Shock time

International forum for all Z1 enthusiasts
Post Reply
User avatar
Racing Tortoise
Z Register member
Joined: Mon 07 Nov, 2005 15:53
Posts: 894

  Z1 roadster
Location: SW6

Shock time

Post by Racing Tortoise »

My Z1's become quite unpleasant to drive lately with the back feeling loose and skittish, particularly over broken surfaces and there was a noticeable judder on the steering between 55 and 65mph (although not below that or above it). Thought the former was possibly subframe bushes and the latter was a PAS fluid leak.

Anyhoo…I dropped it off at the specialist last w/end and today they rang to say yes, there was a PAS fluid leak which has been fixed but the problem at the rear is not the bushes and I wasn't imagining things! Turns out the driver's side rear shock absorber had failed and was totally devoid of fluid and thus pressure, and its twin on the other side was on the way out too. Nice, and I was doing a very brisk pace indeed on the motorway on the way down to Sussex. :shock:

So that's two new OEM shocks which need to be ordered from Germany at £130 each. Presume that's the best option? The alternative is apparently fitting eg Eibachs but then you need to change all four (the fronts are ok) and the springs, which is not worth it.
Currently: bereft of Z1
Previously: 1991 Ur-grun Z1 and 1991 Traum-schwartz Z1
sfh3l
Joined: Fri 02 Sep, 2005 16:07
Posts: 588

  Z1 roadster
Location: Buckingham

Re: Shock time

Post by sfh3l »

Hey RT,

I found the OEM ones very soft and wallowy when I got my Z1 and went for a set of SPAX dampers. Much better and much less of a floaty feeling. Not expensive and based in Bicester, just up the road.
Best regards,

Sam Lever.

Anyone who says money isn't everything hasn't found the right classic car yet.
Z1 - 3.0csl - 987 Boxster - Austin 7 Special - Rolls 20 - '72 911 - '95 318is
Black Sport Evo M3 & SG M3 CSL - now someone else's pleasure
Blue 2800cs - now someone else's pain
Old cars - the original "Not for Profit" organisation
Independent Financial Adviser in Buckingham
My Financial Blog
User avatar
Racing Tortoise
Z Register member
Joined: Mon 07 Nov, 2005 15:53
Posts: 894

  Z1 roadster
Location: SW6

Re: Shock time

Post by Racing Tortoise »

sfh3l wrote:Hey RT,

I found the OEM ones very soft and wallowy when I got my Z1 and went for a set of SPAX dampers. Much better and much less of a floaty feeling. Not expensive and based in Bicester, just up the road.
Thanks. How knackered were they by that stage though? And did you need new springs with the SPAX?
Currently: bereft of Z1
Previously: 1991 Ur-grun Z1 and 1991 Traum-schwartz Z1
User avatar
Jet
Joined: Fri 14 Nov, 2003 16:24
Posts: 2385

  blank
Contact:

Re: Shock time

Post by Jet »

Racing Tortoise wrote:
sfh3l wrote:Hey RT,

I found the OEM ones very soft and wallowy when I got my Z1 and went for a set of SPAX dampers. Much better and much less of a floaty feeling. Not expensive and based in Bicester, just up the road.
Thanks. How knackered were they by that stage though? And did you need new springs with the SPAX?
Sam put the knackered ones on my car :D

They' have been fine so far, normal, my original inserts didn't feel right. I preferred the softer dampers to cope with London conditions and negate the harsher ride of my bigger wheels and lowered suspension.
ChrisS
Joined: Thu 30 Jul, 2009 09:11
Posts: 189

  Z1 roadster
Location: Witney

Re: Shock time

Post by ChrisS »

My last MoT had an advisory on rusting rear springs. Is that likely to be expensive and what are the options? The damping feels fine, by the way.
felix
Joined: Sat 02 Jul, 2005 16:25
Posts: 602

  Z1 roadster

Re: Shock time

Post by felix »

I don't think rusting rear springs are grounds for an MOT fail, at least not until they break. Which is unlikely to happen now if it hasn't happened yet.

Not sure if factory springs are still available. I think there are Spax springs available for the later cars. Eibach springs for the Z1 went out of production for a while and then they produced another batch but I think those sold out again. An old post of mine on springs: http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopi ... gs#p199296

And on old post on rear shock absorbers: http://www.zroadster.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8664
User avatar
Racing Tortoise
Z Register member
Joined: Mon 07 Nov, 2005 15:53
Posts: 894

  Z1 roadster
Location: SW6

Re: Shock time

Post by Racing Tortoise »

Have decided to stick with the standard rear shocks myself. I've asked about the rear springs on mine and am told that they are in perfectly good nick with no sign that they need replacing. Apparently the most common issue is for them to to fatigue and snap near the ends. No idea whether rust might preface that.
Currently: bereft of Z1
Previously: 1991 Ur-grun Z1 and 1991 Traum-schwartz Z1
tg184
Joined: Wed 23 May, 2012 20:03
Posts: 53

  Z1 roadster

Re: Shock time

Post by tg184 »

This may be too late to help, but FWIW I drove a car with the Spax kit (& sitting on slightly lowered springs), and I was very impressed. It seemed to ride pretty well still, but just feel a bit more planted and purposeful than I remembered the standard car doing.

Which really surprised me, because I really, really hate stiff 'sports' suspension setups. YMMV, etc...
FOR: Balance
AGAINST: Yours will be in doubt at this price

- CAR Magazine's GBU summary of the Z1 in period
sfh3l
Joined: Fri 02 Sep, 2005 16:07
Posts: 588

  Z1 roadster
Location: Buckingham

Re: Shock time

Post by sfh3l »

Jet wrote:
Sam put the knackered ones on my car :D

They' have been fine so far, normal, my original inserts didn't feel right. I preferred the softer dampers to cope with London conditions and negate the harsher ride of my bigger wheels and lowered suspension.
That sounds terrible! You did ask me to. :D
They weren't knackered at all. Just too soft for my liking, with my small wheels and rural lifestyle :D
Best regards,

Sam Lever.

Anyone who says money isn't everything hasn't found the right classic car yet.
Z1 - 3.0csl - 987 Boxster - Austin 7 Special - Rolls 20 - '72 911 - '95 318is
Black Sport Evo M3 & SG M3 CSL - now someone else's pleasure
Blue 2800cs - now someone else's pain
Old cars - the original "Not for Profit" organisation
Independent Financial Adviser in Buckingham
My Financial Blog
User avatar
Jet
Joined: Fri 14 Nov, 2003 16:24
Posts: 2385

  blank
Contact:

Re: Shock time

Post by Jet »

sfh3l wrote: That sounds terrible! You did ask me to. :D
They weren't knackered at all. Just too soft for my liking, with my small wheels and rural lifestyle :D
Nooooooo :shock: Not at all, In fact quite the opposite, by process of elimination I got rid of the wishy washy problem at the back, plus I learnt how to remove the front struts off the car, put to good effect when fitting the Eibach springs.

Thanks to you

:cheers
Post Reply