Custom front shocks – lots of questions!

mrtask

Well-Known Member
When I restored my car a decade ago I added threaded tubular sleeves to the front lower shock mounts, increasing the diameter to 22mm (from memory, and with apologies for not using imperial units!). I fitted custom shocks from GAZ with one size larger lower eyelets to fit the beefed up shock mounts. After about five years the shocks began to make a clacking noise, having developed some free travel before the shock extended. I returned them to GAZ who were able to refurbish them. Some five or so more years have passed, and they're doing the same again. 'Clackety clack' even on the smoothest road surface, noticeable at low (urban) speeds. Very irksome.
I'm thinking of having some custom shocks made, perhaps by another manufacturer this time. That way I can swap them out without the car being off the road for any great length of time, get the GAZ rebuilt a second time and keep them as spares. I have received a data sheet from Spax, who need information that I can't find in my workshop manual. All I have found is that the original front shock had a 1" barrel.
Can anybody tell me the length of the front shock body, and the amount of stroke? Is there an integral bump stop in the front shocks? What size are the standard top eyelets? Hoping the brain trust can help, without me having to jack up the car, take a wheel off and measure a shock in situ.
 
FWIW If I were talking to a damper manufacturer about a custom made unit that I wished to last I would be talking to Koni, not Spax.
I used AVO units and welded on original eyes and used OEM rubber mounts, no probs there on. Depends on budget, and likely ownership timescale.
 
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll get in touch with Koni too. I had AVO shocks on my previous P6, which were fine, but I thought I'd try another brand this time anyway. Whoever I opt for, I'm going to need the shock length and stroke length data... @harveyp6, @mikecoombs, @Vern Klukas, anybody! :hmm:
 
You can only say as you find, I have not had good luck with Spax.
Centre pin to centre pin - closed 300mm
Open - 418 mm
Body OD @ 40mm
Eyes have holes that taper into the centre they are 23mm wide, @ 30mm dia at the widest, tapering to @ 25mm dia at narrowest.
I have an old set of dampers if you want to buy them for the eyes.
 
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You will find that the heavy duty shocks are wider. 2" plus. Everything else will be the same, or maybe stiffer valving. That puts more fluid inside so they run cooler which helps keep the fluid viscosity more uniform so they don't 'go off' on long drives.
 
Thanks Mike. Were Spax an OEM manufacturer whilst Rover were producing the P6? I've only ever had P6s with Armstrong shocks as original fitment. Possibly they were aftermarket fitted by previous owners.
 
I think they were original equipment on the P6, at least for part of the run. I have several NOS (ex Flynn auction) spax p6 shocks in rover boxes. They definitely made them for the P6.

Both front and rear shock mounts a shorter throw that the arms they work on, being further in toward the pivot, one consequence is the movement is shorter so the valving needs to be harder for the same effect. Consequence is they wear out quite quickly.
 
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