tompollock Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 My Seven sits on its original Spax Gas shocks (adjustable spring platforms). The piston rods are corroded and the car gets quite lively accelerating at speed on narrow bumpy tar. I chicken out at around 75 mph unless the road is quite wide! I suspect the dampers aren't doing much.Can members recommend the best bang for buck adjustable dampers. I would like to use the original springs to save costs. Replacement Spax are reasonable but are there better out there for not too much money? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 I have just had a set from Protech. Waiting to be fitted, but they look shiny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 One way adjustable from Protech for me. Revalved by Procomp Motorsport to suit the 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbcollier Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 Hmm, 1990 so the original Spaxs lasted 30 years. Why not buy the same again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 #3 - What difference did revalving make? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompollock Posted February 1, 2023 Author Share Posted February 1, 2023 Ditto the re-valving. Surely they come off the shelf from Protech already suitably valved as they are Caterham 7 specific? Did you use them oem spec. before having them re-valved, and if so what difference did it make?Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 No, they went straight to Procomp for valving to suit the 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JP Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 #6 - When I asked Protech, that's what they told me. Mine are as the come from Protech.Shiny... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 I'm on Protech too, Kevin built mine for my Freestyle set up. On a separate note, re your lively handling on un ironed B roads...., are you running ARB's boths ends if so what size / setting are they on ?, tyre pressures..? and have you have the car set up ad bump steer checked and corrected, all these could be adding to your problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 Nitron Street series could be worth a shout, or NTR1 is your feeling a but flusher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby S Posted February 1, 2023 Share Posted February 1, 2023 Protech for me too - good value and good quality Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted February 1, 2023 Area Representative Share Posted February 1, 2023 Protech. Adjustable platform, adjustable valving, great service (very helpful), good value.As the street argot goes "What's not to like?"TBH:- I don't understand why Caterham Cars don't use them as standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkeywood Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 Another with Protech from Procomp who know a lot about building, setting up and racing 7 type cars. Weight, springs, use and preference vary a lot. For example, my stripped track focused car is around 560kg with driver and half a tank whereas a fully trimmed car on the road with 2 up may be 700+kg. I had to use Spax when I first got the car (mandated for the race series in the early 90's) and they weren't great. Caterham didn't supply matched pairs so ended up having to dyno them before fitting. The first De Dion's rear dampers were poorly matched and changed to the G978 (stem and loop) around 1991. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompollock Posted February 2, 2023 Author Share Posted February 2, 2023 Lots of happy Protech customers out there. And they do look very shiny!!!!! I'll give them a call tomorrow and see what they come up with. I've only had the car since October so I'm still getting to know the handling. I'm sure the shocks are the main cause of the bad manners on bumpy roads, after all they're 32 years and 20k miles old. I'll get the shocks sorted first then get the geometry sorted afterwards. Looking forward to the warmer weather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 In my experience, ProComp needed to adjust the valving of the standard Protech dampers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 Did you try the stock set up before having them revalved..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 No, as I bought from ProComp and they got them from Protech. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toby S Posted February 2, 2023 Share Posted February 2, 2023 #12 - probably because Protech were preferred suppliers to Westfield for a number of years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkeywood Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 #16 Not revalving as such - Procomp provide a bespoke build service for Protech dampers. When I bought mine Protech didn't offer a 'standard' damper to suit and referred me to Procomp.~18 and hence the reason Procomp do what they do. They've prepped race Westfields since the 80's and are also the manufacturers of the LA Gold and Locost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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