gordon wilson Posted October 11, 2001 Share Posted October 11, 2001 Currently running my VX engined 7 on Bilstein race dampers which are just a little firm for regular road use - converting to adjustable seems the obvious for optimum track day/road mix but which ones? Caterham 'technical dept' were unhelpfulness personified when asked the same question....anyone any experience of Penske products and who distributes them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baby Bucket Posted October 11, 2001 Share Posted October 11, 2001 Gordon, Sorry no experience of Penske products, but I fitted Leda adjustable dampers on my live axle car and have been very pleased with the results. These were supplied by James Whiting. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Wong1697456877 Posted October 11, 2001 Share Posted October 11, 2001 Penske - VERY expensive. Give Dave Kimberley a call (his number's in the front of the Demon Tweeks catalogue. He has some on his car. Traxspax or Avo DA2000 seem to be good options. Again, DaveK can help you with these as well. Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bees Posted October 12, 2001 Share Posted October 12, 2001 www.nitron.co.uk are worth a look. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon wilson Posted October 12, 2001 Author Share Posted October 12, 2001 Mike, Many thanks - the Nitron site/products look impressive and not bad value given the apparent quality, do you have these dampers yourself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millsn Posted October 13, 2001 Share Posted October 13, 2001 Whn eI spoke to Hyperion ages ago they said they'd tried Penske dampers and they were good but needed alot of work to get the valving right and were considered too expensive to b offered as an option so they ceased work on them Nigel Mills - 2.0 Zetec carbs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelspeed Posted October 13, 2001 Share Posted October 13, 2001 A couple of years ago I was talking to Raceline about Ohlins. The conclusion was exactly the same, they're the dogs danglies but far too expensive to bother developing the correct set-up and then offer them to Joe Public. I've ended up with Leda's. They come with settings developed by James Whiting but have an 18 position single adjustment knob that does bump and rebound together. The adjustment seems spot on, I started full soft and it was obvious even to me that it was too soft, stiffened it up a couple of clicks at a time and it feels different each time, never been past click 12 so still some left. Adjustment is so easy too, very positive click for each setting with a big easy to use knob. Not a bit like sp*x or av*, no grovelling around with a screw driver and wondering if that was the first click or if corrosion has stopped it turning, was that a click or a bit of dirt etc etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millsn Posted October 13, 2001 Share Posted October 13, 2001 I didn't get on with the Ledas. They were great on the track but no so good on the road - it's really bumpy where I live. I ended up back on Bilsteins running different springs. I ought to try the Ledas again on the new springs to be fair. The confusing thing about the Leads is that as you get past setting 7 they only ramp up the rebound. Until click 7 they increase both bump and rebound. Nigel Mills - 2.0 Zetec carbs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre Gillet Posted October 14, 2001 Share Posted October 14, 2001 Two questions for which I did not really find an answer: - can LEDAs be fitted to De Dion cars ? - Do BILSTEIN make adjustable dampers other than through the adjustable platforms sold by Caterham? Cheers, Pierre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelspeed Posted October 14, 2001 Share Posted October 14, 2001 Yes and No. Mines de dion so I know Leda's make them to fit this car. There are two kinds of Bilsteins available for caterhams. The road spec which have adjustable spring platform in 1/2 inch gaps using a circlip. To these you can add proper threaded adjustable platforms as a bolt on extra kit from Caterham. The second kind are the race bilsteins which are bigger in diameter (use 2 1/4 inch ID springs rather than 1.9 inch on the road ones) and come as standard with threaded bodies to make adjustable spring seats. None of the bilsteins I have ever seen have adjustable damping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Speed Posted October 14, 2001 Share Posted October 14, 2001 I run Ledas, supplied by James Whiting, on the front of a 1993 de dion Vauxhall on 16" wheels (I know, I know I should change them for 13"!!). They are a huge improvement on the Bilsteins. Although I have gone harder on the springs, from standard 170 up to 300, the ride is much more absorbent on the appalling Gloucestershire roads. I have also gone to the softest Caterham rollbars front and rear. Have retained standard Bilsteins and spring rates on the rear for the timebeing - anybody have any experience? It feels as though the spring rates may be OK, but the shocks are too soft? Nick Speed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Bees Posted October 15, 2001 Share Posted October 15, 2001 Gordon - no, I'm running the stock Bilsteins. But if/when they give up the ghost then I'll probably go to Nitron. W*******d fit Nitron shocks (what's the emoticon for a spoon?). Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millsn Posted October 15, 2001 Share Posted October 15, 2001 Careful what you're calling Bilsteins as those fitted at different years have different valving and it makes a huge difference. My 92 Bilsteins were not a patch on the 96 spec ones I now use Nigel Mills - 2.0 Zetec carbs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gordon wilson Posted October 15, 2001 Author Share Posted October 15, 2001 Mike, My investigations have led to The 7 Workshop fitting Nitron for a customer of theirs, who is reportedly ecstatic, and to a runour that Caterham are running an experimental car with Nitron fitted.......... Keep Stirring. Gordon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugene Posted October 16, 2001 Share Posted October 16, 2001 I can confirm that The 7 Workshop has fitted Nitron shocks to a customer's car and that they have been specially developed for the application. There will be information on The 7 Workshop website soon so check there for information. Small Boy - with Big Toy! See Eugene here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul.davis Posted October 16, 2001 Share Posted October 16, 2001 I converted to Ledas with 300 front 200 back, larger diameter springs as I recall. James Whiting supplied and fitted 21/2 years ago. I ran Ledas fully hard (20 clicks)at front at Spa last week and dropped back to four clicks for the road afterwards. Also easy to adjust the ride height and corner weights. I shall send mine back to Leda for servicing this winter as I have a slight seepage from one of them after a great deal of track (curbing) use! Paul Zeeeeeeetec . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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