Protech Shocks vs Core and Quantum

[graearea]

I know that some people have skin in this game, but does anyone have experience of Protech? they seam very reasonably priced, just wondering if there's a good reaason for it. I'm probably heading for Core or Quantum c/o Simon, but wanted to see if anyone has any knowledge. couldn't find much on here.

cheers.

[ScottR400D]

I think you’ll find it hard to find anyone without a vested interest who knows all three and Protech get good reviews from these who’ve used them so if that’s what you’d prefer to spend I’d go for them. 

I recently fitted a new set of dampers after speaking to a few suppliers of them and those brands you've mentioned but not wanting to pay the extra for no objectively explained benefit. 
 

Can’t say I enjoyed the process and felt at times that I was being coerced into spending more and more money against my interests and wishes.  PM me if you’re interested. 
 

 

[Miker7]

Id normally point you to Matt at ProComp motorsport here. He supported a lot of the 750 motor club racers and had a good reputation from most (he would get on his high horse and annoy some people - especially about roll cages for which he was on the MSA committee). One of his services was dyno testing shocks and recalibrating them. He'd happily bend your ear for an hour without selling you anything, telling you more than you ever wanted to know about shocks and racing. Unfortunately he passed away recently.

The summary of my last conversation was typically him. I was asking about him supplying some Protech shocks for road use as it didn't seem cost effective to buy the adjustable collars for the existing Bilsteins. He told me to buy direct from Protech, drive them for a few months and only then if i wasn't happy to bring them to him. He'd happily revalve, change the oil and provide dyno sheets to confirm they were all the same for not a lot of money, but he didn't think it was worth it for my use so didn't try to sell to me.

If you're chasing the last 0.1s then i'm sure very expensive shocks will assist. If you're trying to get to the pub or enjoy a track day I suspect the Protechs will be fine. Another member on here has just bought Protechs. It would be worth you talking to him.

(and if you've got adjustable collars on your Bilsteins - i'll have them off you for 50p and a packet of crisps)

[ScottR400D]

“If you're chasing the last 0.1s then i'm sure very expensive shocks will assist. If you're trying to get to the pub or enjoy a track day I suspect the Protechs will be fine. Another member on here has just bought Protechs. It would be worth you talking to him.”
 

I have little doubt that you’re right. 

Edited July 5 by ScottR400D

[GordonW]

I echo comments made by Miker7 and ScottR400D.

I suggest whatever you choose you buy from a source that will be happy to supply you with dyno plots of the dampers you are paying for, preferably with a Bilstein or some such alternative as a comparison.

I recently had my heavily promoted brand of dampers dynoed by a completely independent, (specifically damper) specialist of some standing and the results were a shocking revelation.

Edited July 5 by GordonW

[graearea]

trackdays and nerdiness and replacing 17yo 60k mile billy's

 

Edited July 5 by graearea

[graearea]

4 minutes ago, GordonW said:

I echo comments made by Miker7.

I recently had my heavily promoted brand of dampers dynoed by a completely independent, (specifically damper) specialist of some standing and the results were a shocking revelation.

I see what you did there. I'm glad you didn't dam..... nope. not going there.

[Dan R]

An interesting discussion on dampers HERE

 

 

[SM25T]

Sad to hear about Matt at ProComp Motorsport. He was a great helpful guy that sourced dampers for me from Protech and revalved them to suit the Caterham, together with new springs. I hope the business continues without him. The car is great on these series 400 dampers 👍

[Skipper555]

I'm echo what Miker7 said too.

It seems I spoke to Matt at ProComp shortly before he passed. He was really helpful and a lovely chap.

His advise was the same, go for the Protech Shocks and go back to him if I wanted them retuning.

He did also mention Quantum shocks in our chat as being more high end, and more for motorsport use, but ultimately Protech were the ones we believed would do just as well for my mix of road and track

I've recently fitted a set of Protechs and I'm really happy with them. They seem like nice quality bits of kit and work well on my car. Protech have also been superb with their support through the purchasing and fitment of them too. I'd recommend them.

 

Here's a link to the thread where I've been discussing them with specs of what I ordered

 

Edited July 6 by Skipper555
added link to the other thread where I showed some pics of them fitted and specs of my order

[JP]

I can't comment on Quantum etc, but I fitted new Protechs all round when I did my rebuild.  They seem good so far, but I haven't driven it enough yet to see the effect of adjusting the damping etc.

What I would say though is that the chaps at Protech have been excellent.  I have had a couple of queries post-sale and they have been really helpful.  They also made me some new spacers FoC for my rears to adjust the mounting position.  So far, I'm very happy.

Edited July 6 by JP

[Colin_T]

A little 2ps worth story about cheap vs expensive dampers…..

so go back around 10 years me and my brother were fresh into racing Autograss. My brother had built a car himself on a bit of a budget and had fitted some Gaz dampers to it, these would have been essentially the same technology and pricing as a protech damper. It was a good “club level” car. He had managed some mediocre success and the car could be quick in certain track conditions but the guys with the bigger budgets at “British level” always had a significant edge.

A little later down the line and deciding I was going to get into Autograss myself, I had bought a used car which came with a pair of ohlins dampers on the rear of it, but as I was doing a lot of work to the car I wasn’t going to be racing it that season so the dampers were just sitting around unused. 

as a test we bolted my ohlins to the back of his car…. Put it on the scales, set the ride heights etc.  

He left the start line and turned into one corner…… that was all it took. Mind blown. The difference was night and day, and come Monday morning he ordered a pair of ohlins for himself (a massive commitment when we considered our racing budget at the time!) 

 

Moving on, between the pair of us, and Simon Roger’s input and work on the dampers over the years. We won 4 British championships and a National title between us. 
 

Won’t tell people what they should and shouldn’t spend their money on or if it fits their needs or not….. but for me, everytime premium dampers, good set up and time spent on the workshop floor, and a clever damper man 👍

 

 

Edited July 6 by Colin_T

[graearea]

what spring rates are people recommending for 50:50 track/road?

I can't figure out what my stock springs are....

cheers

[Skipper555]

Protech advised and supplied for 3/4 road - 1/4 track use

• Front - 9" X 225lbs
• Rear - 12" X 150lbs

From my research stock springs on my 2006 Roadsport SV were

• Front - Eibach 75517 - 170 lb on Caterham website. 150 lb from C&L7 forum
• Rear - Eibach 71198 - progressive 110-130-200 lb

 

[graearea]

think I might go 225/150 it's going to be a lot stiffer as it is.

[SM25T]

On my SV, went for 300lb fronts and linear 185lb rears. Works a treat with the Protech series 400 dampers 

[graearea]

2 minutes ago, SM25T said:

On my SV, went for 300lb fronts and linear 185lb rears. Works a treat with the Protech series 400 dampers 

is that just for the track? sounds very stiff, obviously with your wide arse SV maybe you need it *ducks 😄

Edited Wednesday at 12:46 by graearea

[SM25T]

Road use only. Original springs way softer and original Bilstein dampers too hard. Present setup much nicer. Smooths out bumps and keeps the sump off the ground in high speed dips.

[StevehS3]

I have only had the standard Bilsteins but I find them excellent. On the road a 7 feels more compliant than most ‘sports cars’ and on track plenty good enough for my skill level. From a looks perspective I prefer them too. 

[Toby S]

If had my Protech dampers (single adjusters) for circa 7 years and had no problems - Bought direct from the Protech and Kevin gave me a Friday afternoon deal with springs when I went down to the factory and he built them up there and then - good value

Springs I went for were 250Ib front and 150Ib  rear on a 1400 Supersport - these replaced the previous set up which had Bilsteins (admittedly these were leaking a bit) and 300Ib front and 200Ib rears - New set up suits me for the Road and I set the dampers towards the hard setting on the front and softer setting on the rears (I think there is 10 click settings from memory so I'm at 8 on the fronts and circ 4 at the rears) - In hindsight I might have gone a slightly harder on the front springs but not by much.

For completeness I run R888R  185/60R13 on front and 205/60R13 at the rear

[graearea]

ha! I rang them at 12:30 today saying "any chance you can get them to me by tomorrow, I appreciate that this is a big ask" to which I was told "we close at 1, so probs not"