GTD40 shocks & springs replacement

[Laurent Hennequin]

Dear All,

I need help and advice regarding the replacement of my SPAX Shocks and springs on my 1989 GTD40.
one front shock broke and I envisage replacing the 4 shocks and springs

Has anyone done such a replacement ? If yes what have you replaced the SPAX with and if possible why?
Current shocks attachment is bushes. Some people suggest replacing bushes by sphericals attachments. Does anyone has a view on the best choice for a road (not race) designed and mainly used GTD40 ? I am being told that sperical attcahments rapidly become very noisy when used on road not track.

TORNADO UK sells a full aluminum shocks for GTDs. Has anyone installed them on his car and what is the feedback from experience with those ?

Many thanks in advance for your help and experts advice.
Laurent

 

[Mike Pass]

Protech Shocks

Affordable High Quality Competition and Fast Road Shock Absorbers Hand Made in the UK

www.protechshocks.co.uk

 

[Malcolm]

A great upgrade from the original Spax dampers is to go to Koni two way adjustables. And to use a rising rate spring set up. Uses sperical bearings but these have lasted well on my car, not an issue in my mind. The ride improvement is brilliant and can cope with road, fast road and track use all in the one package. Just not the cheapest set up but I think it well worth it.

 

[Laurent Hennequin]

Thanks Malcolm,
You recon the bearings do not become noisy quickly by using on the road

 

[Chris Kouba]

Best solution to noisy shock bearings?

cross overs and more right pedal:

 

[Malcolm]

Thanks Malcolm,
You recon the bearings do not become noisy quickly by using on the road

No. And as Chris just mentioned our cars are not the quietest in the world. Plus if they did become noisy on the Konis they can be replaced as a component rather than needing to buy a complete new set of dampers. Also consider that a lot of 40 replicas use heim joints/rose joints throughout the suspension. If they failed this quickly then they would not be used as widely.

 

[Laurent Hennequin]

Dear Mike, Malcolm, Chris,

Many thanks again for you advice. Really appreciated.
I agree that the GT40 is "noisy" by definition thus a bit more or a bit less would not make a great deal of difference.
At the moment I think I have 2 options : the KONI 8211 the "luxury" choice and the QA1 the "more reasonnable" option. I have 2 friends that have bearing mounted QA1 shocks and they are extremely pleased both for track as well as road usage. The QA1 are less expensive ; they are available in the 2 options i.e. bearings or bushings.

I'll do all the required measurements and get the advice from both Koni and QA1