Gaz shocks fitting problem.

Pjim6

Member
Help . I have just purchased a set of Gaz adjustable shockers for my P6 2000 1972 . I have checked I have the correct part number but they appear to be 2 inches too long. I have tried jacking up the suspension by placing a wooden block under the disc but all that does is raise the whole car . Where am I going wrong .
 
Has anyone considered the fact that the shocks on the front of a P6 work the opposite way round to a conventional set up ?
I am about to take mine off for re valve works, I will check them out.
Certainly the rear coil overs have less rebound resistance than compression, now I wonder if the manufacturers have realised that the P6 operates the other way round at the front ? anyone tested theirs ?
 
The measurement between the hole centres when they are fully closed is 12 inches. I wonder if anybody has a set on the shelf they could check for me ?

Haven't you got the one you took off?

Richard
 
Has anyone considered the fact that the shocks on the front of a P6 work the opposite way round to a conventional set up ?
I am about to take mine off for re valve works, I will check them out.
Certainly the rear coil overs have less rebound resistance than compression, now I wonder if the manufacturers have realised that the P6 operates the other way round at the front ? anyone tested theirs ?

Hi, I think that's part of the problem with them being difficult / expensive to get hold of. There are no close equivalent in terms of valving fitted to other vehicles. They are in effect one-off's and manufacturers are reluctant to provide them for a comparatively limited market.

Colin
 
I did buy a pair of front Gaz shocks for Sparky (might have been Avos though, thinking about it), and they did tell me that the valves were correct for the P6, so they were aware of it.

The bushes were too big though and they send me some tubes to make them fit, but they never did fit without rattling, so are in a box under the bench now :(
 
I will come back and let you know if the front AVO's are correct.
Richard It is very easy to weld on old eyes to make them work, so don't throw them away, I know when you pay good money for new shocks they should fit, but hey, at least you can get them to with a bit of faff.
 
I have just fitted a pair of front GAZ adjustables and they fitted like a glove . Gaz are aware of the unique valving , they have sold 50 pairs this year with not one problem. Maybe that is why the majority of P6 specialists only sell GAZ. ? A previous owner had fitted non Rover standard shocks and the suspension was partially seized because when I went to fit the new shocks they appeared to be 2 inches too long.
 
Haven't you got the one you took off?

Richard
Richard , The ones I took off were 10 inches centre to centre.The reason for that was they were the wrong shocks and the suspension was not working correctly .Because the valving was wrong it caused the suspension to seize . This initially led me to think I had the wrong new shocks .
 
Hi guys. Digging up an old post here.
My new Gaz shock arrived today. As mentioned above, when compressed they measure 305mm. (12 inches). Shocks on the car measure 340mm at ride height. That give me 35mm suspension travel with the Gaz shocks. This seems stupidly little.....
Also they are really hard to compress and easier to lengthen (on softest setting). Mentioned above was that P6 shocks work opposite. Is this considered opposite or normal. (This seems normal in my world)
Your opinions please.
 
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Hi guys. Digging up an old post here.
My new Gaz shock arrived today. As mentioned above, when compressed they measure 305mm. (12 inches). Shocks on the car measure 340mm at ride height. That give me 35mm suspension travel with the Gaz shocks. This seems stupidly little.....
Also they are really hard to compress and easier to lengthen (on softest setting). Mentioned above was that P6 shocks work opposite. Is this considered opposite or normal. (This seems normal in my world)
Your opinions please.
My advise to you would be , if you think you have a problem speak to Gaz . They are the experts. I had what I thought was a problem and with one phone call to Gaz it was sorted . Hope this helps .
 
Have sent them an email earlier on but don't expect a reply till at least Monday. (Its Friday night here)
You put these shocks on the front of your car. How are they going and what setting have you ended up running them at if you don't mind me asking.
I have a set of Gaz shocks on a MGB that work well. Run half way on the front (coil overs) and softish in the rear.
 
Are these to be fitted to the front? If so, they sound correct. A shock needs to be stffer when the suspension is on rebound than when it is on bump, otherwise the ride would be awful. In most suspension systems, including the P6 rear, the shock compresses when the suspension is on bump and vice versa. On the P6 front, the shocks work the other way round and extend when the wheel hits a bump and the spring compresses. So they need to to be soft when they extend and firmer when they compress. That small amount of travel you mention is used when the suspension is in droop, and equates to rather more than 35mm at the wheel.

Hope that helps

John
 
Ahh I see. Found a good diagram of the front suspension setup. With the bottom of the shock attached to the body, not the suspension, it ends up working opposite to ordinary suspension. And being attached to the suspension arm closer to the spring gives it a leaver affect reducing its travel requirements. Very clever indeed. When people said it worked backwards, I thought it was the shock itself that did. Many years ago I was sold a set of shocks for a Pajero that worked backwards, i.e. squished easy and extended with difficulty. (They were terrible on road but great off road.)
I have a stiffer anti-roll bar in the P6 so it corners well and having the shocks working as they do explains the lovely soft ride. Those Rover engineers were clever buggers;)
My car came with adjustable Koni front shocks but one was faulty so have been using a pair of adjustable Spax destined for the rear of a MGB. They are about 2/3rds the diameter of the Gaz's so are a little light weight for the front of a P6. Hence the Gaz replacements. Thanks for you advice gents.
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Have sent them an email earlier on but don't expect a reply till at least Monday. (Its Friday night here)
You put these shocks on the front of your car. How are they going and what setting have you ended up running them at if you don't mind me asking.
I have a set of Gaz shocks on a MGB that work well. Run half way on the front (coil overs) and softish in the rear.
Hi Peter , I initially set my Gaz shocks at 8 clicks front and rear ( half way ). I found this a bit too firm so have reset them at 6 clicks . I have only been on one short ride out due to our inclement weather but I did feel a difference. Slightly softer seemed to suit the car better . When our summer comes I am going to experiment with altering front and rear settings. Hope this helps .
 
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