Gaz shocks- with or without boots????

Technical Area Steering & Suspension
2

I have just purchased some Gaz shocks plus the oem shock absorber boots/bumpstop

 I am confused as the Gaz Shocks have bump stops fitted and the piston looks to be sealed.(therefore not requiring the boots?!)

I read the FAQ on Gaz shocks but do not feel this answers my question…

Do I need to fit the oem boots or not?

 

3

Hi Dave,

You can either fit the yellow polywhatsit bumpstops supplied with the Gaz shocks, or use the original bumpstops.  Decision depends upon how low you intend to take the car.  If not too low, then stick with original bumpstops which will protect the threads etc a little better.  If you are going very low and likely to be bottoming the suspension, then fit the yellow polywhatsits.

Enjoy your new suspension [:D]

Ken

4

Thanks Ken

I intend to go slightly lower than standard so maybe I will go with the Gaz polywhasits

 

Dave

5

 I fitted these shocks to mine in the summer.    I only got one set of yellow polywhatsits included with mine.  But I bought some suplerflex (i think it is) bumpstops for each corner.  They can be cut down to the correct size for your ride height and come with a rubber boot.  I recently got under the car to check a few things and was totally amazed at the amount of road cr4p on the damper body.  You’d never know I fitted them in August this year.  Fit some boots.  Thats my opinion.
Also, with these shocks I wouldn’t go too low.  I’ve dropped it to 32cm rear and 31cm front ride height and personally I’d say I’m riding at the maximum practical drop with these shocks if using 45 profile tyres.  On 50 profile you need to be slightly higher or arch scrub happens fairly regularly.  You can go Lower (as I have been) but grounding becomes a major issue.  Not just the odd scrape but I’ve been stuck on speedbumps.  And you’ll find that if you have front mudguards you’ll crucify them on big bumps. And you’ll knacker the cat heatshield with all the grounding - that usually hit first with me.
I’d suggest 32 front and 33 rear and experiment from then on.  When you’re setting up 1 turn is roughly 2 - 2.5mm in ride height.  Set the height, drive it then set it again.  I found i set the ride height then after a drive it settled to a slightly different height when they were first new.  Give it a week or two after fitting them to let them bed in and get ride height correct.  Get happy with ride height BEFORE getting wheels aligned.  I fitted them, went straight out and got wheels aligned and then got p’d off with grounding so had to raise them and get alignment done again.  

6

Thanks for that John.

I had allready been thinking along the lines of fitting the boots as they must be there for a reason

eg 'amount of road cr4p ’

 

Dave