Ok got a dilemma

[Hasbeen]

How the world has changed.

In the day, mid 60s, I charged $18 each exchange for competition tuned struts for Cortinas & Triumph 2000 saloons.

It cost $6.80 each exchange for competition tuned lever front suspension shocks for an MG A. My generation are so lucky to have lived through the best era of motoring & motor sport.

Hasbeen

[Beans]

... In the day, mid 60s, I charged $18 each exchange for competition tuned struts for Cortinas & Triumph 2000 saloons ...

To young to have experienced those prices
But I don't complain to much as I was still able to pick up these Koni's for my DHC for free some 10years ago

TR7 KONI Shoch Absorbers.JPG (132.67 KiB) Viewed 4785 times

As for the original dilemma, as always you get what you pay for.
And Spax, well I once had a set of Spax under my first TR7 and the non adjustable fronts wore out in less then 20.000 km.
The adjustable rears didn't fare much better and hadn't much adjustability left after a few years of daily use, with the adjusters rusted solid.
A second set that a friend fitted on his car (which I purchased from him with very little mileage in 2006) also didn't fare much better.
In both cases I am talking about Spax dampers produced well over 20 years ago, so maybe their quality has improved over the years.
But I don't feel obliged to try that out
Luckily I still have a spare set of Koni's for my current project, otherwise I'd probably go for either KYB or Gaz for a (near) standard car.

[stevie_a]

Thanks Beans

Your comments are appreciated.

[sydney.wedgehead]

I ran Spax top adjustable front struts from '97 till 2012. Over those years I bumped the setting a few notches when it was feeling soft.

After 10 or so years in-service the top valves were corroded and not precise when attempting adjustments so I left them as set.

When I pulled them out one was still working well, but the other had no damping on compression.

The local agent said they couldn't be rebuilt as Spax had changed management and tooling.

I fitted KYB replacements and am happy.

[Rich K]

The uprated non-adjustable Spax on the front of mine had no damping on compression or rebound when I pulled them off after experiencing some alarming incidences where the car would suddenly veer off sideways when travelling fast over undulations on an otherwise smooth road. The outer casings were also rusted out. The rear adjustables also show corrosion externally and have never given a satisfactory ride. I would not choose to use Spax again. I replaced the fronts with KYB gas and I am happy with the ride and control characteristics.
Rich.

[MarkTwo]

I bought KYB gas excel G front inserts for my TR8 last year and have fitted them, although have not driven the car too much since, performance so far is good. Part number 363015, I bought the pair from the USA - Rock Auto.com - cheap as chips, except when you add the freight cost. I put gas adjust KYB's on the rear which were available from click4 carparts in the UK at a very reasonable price. Springs were a different matter - read 'TR8 Ride Height' on the forum.

Mark

[saabfast]

I have the same front dampers, much better than the Koni's fitted before.
Looked up the site clickcarparts.co.uk and they have KYB Gas-a-just (£76.32 UK delivered) for the rear but do not seem to have any front ones.

[frankman]

Hi All

The red Koni are incredible ! I had this in my first TR7 (White with blue sides strips)

A horde Super 7 and I drove to the South Tyrol over Stilfserjoch ( Beans know where)

All Seven Pilot came to me - You are sticking on the asphalt! But I did not find the red ones anymore are gone with the car but...

I hope I made a good decision I've got it from Dampertech LTD UK ask Dave a nice Guy