968 Suspenion Fail SPAX - MOT Fail

[Stral]

Hello All,

My car just failed its' MOT due to a leaking front suspension unit. It's only covered 11k miles since fitted but is just out of the 2 year warrantly period so SPAX won't offer anything in terms of replacement cost. With such a short lifespan I believe it is caused by a manufacturing defect on this unit. SPAX will make one unit for me which is helpful ( ~£230 ), but I have a slight reluctance to fit the same again as I'm now expecting failure of the other unit.

Has anyone has the same kit on their car, or know of similar failures ?

For those who have swapped out standard spec equipment, what are you using, any recommendations ?

I think I may need to bite the bullet and order this just now to get the MOT pass and Tax due end of month but longer term I expect the other unit will fail and I will swap out with something hopefully more reliable.


Cheers - Alan

 

[Neil Haughey]

To be fair its pot luck how long anything other than factory spec shocks will last (Sachs, Koni M030, Bilstein race). My front left Gaz Gold strut for example has been rebuilt now 3 times for a total of 5 race weekends and 8 test/track days and about 4K road miles when the car was still on the road.

 

[Mr968]

For those who have swapped out standard spec equipment, what are you using, any recommendations ?

what is the car being used for

 

[Stral]

Cheers Guys,
The last run I did was to Spa and then in to Germany in March this year, so mostly road use but some track use too.
Gaz Gold had been mentioned as a better setup, maybe not ?

Thanks - Alan

 

[andy watson]

Hi Alan,

Had a few issues with Spax earlier this year when fitting the kit to my car, Spax quality is not brilliant but to be fair they don't charge quality money and as with all things you usually get what you pay for.

Which kit have you fitted? I would not buy direct from Spax as it is cheaper to purchase from a supplier and I think I would buy a whole kit as if the other side was to fail it would work out cheaper in the long run also I believe it is good practice to change shocks in axle pairs?

 

[Stral]

Hi Andy,
I'm not sure of the SPAX official KIT part number, but the part number on the upright is TRO57R L12.
Better picture of the unit now embedded.

I will replace both sides as I do not expect much more life from the off side unit now, best to do both as a pair as mentioned.

GAZ Gold is an option, is there anything else mid range price bracket worth considering ?



Cheers again - Alan

 

[Mr968]

and as yours is a 1992 I am presuming it is a Coupe, is the suspension otherwise standard or have the torsion bars been reindexed to lower the car.

 

[Stral]

Spot on, it's a Coupe with standard set-up, it has not been reindexed.

Cheers - Alan

 

[Mr968]

1. My suggestion would be for Koni Sports, Inserts on the front and a straight bolt on for the rear.
I think a pretty good choice for road use and the occasional track day.

2. If you wanted more fast road/track use either :
a. re-index the torsion bars and use CS springs on the front.
or
b. install M030 anti roll bars

3. If you wanted even more fast road/track use do both a. and b.

 

[Mr968]

Once you get beyond this you'll be looking at full coilover kits.

 

[Stral]

Thanks Stuart,

I'll look into that, appreciated.


Cheers _ Alan

 

[MarkK]

Have a read up on KW v3s..