19 replies to this topic

[FLD]

Right, just fitted some shiney Gaz Gold Pro's. Set the adjusters right in the middle (OMFG did it bounce around!!!). At this setting the front left one made a squeak over every bump. I turned down the settings (front only) to 6 from full soft (fnaar) and now it makes a swooshing sound. Theres no oil leaking. Is this the sort of thing that 'settles down' and its just because I've just fitted them or have I f******* it up somehow? Next issue. This time rears. Swapped em over, now the tyres get hot. Like they smell hot and feel hot. Could this be the exhaust and I'm being over sensitive? (Freakin' bouncy here too on middle setting!!). Once I've sorted these whats the best setting for road use? I know there were massive debates. I'm blond and confused and had to have a sit down. Just tell me a number of clicks from full soft! Oh, and can an administrator drop me a line. Need to discuss some stuff. Woooo, cryptic!

[Mike (Cliffie)]

Set fron fully hard is my advice. What springs are you using as they will cause the bounciness. The damping settings only control the hardness. If you have fitted these to replace old tired Bilstiens then they will feel hard and bouncy as they are stiffer and probably working unlike old Billies. The whooshing should settle down in time. Dunno about the squeaking, usually it is a bush complaining, rarely a shocker. Are the Gaz brand new?

[Whiteboy]

When I got mine you could hear the noise you are discribing but this reduced over time. I have my rebound set at 10 from soft rear and 9 from soft front( for the road.) Steve

[noplex]

My settings were 4 from soft front and 8 rear - I think. Front bouncing is an imcompatible setting with rear setting maybe. As far as I am aware most people have 3-4 clicks difference front to rear. Before I removed them they were pretty good, so you should have no trouble once you hit the sweet spot. As far as the squeek is concerned it may be something else esp. if the damp/rebound rate is hard. Are you running the 475lbs rear spring as this is much better on road than 550 - That was very choppy/hard and difficult to find a good setting that worked well with the front. From mem. probably 10 clicks from hard on these springs. What ride height are you running? As this will also have an effect. 120F-130R seems to be most popular on here. Alt get them somewhere close then go for Geo and tweeking by a reputable VX specialist. Guglielmi did mine and was spot on after me trying and failing to find a good setting.

[noplex]

Oh and gaz should be adjusted from soft not hard supposedly.

[slindborg]

I found the dampers really control the bouncyness a lot!!! set approx 30% from full soft and go from there

[Mike (Cliffie)]

I found the dampers really control the bouncyness a lot!!!

set approx 30% from full soft and go from there

The dampers are there to control the bounciness, that is why they are called dampers.

If the spring rates are not right, it wont matter what you do to the damper settings, you cannot make up for incorrect spring rates with damper adjustments.

[noplex]

Front 400 and rears will be 475 or 550 depending on which one fitted.

[slindborg]

I found the dampers really control the bouncyness a lot!!!

set approx 30% from full soft and go from there

The dampers are there to control the bounciness, that is why they are called dampers.

If the spring rates are not right, it wont matter what you do to the damper settings, you cannot make up for incorrect spring rates with damper adjustments.

pedantic mofo...

Weve all seemingly tried from silly hard to silly soft springs and the dampers appear to cope fine with the range of adjustment available in the nickles or golds (or nitronzzzzzz)

Full soft on silly hard springs wasnt that 'bouncy' whereas full soft on soft springs was like a pogo stick

[Mike (Cliffie)]

I found the dampers really control the bouncyness a lot!!!

set approx 30% from full soft and go from there

The dampers are there to control the bounciness, that is why they are called dampers.

If the spring rates are not right, it wont matter what you do to the damper settings, you cannot make up for incorrect spring rates with damper adjustments.

pedantic mofo...

Weve all seemingly tried from silly hard to silly soft springs and the dampers appear to cope fine with the range of adjustment available in the nickles or golds (or nitronzzzzzz)

Full soft on silly hard springs wasnt that 'bouncy' whereas full soft on soft springs was like a pogo stick

I know, it was only because it was you.

There are so many opinions on what is best for spring rates but it really depends on what you want to use your car for. More track focussed cars will want stiffer springing on a lower ride height whereas a road car will have softer springing and a higher ride height.

Damping should then be adjusted to suit the individual.

You can of course stay on standard Bilstiens and have no choice in the matter.

[FLD]

Right. Sorry for the late reply I've been away over the weekend. I'm on the 475's for the rear and I'm -5mm on standard ride height. I initially set them 11 clicks from soft front and rear as this was the middle point (I later went back and read my pm saying 5 front 7 rear). The front was bouncy / squeaky at 11 clicks. I've since set it at 5/7 and its no longer squeaking but giving the swooshing noise. Rides a bit better too! Might tweak from here on damping for my own soft ass. Hopefully the swooshing will settle from whats said above. What I do have now I've been for a little drive to see whats what is an oil leak from the adjuster knob. Is this because they have been laid flat for transport and it will go away?

[noplex]

Swooshing noise is normal IMO. The squeeking going away means prob something else on the car when set hard - This was same when on my car.

[noplex]

Oh and the oil leak is a possible from laying flat as I borrowed someone elses gaz whilst the rear was being serviced and one of those was leaking due to be laid flat. Just moniter it maybe.

[FLD]

Sweet. Sounds like my suspiscions of me fitting them like a monkey are right. Thanks for all the pointers, I really appreciate it.

[Cookies220]

I'd seriously suggest going for a geo. I had mine tweaked by Guglielmi last week and the difference in raising the height by 5mm, a couple of turns on the damper and a couple of PSI here and there in the tyres has transformed the car. Natural assumption is that the lower the car sits, the better. I was properly edumacated by Guglielmi on this 'fact' and having had the chance to spend 20 mins salivating over their 600HP Elise, I reckon they know what they're on about.

[oakmere]

375lb Front 3 clicks from full soft 2 clicks from first click. 450lb Rear 6 clicks from full soft 5 clicks from first click. This may still be a little too soft as I have lost some of the sharpness when changing direction but I have non of the high frequency bounce at the front you get on harder settings. Note: I only have a range of 16 clicks full soft to full hard so yours may be different. Cheers Oakmere

Edited by oakmere, 02 September 2010 - 11:17 AM.

[FLD]

I have 22 clicks in total. I'm curently on 5 front and 7 rear. Its a little harder than I'd like but its close. I'm running -4mm on standard ride height due to all the darn speed humps round here! Nearly there. Thanks for all the tips and thanks to noplex for the shockers.

[oakmere]

I have 22 clicks in total. I'm curently on 5 front and 7 rear. Its a little harder than I'd like but its close. I'm running -4mm on standard ride height due to all the darn speed humps round here! Nearly there. Thanks for all the tips and thanks to noplex for the shockers.

I have noticed just one click down on the rears can make a big difference at the softer end of the settings. I am running approx 123mm front and 133 rear and I have a Phoenix geo.

Good luck

Cheers Oakmere

[FLD]

Been smoking round in it for a while now and think I'm about there. MUCH less crashy over bumps, wish I'd done it ages ago. I do get a bit more road noise but I guess this si down to rose joints rather than bushes. The swooshing noise is a bit wierd too but I'll get used to it. I dont get the squat I had before either. Overall much better. I'm still getting a hot rubber plastic smell so I think something is rubbing somewhere, liner or tyre but I cant find it! Overall, chuffed!

[noplex]

Been smoking round in it for a while now and think I'm about there. MUCH less crashy over bumps, wish I'd done it ages ago. I do get a bit more road noise but I guess this si down to rose joints rather than bushes. The swooshing noise is a bit wierd too but I'll get used to it. I dont get the squat I had before either. Overall much better. I'm still getting a hot rubber plastic smell so I think something is rubbing somewhere, liner or tyre but I cant find it!

Overall, chuffed!

My wheels were rubbing on arch liner at 110/120 ride height. Only slight and no smell. Could be soothing unrelated?