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Installed Spax shocks on my 65 Convertible this week and was amazed at the difference in ride and handling quality! After testing a few different settings, it sticks in the corners much better and corners much flatter than previously. I was running Koni shocks and didn't expect such a significant difference. I ended up adjusting front and rear shocks at 20 and 20. My only complaint is that I had to drop the front shocks to gain access to the adjuster ****. The rear adjusters are readily accessible. Expensive, but well worth it!
Installed Spax shocks on my 65 Convertible this week and was amazed at the difference in ride and handling quality! After testing a few different settings, it sticks in the corners much better and corners much flatter than previously. I was running Koni shocks and didn't expect such a significant difference. I ended up adjusting front and rear shocks at 20 and 20. My only complaint is that I had to drop the front shocks to gain access to the adjuster ****. The rear adjusters are readily accessible. Expensive, but well worth it!
Nice! Are you running a stock suspension otherwise?
I'm getting RideTech single adjustables tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing how they feel.
Installed Spax shocks on my 65 Convertible this week and was amazed at the difference in ride and handling quality! After testing a few different settings, it sticks in the corners much better and corners much flatter than previously. I was running Koni shocks and didn't expect such a significant difference. I ended up adjusting front and rear shocks at 20 and 20. My only complaint is that I had to drop the front shocks to gain access to the adjuster ****. The rear adjusters are readily accessible. Expensive, but well worth it!
When you reinstalled the front shocks did you do a 180 on positioning? Should be able to access the adjustment through the coil spring.
Installed Spax shocks on my 65 Convertible this week and was amazed at the difference in ride and handling quality! After testing a few different settings, it sticks in the corners much better and corners much flatter than previously. I was running Koni shocks and didn't expect such a significant difference. I ended up adjusting front and rear shocks at 20 and 20. My only complaint is that I had to drop the front shocks to gain access to the adjuster ****. The rear adjusters are readily accessible. Expensive, but well worth it!
What tires and size are you using? Have you made any other suspension changes from stock?
That is nice. I'm curious about any other changes as well.
The suspension is stock other than the Spax shocks. Other changes include BFG T/A's P245/60R15 on the rear, P235 up front, Torq-Thrust II 7 1/2" wheels and Steeroid rack and pinion PS.
I did mount the front shocks 180, but I have a drive on lift and it is easier to just drop the shock and adjust turn the adjuster.
I have Spax on my Cosworth Vega, and can't access the front adjustment at normal ride height due to spring interference, but if I jack it up a couple of inches I can access.
I've been recommending Spax shocks here for years. Tires and shocks are the best two "suspension upgrades" you can do, and once you get them dialed in for your road conditions and driving style they make a HUGE difference compared to any off-the-shelf non-adjustable shock, but very few guys ever listened.
Tell us where you bought them, how long they took to be delivered, price, and PART NUMBERS. Maybe others will start getting the message.
I have Spax on my Cosworth Vega, and can't access the front adjustment at normal ride height due to spring interference, but if I jack it up a couple of inches I can access.
I've been recommending Spax shocks here for years. Tires and shocks are the best two "suspension upgrades" you can do, and once you get them dialed in for your road conditions and driving style they make a HUGE difference compared to any off-the-shelf non-adjustable shock, but very few guys ever listened.
Tell us where you bought them, how long they took to be delivered, price, and PART NUMBERS. Maybe others will start getting the message.
Duke
part numbers and where you got them would be good.
It was a special group order from the Cosworth Vega Owner's Assc. 20 years ago for about a dozen sets through Hutton Motor Engineering in Tennessee, which has been a CV specialist since the cars were new. I probably have a receipt somewhere with part numbers, but it would take me a while to find.
I don't know if they list H-body shocks in their online catalog, but you can check, and contact Hutton to see if they might be available on a special order basis.
It was a special group order from the Cosworth Vega Owner's Assc. 20 years ago for about a dozen sets through Hutton Motor Engineering in Tennessee, which has been a CV specialist since the cars were new. I probably have a receipt somewhere with part numbers, but it would take me a while to find.
I don't know if they list H-body shocks in their online catalog, but you can check, and contact Hutton to see if they might be available on a special order basis.
Duke
Amazon has them for the 67-69 Camero for $110 front or back, don't know part # or if they fit C2 vette
Amazon has them for the 67-69 Camero for $110 front or back, don't know part # or if they fit C2 vette
I just looked up both 68 Camero and 65 Corvette on the Monroe web site and they call for two different part numbers so I would say no. However upon further investigation when visiting Amazon about these shocks it says they are sold by JRP Inc. and when you click on that info you get their phone number 1-905-822-7223. Some times you have to be a private detective (not really, just look around a little.) Let us know what you find out.
I just received the RideTech shocks this afternoon. Unfortunately, they don't provide the mounting bolts for the front shocks that attach the "T" bar to the lower A arm... kind of a let down. The RideTech shock T bar is much thicker than the OEM so the original bolts won't fit. I called RideTech and they said they'd send new bolts, but you would think at this price point those would be included.
I have same Spax on my 64 all standard coupe since some months, as a replacement for the almost new OEM delco shocks. They indeed giving great car feel very much in line with my cruising driving style. I can easily acces the dials , including on the front shocks where my rather big fingers manage to get through the coils.
One problem I had though was that the rears are about 1" (iirc) shorter than the originals when fully extended. So when mounting they bottomed out the wheel drop too soon in my opinion , compression side had more headroom than standard. I fabricated/welded frame extensions to make them set closer to midpoint.
FYI: I exchanged the standard 196lbs rated leaf spring with a 140/196lbs one (both from Eaton). The 140 is the rate at low compression, 196 at higher compression. Gives an even smoother ride (I had to toughen up the spax setting a bit)
Last edited by alexandervdr; 02-24-2018 at 08:17 AM.
One problem I had though was that the rears are about 1" (iirc) shorter than the originals when fully extended. So when mounting they bottomed out the wheel drop too soon in my opinion , compression side had more headroom than standard. I fabricated/welded frame extensions to make them set closer to midpoint.
Halfshaft U-joint grounding is a problem at full rebaound, and since the rebound limit is established by shock extension, having a little less may be a good thing. I often wonder if typical OE replacement shocks don't have greater extended length than OE, which may be one source of the grounding problem.
It's most common on '63s due to the geometry of the cast drive flanges. The later two designs were forged, and their geometry allows a greater angle before grounding occurs.
I have same Spax on my 64 all standard coupe since some months, as a replacement for the almost new OEM delco shocks. They indeed giving great car feel very much in line with my cruising driving style. I can easily acces the dials , including on the front shocks where my rather big fingers manage to get through the coils.
One problem I had though was that the rears are about 1" (iirc) shorter than the originals when fully extended. So when mounting they bottomed out the wheel drop too soon in my opinion , compression side had more headroom than standard. I fabricated/welded frame extensions to make them set closer to midpoint.
FYI: I exchanged the standard 196lbs rated leaf spring with a 140/196lbs one (both from Eaton). The 140 is the rate at low compression, 196 at higher compression. Gives an even smoother ride (I had to toughen up the spax setting a bit)
when I put on the spax, it was with the stock spring. When I mentioned 'stock' should have mentioned I referred to the suspension system. The 140/195 spring that I put on recently had exactly same drive height, so would have had identical issue
Halfshaft U-joint grounding is a problem at full rebaound, and since the rebound limit is established by shock extension, having a little less may be a good thing. I often wonder if typical OE replacement shocks don't have greater extended length than OE, which may be one source of the grounding problem.
It's most common on '63s due to the geometry of the cast drive flanges. The later two designs were forged, and their geometry allows a greater angle before grounding occurs.
Duke
Sitting on it's wheels in stand still, the spax shocks almost bottomed out. Way too soon for my liking. My rear then standard spring had only a couple of thousand miles, a more settled one may have the car sit lower and avoid the problem with shorter shocks.
These are the specs of the delco's and the spaxes compared
The (new) AC delco originals close 258mm and open 377mm.
Halfshaft U-joint grounding is a problem at full rebaound, and since the rebound limit is established by shock extension, having a little less may be a good thing. I often wonder if typical OE replacement shocks don't have greater extended length than OE, which may be one source of the grounding problem.
It's most common on '63s due to the geometry of the cast drive flanges. The later two designs were forged, and their geometry allows a greater angle before grounding occurs.
Duke
Duke
When I had the trailing arms for my 1978 Corvette rebuilt I sent them to Bairs, along with the diff. Bairs advised me that the stock replacement shocks I was going to use (Monroe’s) were overlength at full extension and would void their warranty as they would allow binding to occur.
02-21-2018, 04:39 PM
Spax Shock Absorbers Made a Big Difference
