GAZ dampers

Post by **classicswede** » 29 Apr 2007 08:22 pm

What are your opinions about Gaz dampers?

Spax are being rather slow with doing anything on the 300 series front dampers for me - I've spoken to Gaz and they recon they do make them fairly quickly from my specs and should be cheaper than Spax.

What are your thoughts?

Post by **petefarrell360** » 29 Apr 2007 08:29 pm

Well, cheaper is good, as long as the quality isn't going to suffer. I'm happy to pay more if the product is going to be better, a saving is always good, as long as the end result isn't an inferior product. I've not heard of GAZ before, or don't remember so. If they'll be adjustable, and available pretty soon, then I'm interested, as my front shocks need attention I think. I've got a replacement set of Monroes, but I'd rather upgrade than replace.

Pete

Post by **SteveP** » 29 Apr 2007 08:31 pm

Certainly not heard anything bad about them, but then again they're not quite as common as say Spax or Koni. Ive heard of alot of the rear engined Skoda brigade running Gaz suspension with good results.

Good work, will keep my eye on this

Post by **Fuse** » 29 Apr 2007 09:05 pm

This rally shop near me (Rally&Race) sells GAZ coilovers for different rally spec cars, not heard anything bad about them so should be good.

Post by **Carl** » 29 Apr 2007 09:12 pm

I've also heard good things about Gaz in the skoda and mini scenes. But my new SD1 has Gaz adjustables on the front, and after ~10k miles (in 3 years) they're knackered and need replacing. Not happy about that!

A friend of my Dad's is quite a serious drifter and he warned to steer clear of Gaz products as he's heard of a few cases similar to mine.

Food for thought maybe?

Post by **Nick C** » 29 Apr 2007 09:59 pm

I've heard both good and bad things about most of the makes! I know several people who say you should always steer clear of SPAX, and AVO are supposed to be pretty good, but I don't know the general opinion on GAZ, I think it;s fairly neutral...

Post by **stealthstylz** » 30 Apr 2007 01:04 am

Ive fitted a few cars with the universal type GAZ coilovers and they worked fine. However I fitted a GAZ kit to my Clio and they weren't made very well. The bolt for the top mount was too long meaning the bonnet hit it, and they needed regular maintenance on the spring platform threads as they seized very quickly.

Matt

Post by **foggyjames** » 30 Apr 2007 07:42 pm

The only info I've heard about shocks is that for heavy cars, Bilstein > everyone else in terms of lifespan. But then our cars aren't exactly that heavy...

cheers

James

Post by **stealthstylz** » 30 Apr 2007 09:16 pm

Bilstein is king if I had the money i'd fit em to every car I had. Even better than Leda's.

Matt

Post by **A M R** » 30 Apr 2007 09:23 pm

you forget about ohlins

Post by **classicswede** » 30 Apr 2007 10:26 pm

There is also AVO and FK that are two other good makes. The problem is for a brand like that you are looking at mono tubes and a lot of cash - great for some of us but out of reach for many.

If I seen many makes of damper prematurly fail - including bilsteins. The important thing is will they normaly last and function well and the manufatures attitude towards warranty. I will speak to GAZ regarding warranty and see how I feel about it.

My hope is for a positive response and hopfully then be able to supply a well priced adjustable front damper for the 300 series.

Post by **bennett** » 30 Apr 2007 11:17 pm

gaz shockers are great i had them on my mk1 escort

Post by **IvanS.** » 01 May 2007 11:25 am

Isn't Gaz Russian & Austrian corporation ? We had Gaz dampers on our old Yugo. Worth trying.

Post by **foggyjames** » 01 May 2007 07:20 pm

In Soviet Russia, shocks absorb you!

cheers

James

Post by **Van Hoof** » 02 May 2007 04:29 pm

As with everything you hear bothe good and bad things about every make. As long as you're happy that it's going to handle a beating Dai then we will wait for your decision.

Ben