need replacing PRONTO.... this was discovered when I took the car to have the suspension set-up again as it has dropped out slightly at the back - they are fully adjustable so this is supposed to be what you do...
I personally think this is totally unacceptible and so far a complaint letter to them has been pretty much a "yeah, so what - but you can have some more at a discount rate".
Am I being unreasonable to expect a set of high performance shock absorbers to last more than 2 1/2 years and 19,000 miles? What is the life span of replacement shocks? Do the owners of TVR's who have had these shocks fitted know that they dont last long at all?
Oh, and the car has been on a track once for 1/2 a day beginner track day and the rest of the mileage has been motorways and A roads - nothing major certainly nothing stressful or hard wearing...
I have replacement shock absorbers on my 94 Chimeara from a leading manufacturer (gas filled). Fitted professionally and a complete re-bush at the same time. This was 2 1/2 years ago and less than 19,000 miles.... the shocks are SHOT and LEAKING and need replacing PRONTO.... this was discovered when I took the car to have the suspension set-up again as it has dropped out slightly at the back - they are fully adjustable so this is supposed to be what you do...
I personally think this is totally unacceptible and so far a complaint letter to them has been pretty much a "yeah, so what - but you can have some more at a discount rate".
Am I being unreasonable to expect a set of high performance shock absorbers to last more than 2 1/2 years and 19,000 miles? What is the life span of replacement shocks? Do the owners of TVR's who have had these shocks fitted know that they dont last long at all?
Oh, and the car has been on a track once for 1/2 a day beginner track day and the rest of the mileage has been motorways and A roads - nothing major certainly nothing stressful or hard wearing...
uum I think the naming and shaming thing is to do with persons / dealers so as to avoid lawsuits etc. Dunno where it stands on naming dodgy aftermarket components - which these presumably are. unless you do say what they are how the rest of us advise? Personally 2 of my AVO's started leaking after 10K but the car had been standing for a 6 weeks which can lead to seals relaxing and and rust on the shaft tearing into the seal when it moves again etc etc. Being as AVO rebuilt them for less than 15 quid each I wasn't too fussed.
Matt
Matt
Matt,
Not going to name and shame (unless anyone emails me of course), but just wanted to know if I am being unreasonable or not.... Glad to hear that your AVO's got rebuilt - thats what I am having put on mine in a week or so's time. But what I am concerned about is that the car has covered a short(ish) distance and the manufacturer offers a 2 year guarantee - which they are now out of....strange that....
Incidentally the manufacturer of my shocks has not offered a rebuild or anything - just replacements.... makes me think that does!
Not going to name and shame (unless anyone emails me of course), but just wanted to know if I am being unreasonable or not.... Glad to hear that your AVO's got rebuilt - thats what I am having put on mine in a week or so's time. But what I am concerned about is that the car has covered a short(ish) distance and the manufacturer offers a 2 year guarantee - which they are now out of....strange that....
Incidentally the manufacturer of my shocks has not offered a rebuild or anything - just replacements.... makes me think that does!
Slightly O/T but from a perfromance car site.. common sense ??
The next question about performance shock absorbers is “Do I get the adjustable tension versions or non-adjustable ones”? For the person who has the time and inclination to test and analyse their performance, adjustable are better and usually no more expensive than non-adjustable. In reality however most people fit them and forget them, leaving them on the setting as fitted. As a matter of choice, personally, I feel that a non-adjustable one is probably better, as all money is in the business end of the unit not the adjusting mechanism. Having said that there could be a certain amount of prestige is saying you have adjustable shock absorbers.
Cheers
Matt.
The next question about performance shock absorbers is “Do I get the adjustable tension versions or non-adjustable ones”? For the person who has the time and inclination to test and analyse their performance, adjustable are better and usually no more expensive than non-adjustable. In reality however most people fit them and forget them, leaving them on the setting as fitted. As a matter of choice, personally, I feel that a non-adjustable one is probably better, as all money is in the business end of the unit not the adjusting mechanism. Having said that there could be a certain amount of prestige is saying you have adjustable shock absorbers.
Cheers
Matt.
I think you're possibly being unreasonable. Dampers are one of those components that's at it's best on dau one .. from then on they deteriorate, they should be rebuilt just as you would have your engine serviced, I suggest every two years is sensible.
AVO are the only people I know who offer a two year guarantee, but I would be surprised if you had that service from them, they rebuild any of my dampers within three working days, free of charge within the two year time span and no questions asked. Other peple I spaek to have had similar excellent service from them also. if you don't have AVO at the moment, buy some!
As stated above also, leaving dampers a long time is also a no-no for the seals, its the stiction of the seal on the rod that tears at the surface slightly, the damper is never the same again.
incidently, had you bought TVR OE spec dampers they'd have been leaking within two and a half weeks not years (allegedly)
AVO are the only people I know who offer a two year guarantee, but I would be surprised if you had that service from them, they rebuild any of my dampers within three working days, free of charge within the two year time span and no questions asked. Other peple I spaek to have had similar excellent service from them also. if you don't have AVO at the moment, buy some!
As stated above also, leaving dampers a long time is also a no-no for the seals, its the stiction of the seal on the rod that tears at the surface slightly, the damper is never the same again.
incidently, had you bought TVR OE spec dampers they'd have been leaking within two and a half weeks not years (allegedly)
Er - my Koni's on the Saab came with a lifetime warranty. This car has been standing for months on end on several occasions, and after another partial rebuild/upgrade (gearbox and suspension/brakes) I found the handling to be slightly below par. Next MOT revealed 1 leaking shock on each axle. Cue four new Koni's - the front ones came off another car, but I still had a receipt for the rears which I bought new in early 1995. I got a full refund for those two, no questions asked. 
The Dutch TVR importers had a set of fully adjustable race spec shocks developed for Chimaera/Griffith. Not cheap at EUR 1,6xx a set plus VAT/fitting. but they are said to completely transform the handling of the beasts. Judging on the applications I know, Koni's suspension tuning seems to be spot-on in the vast majority of cases. I wouldn't buy anytihng else, considering that thier 'normal' range of shocks is priced at or just barely over OE/A-brand aftermarket level.
The Dutch TVR importers had a set of fully adjustable race spec shocks developed for Chimaera/Griffith. Not cheap at EUR 1,6xx a set plus VAT/fitting. but they are said to completely transform the handling of the beasts. Judging on the applications I know, Koni's suspension tuning seems to be spot-on in the vast majority of cases. I wouldn't buy anytihng else, considering that thier 'normal' range of shocks is priced at or just barely over OE/A-brand aftermarket level.
joospeed said:
I think you're possibly being unreasonable. Dampers are one of those components that's at it's best on dau one .. from then on they deteriorate, they should be rebuilt just as you would have your engine serviced, I suggest every two years is sensible.
AVO are the only people I know who offer a two year guarantee, but I would be surprised if you had that service from them, they rebuild any of my dampers within three working days, free of charge within the two year time span and no questions asked. Other peple I spaek to have had similar excellent service from them also. if you don't have AVO at the moment, buy some!
As stated above also, leaving dampers a long time is also a no-no for the seals, its the stiction of the seal on the rod that tears at the surface slightly, the damper is never the same again.
incidently, had you bought TVR OE spec dampers they'd have been leaking within two and a half weeks not years (allegedly)
Thanks for the comments. I think it is unacceptible, but if this is around the norm then I really should accept it is the case. But, if you jumped in and said that this was a disgrace then fine.... but at least I know that I should be looking at 2 years for the life of "performance shocks".
I wonder how many other people are heading this way...
I am actually getting AVOs fitted in a week or two. The people that I am using are a race car specialist and they have all of the kit for balancing and weighting the car - plus tuning the handling to what I want (in the knowledge that I will probably go with what they recommend cos they know more than me). But these race car engineers thoroughly recommend AVOs for their performance and quality of service - it makes a big difference....
Arent the TVR handling kits AVO's?
Cat into pigeons... I've heard more people criticise AVO shocks than any other. Not having had them myself I don't really know. What I have had are Koni shocks: both of my Wedges had (have) them and even though they can get quite scabby, they don't leak and still work (well, in the pull-them-off-and-see-if-they-still-damp sense). Koni UK also offer a rebuilding service but won't do a service kit which is a bit of a bugger.
Ian
Ian
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