32 replies to this topic

[JohnyB]

hi!
i was looking for vx parts and found this *--> spax suspension <--*

Does anyone have this suspension installed ?
Is it any good?
How it is compared to nitrons?

Thanks.

[Pidgeon]

Do a search mate. The controversy is too great to give my opinion

[coopa]

See <this> thread

[JG]

Iandhd, has these fitted IIRC

[snoopstah]

I seem to recall that they're generally accepted not to be a patch on Nitrons/Ohlins, but are a significant improvement over the standard suspension. If you think you can stomach spending £1.1k on a set of fancy springs, save up for the Nitrons. Otherwise, the Spax are probably more than half as good as the Nitrons, and cost less than half as much.

[coopa]

I went for Nitrons based on the fact that they have a better resale value, so the net cost is hopefully reduced. That's how I justified it anyway...

[chuno]

Well i'm getting the spax fitted on saturday, so i'll let you know what i think

[monty77]

Spax are VX NA fit only also ... they dont do a turbo version. Adam

[Jase_MK]

Does anyone have this suspension installed ?
Is it any good?
How it is compared to nitrons?

Plenty of useful info in that other thread that Coopa linked to above. Depends what your definition of "good" is. Build quality is pretty poor so don't expect them to last forever.

I seem to recall that they're generally accepted not to be a patch on Nitrons/Ohlins

Performance-wise, I doubt many people would be able to notice much difference. At the last of the Seloc sprints, on Spax and road tyres, I was quicker than a VX Turbo, a 996 Turbo and a fraction of a second away from Mick who's running Nitrons, semi slick tyres and an extra 20bhp or so. I very much doubt more exotic suspension would have made me any quicker as the Spax gives me the ability to adjust the front/rear damping ratio which is all I'm after really. It would be handy to be able to adjust bump and rebound damping independantly to fine tune things like lift-off-oversteer but then you're talking 2-way dampers which cost ££££.

If I had to buy suspension now, I don't think I'd go for them on build quality grounds (lots of corrosion). In terms of handling though, they surpass my (mediocre) ability.

My advice - wait for Ledas

[Jase_MK]

Spax are VX NA fit only also ... they dont do a turbo version.

The Knobs have them on thier Turbo

[benw]

I'm glad this came up. I'm becoming more and more convinced that my shocks have had it but there's no way I can afford Nitrons so looking for an intermediate in price terms. Glad you said that Jase because I wondered how much of the recent 'Nitron fever' was based upon performance and how much was just fashionability! Silly question but if rusting of the Spax is a problem can't you just paint them with a bit of Hammerite or something? By the way, sorry to hijack a little bit, but what's the best way of testing Shocks? Normally I'd shove a wing and count the number of bounces back to level but it doesn't really work on relatively hard sprung cars. And I've listened for leaking air but can't hear anything. Is 45k miles about reasonable for a set of shocks on a vx?

[monty77]

Spax are VX NA fit only also ... they dont do a turbo version.

The Knobs have them on thier Turbo

Interesting .. Spax site specifically excludes the turbo, fitment is the same but the spring rates must be different due to the turbo being more arse heavy.

A

[monty77]

I'm glad this came up. I'm becoming more and more convinced that my shocks have had it but there's no way I can afford Nitrons so looking for an intermediate in price terms. Glad you said that Jase because I wondered how much of the recent 'Nitron fever' was based upon performance and how much was just fashionability!
Silly question but if rusting of the Spax is a problem can't you just paint them with a bit of Hammerite or something?

By the way, sorry to hijack a little bit, but what's the best way of testing Shocks? Normally I'd shove a wing and count the number of bounces back to level but it doesn't really work on relatively hard sprung cars. And I've listened for leaking air but can't hear anything. Is 45k miles about reasonable for a set of shocks on a vx?

Shocks are normally past their best at anything over 40k, if the car bounces about unduly over undulating roads or ridges then that's normally a sign that shocks are tired.

...personally I've never rated anything Spax I've ever used/driven - but that's just me.

Ledas are on the way according to Thorney as something to bridge the gap between standard and Nitron prices - just wish they'd bloody hurry up!!!

Would love Nitrons myself, but can't justify full cost for what is mainly road use.

A

[chuno]

Does anyone have this suspension installed ?
Is it any good?
How it is compared to nitrons?

Plenty of useful info in that other thread that Coopa linked to above. Depends what your definition of "good" is. Build quality is pretty poor so don't expect them to last forever.

I seem to recall that they're generally accepted not to be a patch on Nitrons/Ohlins

Performance-wise, I doubt many people would be able to notice much difference. At the last of the Seloc sprints, on Spax and road tyres, I was quicker than a VX Turbo, a 996 Turbo and a fraction of a second away from Mick who's running Nitrons, semi slick tyres and an extra 20bhp or so. I very much doubt more exotic suspension would have made me any quicker as the Spax gives me the ability to adjust the front/rear damping ratio which is all I'm after really. It would be handy to be able to adjust bump and rebound damping independantly to fine tune things like lift-off-oversteer but then you're talking 2-way dampers which cost ££££.

If I had to buy suspension now, I don't think I'd go for them on build quality grounds (lots of corrosion). In terms of handling though, they surpass my (mediocre) ability.

My advice - wait for Ledas

Before i ordered the spax, i read in all their jargon that they were ride height adjustable, damping adjustable AND bump and rebound adjustable.
TBH though i'm not even sure what the bump and rebound is though anyone care to explain

[Jase_MK]

bump damping controls the speed the shock compresses at, rebound damping controls the speed the shock extends at. Maybe Spax do some more expensive 2 way adjustable dampers, but most of the stuff we are talking about here just has one damping adjuster which adjusts the speed in both directions at once. BenW - hammerite wouldn't really solve it. The actual body of the damper isn't really corroded and is still painted yellow. However, the ride height adjuster rings are seized onto their thread and the damping control knob has to be operated with a pair of pliers now and lashings of WD40

[The Knobs]

We have them on our tubby and am well pleased. They used our car as a test bed for the new turbo kit, due to me living 2 doors down from one of their chaps. Give them a ring and ask when it is coming on the market. Paulcp has them and has for a number of years. If you can justify an extra £600 for nitrons then go for them. pity there has not been a back to back test. For my limited driving ability the spax are a massive improvement over standard.

[JohnyB]

wow what a response.. So basicly spax over std. is night and day diff (to better) - i guess i'll buy them then

[monty77]

wow what a response..
So basicly spax over std. is night and day diff (to better) - i guess i'll buy them then

...night and day on a turbo - which has somewhat soft suspension as std, might be less of an improvement on the NA - don't know which you've got.

A

[JohnyB]

i've got an NA

[benw]

BenW - hammerite wouldn't really solve it. The actual body of the damper isn't really corroded and is still painted yellow. However, the ride height adjuster rings are seized onto their thread and the damping control knob has to be operated with a pair of pliers now and lashings of WD40

Ah right. I'd imagined it was the main body of it that was wasting away. I still fancy lashings of grease and oil ( ) ought to keep it relatively usable though? I suppose what I'm saying is if the build quality of them is the only real problem I'm willing to keep them regularly maintained if it means I get a better than standard setup without costing £££'s!