 Shock options for track cars, Give me your opinions |
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| nine14cats |
 May 17 2004, 01:44 PM
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#1
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Bill Pickering -- 914-6 GT aka....Leeloo  Group: Members Posts: 2,618 Joined: 10-February 03 From: Campbell, CA Member No.: 287 Region Association: None  |
Hi Gang,
I'm currently running Bilstein's all around on my track car. No special valving. Right out of the box. If we were to assume the current set up at the bottom and the JWE Fox shocks at the top, what are my options in between? My current car setup: Front = --------- 23mm solid t-bars 27mm Smart racing AR bar 911T struts, calipers, brakes turbo tie rods Bilstein shocks Rear = -------- 350lbs to 450lbs springs (depending upon track or application) adjustable perches Bilstein shocks 944 calipers and brakes I will be going to bigger brakes all around, so I won't have the 911T struts much longer. What are my shock options and approx. costs? i.e. low end $500, Fox shocks $4400.... We run this car at Thunderhilll, Laguna Seca, Sears, Buttonwillow. Thanks, Bill P. |
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| seanery |
May 17 2004, 02:59 PM
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#2
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waiting to rebuild whitey! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 15,852 Joined: 7-January 03 From: Indy Member No.: 100 Region Association: None |
wasn't Smart Racing supposedly working on making some affordable triple adjustable external resevoir shocks?
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| ChrisReale |
May 17 2004, 03:13 PM
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#3
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Sleazy Group: Members Posts: 2,665 Joined: 20-January 03 From: San Francisco Member No.: 176 |
SmartRacing and affordable in the same sentence, Sean? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
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| seanery |
May 17 2004, 03:22 PM
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#4
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waiting to rebuild whitey! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 15,852 Joined: 7-January 03 From: Indy Member No.: 100 Region Association: None |
do you guys remember? there was an article in excellence where they went to sears or laguna, maybe thunderhill and ran a prototype of them against another shock (stock?)
this was probably 9-12 months ago. someone else out there has to remember other than me. |
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| brant |
May 17 2004, 03:34 PM
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#5
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914 Wizard Group: Members Posts: 11,623 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Colorado Member No.: 47 Region Association: Rocky Mountains 
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I remember sean...
(probably still out of my price range though)... Bill, check out Carrera custom valved shocks.. I have NOT driven on mine yet, but did get custom length and custom valved shocks for both ends of my project car.... even though I have not driven on them, there are a dozen 914's in colorado running them (all custom valved for spring rate) and I hear very good things... thus the reason I got them.... I can almost guarantee they will be less than the smart racing... I bought mine through a tuning shop/race, so I don't have any direct contact info for the company. brant |
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| Jeroen |
May 17 2004, 03:35 PM
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#6
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 7,887 Joined: 24-December 02 From: The Netherlands Member No.: 3 Region Association: Europe |
Yep, those are the Fox-shocks mentioned above
I thought they were in the $900 - $1100 ballpark for a set of fronts (shocks and struts) cheers, Jeroen |
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| nine14cats |
May 17 2004, 03:35 PM
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#7
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Bill Pickering -- 914-6 GT aka....Leeloo Group: Members Posts: 2,618 Joined: 10-February 03 From: Campbell, CA Member No.: 287 Region Association: None |
I believe they are the $4400 shocks and strut combo's.....yikes!
I know of other shocks like Koni's and Advance Design shocks... |
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| J P Stein |
May 17 2004, 05:55 PM
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#8
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Irrelevant old fart Group: Members Posts: 8,797 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Vancouver, WA Member No.: 45 Region Association: None |
Bilstein will revalve yours for 65 bucks a pop.
Works for me. |
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| TimT |
May 17 2004, 06:55 PM
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#9
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retired Group: Members Posts: 4,033 Joined: 18-February 03 From: Wantagh, NY Member No.: 313 |
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) let Bilstein valve your shocks appropriately.. You will need to supply them with your corner weight info, hp info, the intended use ( rough track, smooth track) and they will valve the shocks to suit, the last time I had them revalve shocks it was $110 a pair...
I have Bilstein RSR front struts in my 914, Im thinking of having the struts and inserts shortened, Bottoming the suspension at over 100mph sucks...and makes you soil your undies..and this is with 450# front springs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) |
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| campbellcj |
May 17 2004, 10:41 PM
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#10
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I can't Re Member Group: Members Posts: 4,545 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Agoura, CA Member No.: 21 Region Association: Southern California
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If you are going to replace the front strut assemblies anyway, I would consider the Fox (SRP) units or the Bilstein RSR types. Neither will be cheap but can be valved/adjusted to exactly your needs, including spindle height. The main issues in terms of rules are probably whether you are allowed to use external reservoir shocks; coilovers; or modified spindle heights. Most of the vintage groups are uptight about such things, while the "GT" classes in PCA etc are pretty much open.
For the rears, either custom revalved Bilsteins or perhaps better, externally adjustable Koni's (the race ones $$$$). Just my $.02...I don't have these goodies yet myself (Rallye/Sport Bilsteins at the moment) so take it for what it's worth...probably about $.01 |
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| seanery |
May 19 2004, 02:40 PM
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#11
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waiting to rebuild whitey! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 15,852 Joined: 7-January 03 From: Indy Member No.: 100 Region Association: None |
Bill,
on the plane to Houston I was reading my new issue of Pano. On page 75 is the smartracing ad. Fox Racing Shox Front $859-1189 Rear $364 - 659 |
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| Mueller |
May 19 2004, 02:50 PM
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#12
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914 Freak! Group: Members Posts: 17,146 Joined: 4-January 03 From: Antioch, CA Member No.: 87 Region Association: None
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that's each (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
I held/touched a set of those SmartRacing struts a few weeks ago.....works of art......I so want a set, but it's hard to cough up the money* for something that cost more than my entire car (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) *not having the money, I guess it's a moot point, LOL |
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| seanery |
May 19 2004, 02:54 PM
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#13
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waiting to rebuild whitey! Group: Retired Admin Posts: 15,852 Joined: 7-January 03 From: Indy Member No.: 100 Region Association: None |
I was afraid to go look to see if that was each/pair.
If they were to sell those as a pair at that price, they would sell a lot (IMHO). not even on my wish list priced each (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) |
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| Jeroen |
May 19 2004, 03:16 PM
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#14
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 7,887 Joined: 24-December 02 From: The Netherlands Member No.: 3 Region Association: Europe |
If those are EACH, than I'll scratch them of my "want list"
I think you could get a set of JRZ's for that... cheers, Jeroen |
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| campbellcj |
May 19 2004, 11:04 PM
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#15
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I can't Re Member Group: Members Posts: 4,545 Joined: 26-December 02 From: Agoura, CA Member No.: 21 Region Association: Southern California
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I'd be suprised if the 1200 is "each". IMHO that is too close to the price point of the Motons and JRZ's to be seriously competitive.
Also obviously you could get a pair of custom valved, threaded RSR Bilsteins at that price point. Has anybody talked to Craig or one of the other SRP people lately? |
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| Brad Roberts |
May 19 2004, 11:15 PM
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#16
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914 Freak! Group: Members Posts: 19,148 Joined: 23-December 02 Member No.: 8 Region Association: None |
For those of you who said: "have custom valved shocks done"
It doesnt work that way if you want to go fast. Porsche hasnt sent a factory race car out into public with non-adjustable shocks in almost 15 years now. Every top SCCA/PCA/POC AutoX and road race car has "at least" 2-4 way adjustable shocks on it. Each track/each venue requires a different setup. You wont get this with "custom valved" shocks. You can get close, but what works for Portland may not be worth a damn at Buttonwillow as far as valving goes. Most of the top drivers in GT class SCCA have been running Penske's since 1995 or so. FYI: the Fox shocks from SMART are only two way adjustable. The hot ticket is 4 way (Moton/Ohlin/JRZ) B |
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| nine14cats |
May 19 2004, 11:21 PM
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#17
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Bill Pickering -- 914-6 GT aka....Leeloo Group: Members Posts: 2,618 Joined: 10-February 03 From: Campbell, CA Member No.: 287 Region Association: None |
This board rocks! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)
Look at all of the great information pouring out. I'm looking at page 75 of Pano right now. Those Fox shocks look pretty nice..... Just planning ahead for how much I have to save.... Me wants better shocks.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) B, Is the $859 to $1189 each that is listed in Pano each or for a pair? Brakes/Shocks are the next big ticket item for me. Bill P. |
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| J P Stein |
May 20 2004, 02:47 AM
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#18
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Irrelevant old fart Group: Members Posts: 8,797 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Vancouver, WA Member No.: 45 Region Association: None |
Gud idea, Brad.
Spend $5-6K for some shox.....another adjustment to fuck around with in the staging lanes, eh? I got a news flash for ya. Rather than dick around with the car, you better be concentrating your driving cause that's what the "fast" guys are doing. 3 runs and you're done in SCCA, so you better have your car's shit together when you get there. Got a chuckle this last Sunday. Couple of AX buddies got in a test session in the Pro Pits when a local bucks up racer was renting the big track. The car they share is a Boxster S set up at Fordhal's place. So one of em is telling me about it. I tole him he was a "one way sumbitch" for not letting me in on it....with a (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) of course. He went on at length describing all the good shit they had accomplished. He & I usually are prettty close timewise and his co driver whupps on me. I tole him that if I beat him (I hadn't run yet) I was gonna be insufferable.....beat both of em' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) |
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| Jeroen |
May 20 2004, 06:33 AM
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#19
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 7,887 Joined: 24-December 02 From: The Netherlands Member No.: 3 Region Association: Europe |
I checked with Kanna Motorsports a little while back
They have a similar set of struts (adj. spindle height) but with Ohlin 3 way adjustable shocks He quoted me $4700 for a set of fronts... I'm not saying that's expensive, but it sure is a lot 'o money And I seriously doubt I will benefit from these trick shocks I'm sure they're the hot ticket for someone who knows how to set them up, but I think it's WAAAAAAY beyond my skills to adjust them properly. I've seen racer friends who got JRZ or similar setups on their cars, just "because it's the stuff to have" and seen them getting blown off the track by cars with yellow Koni's because they are incapable of tuning the shocks. Not my idea of fun after spending well over $5000 I'm still in doubt what to do... Just get 23mm t-bars and yellow koni's and see where that takes me or go for coil-overs right away Ah... I've still got time to think about it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) cheers, Jeroen |
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| Bleyseng |
May 20 2004, 07:33 AM
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#20
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Aircooled Baby! Group: Members Posts: 13,034 Joined: 27-December 02 From: Seattle, Washington (for now) Member No.: 24 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
Ya-roon,
How is the 914 project coming? Any progress or are you like Mueller, still in the disassembly phase. Sorry to steal the thread..... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Geoff |
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