Suspension damper
 

hi, as silvia rear performance dampers seem to be hard to come by (new ones) i was wondering if any knows of a shorter shocker that has the same top and bottom mounting, that can be bought as a performance part, i can then make up a bracket to take the shorter shocker and remain the bump stop distances within reason.

I've been looking into using an S14 rear coilover without the spring for a mate of mine who wants to use coilovers up front as well. They seem a similar length

that sounds like a good idea, when you say near the same length, how near, longer or shorter, reason i ask is i thought if i used a slightly shorter one, i would over come the prob of when jacked up the rear springs are slightly loose.

if i got some uprated shockers that were say 2" shorter, then i could make a 1" spacer bracket to make them only 1" shorter on full drop than the std shocker, thus holding the spring tight still

http://www.umpkin.pwp.blueyonder.co....er bracket.jpg

somin like that.

I dunno I just came up with the idea. An S13 shock is shorter. This is when comparing them against coilovers which are quite shorter than the original s13/14 shocks.

I've not looked into it to be honest, don't have the need. My car takes S13 coilovers on the rear with only minor modding

so an s13 shock is shorter than the s12 shock?? so i could just cut off the spring cup, and use that?? obviously i would have to loo them side by side to check how much difference, and if any modding is needed, is the bottom bolt, and top thread same??

Yeah I'm pretty sure it is. Coilover is anyway.

I have some round the side of my house that I can try to measure for you.

I don't think bolting up the bottom or top will be hard to be honest.

i dont want to buy coilovers just for the shock tbh, they are expensive enuf, the idea of making this bracket to fit another shocker is to find a cheaper alernative for the s12, if we find a suitable replacment with the help of the bracket, then maybe i can make a few sets up for people that would want an easily obtainable shock, instead of what we have now, discontinued lines.

just hoping to help myself have a car that handles, and if it works, anyone else.

Yeah I can understand that.

For the S13/14 there are KYB adjustables that could probably be got for cheap

ive put a request in to sxoc s13 section for some nice person to measure a std shocker for me, i have a spare set of second hand rears here that i can also measure. see what happens.

I can measure one for you in a bit

oh, i thought you was saying you only had coilover units that may have been different. sorry i miss understood you.

im looking for measurments from the center of the bottom bush to the bottom of the thread, both extended and retracted.

http://www.umpkin.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/shock.jpg

appriciate it m8.

60cms extended. Didn't measure it retracted i'd have to do it tomorrow

Spax will make you telescopic dampers or coilovers to your spec with any combination of fittings at either end. If I remember rightly they aren't that expensive either. I was going to look into getting some CSX coilovers made for the rear but I never got round to it.

Just search for Spax KSX for their custom dampers.


Edit - Try this link on for size

http://www.silverstonetuning.com/pdf/KSX.pdf

I have been trying to do a similar thing for, have been serching scrap yards & internet for a shorter struts for the rear have found a few but most have been off smaller cars which won't take the weight of the silvia think the best ffound so far is of a Saab rear strut.

Thout you might like to see what i ahve found & planning to use... http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r...rts/2c27_1.jpg A set of Jaguar XJR front dampers designed to cope with there huge engines, there in really good nick & ar bout 60mm shorter than the s12 ones, just waiting around for my lowering springs to see how they will work together.

martin, where was your measurements from??? i measured the s12 one today they measure from the center of the lower bolt hole, to the top of the thread made bout 650mm

http://www.umpkin.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/shocker2.jpg

http://www.umpkin.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/shocker1.jpg

was this the same as where to and from you measured, if pos could you pop up a pic or text me a pic same as i have, i can give you my number, sadly if you see my other post, i now really need it. :(

I probably took it from the bottom of the shock to be honest. Not sure how much shorter a coilover shock is, but the S12 one is a very similar length to the S13 one anyway

i need at least 50mm smaller than the std s12 shock, im gonna take this std s12 one to local motor parts dealer tomorrow and see what they may be able to match up for me slightly shorter.

Seems a good idea, there are a lot of shocks around that are in the same style.

When I fit my LSD I will remove a coilover and see what its like without the spring etc.

i HAVE to get this sorted by wed as my MOT runs out then, and i need the car, unless you have a std set of springs kicking around till i sort this prob.

I might know someone that may have a set, I'd have to ask him tomorrow

n1 would be a great help, if nothing else, just knowing i have a solution if all else fails.

dunno if you still have my number, ill PM it to you, if you can text me when you find out, i have yours so i will know its from you, ill be messing with it at my mums, close by to you :D

americans and canadians use Z31 rear dampers, and 280zx front. there is a "coil over" kit from megan racing and ground control. the megan racing one is USD $1050, but you have to do S13 front end conversion. the rear one is basically coil over with separated springs and collars.

a word of caution: the Z31 has longer stroke so if you car is lowered quiet a bit it will bottom out. I haven't done any of these as I ride on blown AC delco stock replacement.

there was koni sport rear dampers at one time but it's all gone, or buy one used.

i phoned a place today who measured a MK1/2 escort AVO rear shock the silvia one measures 23 inches to the lower washer, and the escort one measures 19.5 to the lower washer, so in effect losing 3.5 in at full length, im not sure if that might be a bit much as the car will bottom out much lower down (which might cause other damage, not that ive ever bottomed it out any way, or could top out if it done have much travel, could that cause any damage?? although spax and avos etc are competition shocks, and seeing them on the TV jump like they do, should be ok :D

i could always make an adjustment to the rear bolt up section by altering the bracket with some plate and a drill and my welder :D

a pair of rear adjustable sports shocks for a mk1/2 escort = £100 + £10 P&P from ebay. (avo)

Spax = http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ford-Escort-MK...QQcmdZViewItem

AVO = http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ford-Escort-Mk...QQcmdZViewItem