GAZ or Protech shocks

[Drake]

Hey guys! This is my first post here and my first question would be GAZ or protech shocks? What do you guys think? I’m thinking of swapping out my shocks soon.

[Saltire]

Welcome to the forum!

It's Avo dampers for me, but this has been discussed several times on the forum, notably here and here.

By the way, letting us know where you are is useful, because there are often subtle differences between Federal and ROW cars. For example, I think I’m right in saying that spring rates are different in the US.

[Rambo]

Yeah, don't fit Fed. springs on a UK car unless you want it to look like it's on stilts

I've seen a few and they look really odd, particularly at the rear where you can get a fist and a half between the wheel arch and top of the tyre

[dapinky]

Although I would also go for AVO shocks, that only applies for a UK/EU/ROW car......

.... for a FED car, the OE stuff is still available, so I'd fit a new set of Lotus shocks.

[Brit-Car-Nut]

He is in Singapore...

[dapinky]

He is in Singapore...

Whilst the IP address used for registering on LEC resolves to Singapore (but then, my IP resolves to wherever i want it to), the email could be anywhere (hotmail.com)....... so in the absence of definative information I posted as above.....

But, if we assume that it is a ROW RHD car in Singapore, then TBH, unless it's going on a track, there isn't anywhere to use it on the roads that'll make too much difference to whatever is fitted, so I'd still recommend AVOs - but it may well be that something rebuildable locally will be more suitable......

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Dave,

He ordered a set of shift cables yesterday, so I know he is in Singapore because that is where the cables are going.
He asked me about shocks and I referred him to LEC, thus his query.
His email to me said he has a lotus elan m100 se.
Since the cables are not model specific, I never asked which variant M100 he has...
I did explain that the FED car has different springs and shocks.

[Drake]

I’m honestly not sure what type my elan is. I only know it’s a elan SE made in 1990 haha

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Is it Left Hand Drive or Right Hand?

Does it have 15 inch wheels or 16 inch?

Does it have a 4 position heater control knob (No A/C) or a 6 position control?

What is your VIN #? The VIN Decoder will help identify what you have:

VIN Decoder.jpg

[dapinky]

Drake,

I would suspect that it is a RHD ROW car - if you can put up a photo from a rear 3/4 view we can tell you instantly what it is (the bodyshell is different between European/Fed LHD cars, and UK/ROW RHD cars......)

[Drake]

Assuming its a RHD ROW Car. What is best for my shocks if i want it to go from street to occasional track applications? Durability too. Lets include AVO shocks here too.

[dapinky]

In that case, I would change the springs for new ones - but keep them at the OE length and rate (not 'uprated'), and fit AVO shocks - I click up from minimum for street use, and front 3 clicks, rear 2 clicks for track use.

(that is how I run mine - with an ocassional fiddle with the settings for track).

I have no direct knowledge of the settings on either GAZ or Protech shocks - but I wouldn't buy them anyway, so I'll leave those who have done to comment on their 'best' settings.

[Steve A]

I've had an expensive morning new shocks, springs and exhaust and it only cost me a new kitchen

[dapinky]

Yeah, but think how much you've saved by being stuck at home for the last 3 months......

[Steve A]

Yeah, but think how much you've saved by being stuck at home for the last 3 months......

I wouldn't mind a few more weeks when it all gets delivered

[Rocklobster]

Avo's from PNM Engineering.

[Rambo]

I've had an expensive morning new shocks, springs and exhaust and it only cost me a new kitchen

Must've been a cheap kitchen Steve Did you go to B and Q

PS it has an upside though. Just think if those nice shiny "old" units fitted in your garage/mancave

[Rusty Wishbone]

A bit of a diversion: I'm installing Pro-Tech shocks, simply because that is what SJ's sell, and I concluded that they know more than me about what works well. My question is, are gaiters needed to protect the damper rod from dirt? The dampers are supplied with a rubber tube,but these don't seem to be a substitute for gaiters.

[FunElan]

Bumping this up because I need to make a decision between the GAZ, Protech, and AVO. SWLotus carry all 3, the GAZ are slightly cheaper and have a 2 year warranty vs 1 year for the Protechs. It seems that there is at least one person on LEC that has had a negative experience with each of these, but I also find positive reviews for all. Is there really no clear "best option"? (besides Nitron$$)

[Saltire]

Well . . . I hesitate to say “it won’t matter” - but in reality that’s probably true. Whatever you’re choosing, there will always be people who say it’s the best thing ever, and at least one who says it’s rubbish and not to touch it. Personally, I fitted Avos two years ago and have been very pleased with them, but I’ve heard of others equally happy with whatever they picked. I went for the Avos because I have a local supplier and I can get them overhauled if I need to.

Pinky will probably be along in a moment with some wisdom . . .