Dave A
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Registered: 10th Dec 03
Location: County Durham
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Seeing as Vsport is going to be the north east regions distributor and dealer of Gaz Suspension I though I would try and blag a set of their coilovers for project Vsport. I succeded in getting a few sets at a decent price and decided to fit one of their GHA kits today to see if they are any good.
the kit itself looks fantastic quality and the finish is far better than any other coilover I have seen, they are either zinc or nickel plated (depends on the kit) and the threads are far chunkier than other coilovers I have used. the piston rods in both the front and rear struts are nice and chunky and they feel really solid.
The front and rear spring rates are selectable upon order so are ideal for conversions. bothe the bound and rebound is adjustable and they also come with the option of the rear being a full coilover rather than the seperate spring set-up (pictured below) :
the rear shocks are well built with a very solid silicone dust cover, far better than any other I have seen, even on Bilstein and Koni:
rear springs come with optional ride height and poundage (selectable on order) but the 40mm springs seem more like 60mm IMO
each kit is tested on a suspension dyno before shipping and a full report inc graphs are included in the kit.
Handling wise on the softest setting they are very very comfy but a little sloppy. the struts cant keep up with the springs over bigger bumps and dips in the road and it feels a little bit like a ship. on the hardest setting its fantastic, still comfy but reacts a bit too quickly to changes in the road surface and tends to wander with the camber in the road. Set on half way it feels perfect, handles really well, really comfy over all types of bumps, feels very direct and drivable.
my only complaint would be that on all 3 settings I have tried it seems a little bouncy. front end seems a bit springy. I think a little bit of playing round with the bump rebound settings will solve this though.
is it better than my bilstein tarmac rally set-up on the Gsi? in short, no. I still havnt driven a car yet that feels as good as my bilstein set-up. if anything I would say the 2 handle equally well but the gaz kit is more comfortable and better for everyday use. it also has the adjustability of ride height and damping. If I had to chooses to keep one though, I would keep the bilsteins. maybe this will change with a little bit more playing round with the settings on the Gaz kit.
[Edited on 27-11-2006 by Dave A]
[Edited on 28-11-2006 by Dave A]
[Edited on 01-12-2006 by Dave A]
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
User status: Offline
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Nice. They look the part, even if the Billies did behave better (differently) 
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SportBoy
Member
Registered: 5th Oct 01
Location: Retford, Nottinghamshire
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how much they set you back?? been thinking of buying some for my tub .. my mate has them on his cossy and really rates them
ps how much do they cost to joe bloggs
[Edited on 27-11-2006 by SportyBoy]
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Dave A
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 10th Dec 03
Location: County Durham
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its one of those things, If I handt ever had the bisteins I would have thought these are the best things ever, but its always good to have something to judge things against.
retail is £449+vat but I can do some great discounts on them
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Rob B
Member
Registered: 8th Jan 04
Location: Area Motorsport Drives: Race EP3
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Mates got these on his RS not happy because the adjuster part on top of the struts has broken all ready !
However, the over all ride and the way its improved the handling is amazing !
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J100RSA
Member
Registered: 4th Mar 01
Location: Thornhill, West Yorkshire
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but what dose the car drive like as i want some noew coilover as the fk's are gash was thinking ledas
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Rob B
Member
Registered: 8th Jan 04
Location: Area Motorsport Drives: Race EP3
User status: Offline
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Mates escort drives nicely on them, very good ride nice and firm but still not like the smallest stone is a 12 inch deep pot hole.
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J100RSA
Member
Registered: 4th Mar 01
Location: Thornhill, West Yorkshire
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i got an omega on ledas in at mo and that drives awsome
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Dave A
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 10th Dec 03
Location: County Durham
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these are miles ahead of spax and fk coilovers. the guy at Gaz used to design the struts at Leda and many of the design features are a copy of the Leda strut, spec for spec there isnt any obvious difference that I can see! even down to the piston rod itself, its the same length, thickness and made in the same way.
for everyday road use they are fantastic, I would go as far as saying as comfy as the eibach setup I fitted to the GF's old corsa. not crashy even over big bumps and manhole covers that I usually have to avoid in streets round here (with the billies) arent a problem anymore
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broster
Premium Member
Registered: 6th Dec 02
Location: Drives: E39
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leda are alot of money, gaz are now employing an ex leda employee hence they may look similar!
i had a set of gaz coilovers, better looking than the avo ones i had.
now i own a set of bilstein coilovers...
they are a good buget coilover kit tho!
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Dave A
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 10th Dec 03
Location: County Durham
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exactly right mark they fill the gap between the really budget (crap) like FK, Pi, jamex and Spax coilovers ............and the leda and bilstein stuff.
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CorsaChris12
Member
Registered: 28th Jul 04
Location: Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees
User status: Offline
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I like the look of them very nice!
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P1CK4D
Member
Registered: 19th Jun 06
Location: Around Essex Somewhere
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I too have a set of these and i cant be more pleased with them! Nice 1 Dave!
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Neil
Member
Registered: 2nd Nov 03
Location: Newcastle Drives: E46 MSport Coupe
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Looks like the car sits nice. I look forward to getting them on the turbo Dave.
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Dave A
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Registered: 10th Dec 03
Location: County Durham
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might put the 16" comp mo's on tomorrow, see how it sits with them on
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7 omm
Member
Registered: 19th Nov 05
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
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you get collies for a corsa C?
if so i want some prices mate.
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Dave A
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 10th Dec 03
Location: County Durham
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yes, corsa c are available... I will check my price list.....
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7 omm
Member
Registered: 19th Nov 05
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
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ok mate, cheers.
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Dave A
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 10th Dec 03
Location: County Durham
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looking at about £510 +vat at retail price Tom (£599)
I can offer 10% off this price.
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Neil
Member
Registered: 2nd Nov 03
Location: Newcastle Drives: E46 MSport Coupe
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Dave A
might put the 16" comp mo's on tomorrow, see how it sits with them on
Post pics! the tubby will have 16's on when its ready for the susp and zorst.
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Dave A
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 10th Dec 03
Location: County Durham
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will do, look out in the projects and builds section tomorrow.
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Dave A
USER UNDER INVESTIGATION - DO NOT TRADE
Registered: 10th Dec 03
Location: County Durham
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*UPDATE*
after a lot of fiddling, refitting and adjusting I have managed to get them set up perfecly got rid of the bouncyness, it was the bumpstop. They are rather big and need cutting down to suit, gaz dont include that in their instructions.
now they are set-up they are a lot better to drive. amazingly comfortable over even big bumps and holes in the road, not crashy at all. even on the hardest setting.
still cant decide wether these or the bilsteins are better though,
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Meat-Pie-SRI
Member
Registered: 10th Apr 02
Location: Berkhamsted, Drives Mk4 R32
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That was my old GSI on GAZ coilovers about 3 years ago, i loved them and have got them on my pulsar and my vr6!!
used to have blistiens on my pulsar and think that it handles much better now!
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Teddy
Member
Registered: 19th Jul 04
Location: Northampton Drives: VW Bora 1.9TDi pd130
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Dave - is the blue car your new shell?
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J4M13
Member
Registered: 15th Apr 06
Location: Bacup (Rossendale)
User status: Offline
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quote:
is it better than my bilstein tarmac rally set-up on the Gsi? in short, no. I still havnt driven a car yet that feels as good as my bilstein set-up
thats good to hear, cant wait for the bilstien's to arrive
[Edited on 28-11-2006 by J4M13]
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