Indecision killing me- which coilovers spax or gaz?

[EddySpaghetti]

Ok I'm thinking of getting 968 MO30 roll bars, what about coilovers?

I can't justify kw, nice but too darn expensive. I'm looking at Gaz vs Spax RSX.

What questions should I be asking and has anyone any recommendations ? Given Ive fixed the pricerange, and my usage is going to be 90percent road, I think it comes down to who does he best match to my intended use, and comparative build quality.

Wish I could look at both, but life is just too fricking hectic for that right now, so I need to mail order and just get on with fitting them so u can enjoy some driving!

cheers for any advice,

eddy

 

[zcacogp]

Eddy,

What happened to your idea of having a Garage Day this summer?


Oli.

 

[barks944]

KW? []

 

[DavidL]

If you are considering 850 for Gaz it isn't too big a jump to 110 for KW - at least that's what I kepp telling myself! I still jealous Sandy saw those Gaz on PH before me.

 

[Alexw]

I've never heard of anyone using Spax coilovers - I didn't even know they made them for our cars! For the Gaz kit, give EMC motorsport a ring as I know they sell several.

 

[EddySpaghetti]

Kw is 1400 near enough as far as I have found. Where have you seen cheaper?

I spoke to emc today and they were really helpful. I mentioned inwas going to go for 968 CS rollbars and was looking at softer springs and the guy I spoke to was saying that stiffer springs all round was the way to go, and don't bother with spending money on the bars. I wish I had the money to be able to experiment, but I need to make a decision and live with it...

ho hum, thoghts still welcome on the brand comparison, as well as on the stiff spring/soft-spring-with-rollbar debate. It's a fascinating area of engineering.

Oli, I haven't done more about a garage day because I'm not sure where I'll be living later this year. I had a fire in my flat last autumn and recent update is that it's not likely to be habitable again until late June. Thing is I don't know if I want to move back now as have got used to living elsewhere! ( and cutting my commute in half)...

Along with these suspension mods I'm thinking of getting a promax boost enhancer, anyone got experience of those? I'd like to get a stage 2 kit but insurance company won't have it

I hate living in London, need to get my flat fixed up, sold, then I'll move somewhere I can afford a place with a garage / man cave.

Cheers all,

Eddy

 

[barks944]

I think the roll bar needs to be matched to the spring rates. You want a roll bar to keep the suspension level in corners by pushing up on the inner wheel. However you don't want it so stiff that it doesn't flex as that way your suspension is no longer independent so say one wheel hits a bump the other would jump too. You want the bar to respond to low frequency events like cornering but fast high impact events like hitting a pothole should be ignored. Although I guess that depends on what you want to use the car for.

 

[Big Dave]

WHY do you want coilovers, if your 90% of the time driving on the road.??
Yes if it was 90% track work...But not 90% road.
Why not just fit some standard 968 dampers + front coils from a CS/sport with the 968M030 arb,s
The coil overs will cost you more in the long run as youl have to re-index the rear torsions....Or had you forgot about that.??
Just my 2pth...

 

[sawood12]

Wouldn't bother with ARB's if I were you - stiffer springs is the best way to go, most of your body roll control is done by the springs anyway, but it is pointless stiffening up the front without stiffening up the rear. It is unfortunate that KW's are so expensive as they allow you to go for a much stiffer spring rate without compromising the ride quality too much, but they're not that much more that GAZ. If you go without the boost enhancer and put the £100 towards the suspension instead, that'd put you within £250 of KW - the cheapest i've heard you can get them for is about £1200, but can't remember where that was. But as Dave has pointed out you've got the installation cost to consider as well, which shouldn't be too much unless you need to re-index.

 

[MarkK]

Eddy just PMed you[]

 

[paulf968]

I agree coilovers not required. Don't forget the rather good Bilstein non-adjustable shocks and the KONI Sport kit which is one way adjustable and both good value.
These will freshen up the suspension no end, keep the std springing and arb's, but make sure all your arb bushes are cleaned and well greased with Red Rubber grease.

Am sure you would then be a happy bunny (one with a bigger wallet anyway!)

 

[Suffolk944]

ORIGINAL: EddySpaghetti


Along with these suspension mods I'm thinking of getting a promax boost enhancer, anyone got experience of those?

This was my first mod on my original car. I got mine from ESS/SAR but its exactly the same thing. They do make a good bit of difference especially if your wastegate is a bit tired (which they all are really). You'll find the car holds boost much better with one of the enhancers plus you can adjust it for a bit extra boooost, though I would suggest leaving it at the factory setting is the best bet.

 

[sawood12]

I'd disagree with the comments that coilovers are not 'required'. You're car's handling will be transformed by a stiffer setup. Trust me, I know. If you only do one mod to your car it should be suspension. Due to improvements in suspension technology over the years cars suspension has stiffened up. My Focus LX has stiffer suspension than an '80's hot hatch and handles better for it. A 944 with stiffened suspension is a far superior handling car and brings it right upto date. Body control is much improved as is traction and braking. If you can see your way to afford Gaz or even KW then go for it. I'd say that for a predominantly trackday car for for GAZ (more easily adjustable damping rates) and save the difference, but for a predominantly road car go for KW (due to fancy valving that varies damping rates) if you can possibly stretch to it.

Uprating stock suspension with adjustable dampers will improve things by a few percent. Installing coilovers will take you into a whole other league and on the basis it can be had the price of a mid-range mountain bike, I actually think it is quite good value for money.

 

[944 man]

Your springs need to be as soft as you can get away with.

 

[Big Dave]

As ever, a miriad of suggestions. Some well informed some not...[8|][8|]
Its your money + choices....I hope you spend wisely.?
Oh and on the subject of cost .
The KW kit in my view is VERY VERY reasonably priced. When you look at the cost of a set of JZR suspension or Koni race kit, or Pro trac, or Bilstein Escort cup kit....
They are all with the exception of the Bilstein in excess of £2K...++++
most kit below the KW is what ide call budget stuff + its made to a budget , that includes the Gaz stuff.
You get what you pay for...

 

[MarkK]

The GAZ stuff is not THAT cheap?It looks bulletproof,and the car corners like its on rails,best settup i have driven on a circuit in a 944,its so forgiving and very flattering i have found so far.I have KWs on 2 other road cars,and i do rate them i just kept an open mind with the race car and i am glad i did.

 

[pauly]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion but in many cases that's all it is, look back far enough on here and people say KW are the best allround, others say they are too soft for track use, some say you have to re-index, others say no (including KW) I was considering Gaz and KW, ultimately I decided the KW's were worth the £250 extra.Then there's the old debate about 18 inch wheels (968 turbo ?). I think Fen had a balanced view on most of this, pity he doesn't post any more.

 

[Diver944]

There's a pretty good discussion from last month here

http://www.porscheclubgbforum.com/tm.asp?m=537365&mpage=1&key=gaz&#537534

I've driven nearly all the shocks available for 944's (except Bilstien Escort and now these new Spax) and still I would prefer the excellent KW for a roadcar that does a number of track days. It's much stiffer than standard, but also much more compliant and comfortable than standard when on poor surfaces. MarkK's GAZ is the expensive remote reservoirs and considering they have something like 800lb race springs (Mark - correct me here if I'm wrong) it is still just about driveable on the road, but I wouldn't want to do it every day for thousands of miles a year []

If you fancy the Spax then the only person I know with it fitted is Rich Salmons with his 968 so hopefully he'll post soon and if Eddy is somewhere in the Midlands maybe a demo would be a good idea (I know I'd like a ride in it Rich [] )

 

[Big Dave]

ORIGINAL: MarkK

The GAZ stuff is not THAT cheap.

Mark.
It is if you look at the alternatives....
A set of the JRZ stuff is north of £4k.....As are the pro trac stuff....And im not even going to ask about Ohlins kit...
Like i said , made to a budget...
If you want some more info on the quality of Gaz , just ask Mr Follet. Hes had first hand experience....[][][]
Ive got a set of the Gaz remotes on my 968 "road" car . Personaly if had to drive it everyday ,,, well lets just say i defo wouldnt + thats with the softer springs fitted... @ 450lbs fronts.Teeth jarring....
The race cars a running 600lbs now....
Mark im betting youve got 500ish lbs front fitted to your car.?????

 

[wibble]

[FONT=Arial"]I have been reading these suspension upgrades for a number of years now on this forum. And I guess after 100K on my 944T I need to freshen my suspension this year.

As yet, I have not tracked my car - if I do it will be just for the experience...someday. I have considered the KWs, but think it's an overkill for just the sunday fast road. I have also considered the Koni option, but cannot be bothered with cutting struts and being sprayed with hydraulic oil. Any s/h M030 would need a complete refurb anyway with additional costs. My assumption is all the above require either uprated arb's , re-indexing and lower the ride height.

So I am now considering standard OEM with new bushes. I want to retain the standard ride height and maintain a balance of comfort over our awful roads. Unless, someone can enlighten me on a modern alternative, I might be tempted.