Fitting springs to Gas adjustable rear shocks?

[andrewh]

hi Guys, well I treated myself to a set of adjustable GAZ rear shockers for the new rebuild. Unfortunately, I didnt take into account that my normal spring compressor tool would not work because the top retainer is larger diameter than the spring. It is a sort of cap that sits on the top of the spring. I can see that those awful rods with hooks could suffice, but not only do they scratch the springs they are hopeless.

Can any kind soul who has carried out just this operation let me in on how they did it please?
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[mgcjag]

Hi Andrew....are you fitting your original Springs.......the adjustable platform shocks iv fitted needed the shorter springs made to be used with the adjustable platform shocks. .....Steve https://www.sngbarratt.com/English/#/UK ... dbadaf5018

[265bhp]

Andrew

Not sure if this will work for you but when I did mine I used a pair of spare old rear discs with threaded bars running between the mounting holes..the dampers fitted between the rods neatly

Best
Jonathan

[andrewh]

Hi Andrew....are you fitting your original Springs.......the adjustable platform shocks iv fitted needed the shorter springs made to be used with the adjustable platform shocks. .....Steve https://www.sngbarratt.com/English/#/UK ... dbadaf5018

Thanks Steve, I am fitting the original springs as I have been told the ride is very hard with the shorter springs. I will ask SNGB to measure up the springs they offer. Slightly negates my reason for buying the adjustable shockers to adjust my ride height with the original springs!

[andrewh]

Andrew

Not sure if this will work for you but when I did mine I used a pair of spare old rear discs with threaded bars running between the mounting holes..the dampers fitted between the rods neatly

Best
Jonathan

Thanks Jonathon, thats how I normally do it, but as the lock cap is larger than the hole in the disc it will not allow you to remove the disc afterwards!!

[mgcjag]

Info is in the link i posted 275lb 8in.....your new adjustable shocks arnt designed for original springs...you will sit far too high even with the platform fully down. ...Steve NB..SNG Sell two different springs for these shocks....the ones i posted and the same length but stiffer for fast road/race

[Series1 Stu]

I had these made to help me fit my springs to Gaz dampers (non-adjustable platform). It worked well but you need to ensure you tighten them evenly.

If I can find them, you're welcome to borrow them for as long as it takes.





Regards

[mgcjag]

All the coil overs Adgustable platform that iv seen are just assembled by hand...no spring compression needed....Steve

[andrewh]

Info is in the link i posted 275lb 8in.....your new adjustable shocks arnt designed for original springs...you will sit far too high even with the platform fully down. ...Steve NB..SNG Sell two different springs for these shocks....the ones i posted and the same length but stiffer for fast road/race

Ok interesting. SNGB don't know that then! They tell me that their spring is standard length and the GAZ ones are 8 inches which is obviously shorter. They also tell me that well known Jag restorer always fits the standard springs. ummm not getting anyway fast on this one! I will get them to measure their springs again.

[mgcjag]

Hi Andrew....I first brought this up ages ago on the forum and with The tech department at SNGB......when fitting standard springs to the agjustable platform Gaz and the ride height being way too high.......SNGB had these fitted on their test car 50EE......when we discussed why their car was riding correct it then became obvious that they were useing the correct shorter spring.......Im assuming that the Adjustable platform shock is the same now as then and that they havent been altered in some way.......but its fairly obvious that useing original springs with the much thicker adjustable lower platform will increase the ride height......make sure you talk to the tech team and not the sales staff.......Steve

[andrewh]

I had these made to help me fit my springs to Gaz dampers (non-adjustable platform). It worked well but you need to ensure you tighten them evenly.

If I can find them, you're welcome to borrow them for as long as it takes.





Regards

Thanks very much Steve, thats a great offer. I am just trying to work out whether I need to buy the GAZ springs or not . It seems I may need to! Will be in touch if I think I Can get away with my original spring.

[andrewh]

Hi Andrew....I first brought this up ages ago on the forum and with The tech department at SNGB......when fitting standard springs to the agjustable platform Gaz and the ride height being way too high.......SNGB had these fitted on their test car 50EE......when we discussed why their car was riding correct it then became obvious that they were useing the correct shorter spring.......Im assuming that the Adjustable platform shock is the same now as then and that they havent been altered in some way.......but its fairly obvious that useing original springs with the much thicker adjustable lower platform will increase the ride height......make sure you talk to the tech team and not the sales staff.......Steve

I need a contact in tech then! I am thinking I should just buy the GAZ springs, but not sure whether it will make it bounce down the road. They suggest that its for fast road or track. I just want a nice ride with correct ride height, thats all, cant be that tricky!!!!

[mgcjag]

Hi Andrew...read my posts above.....there are 2 types of short correct springs for these shocks. ...the ones i listed above and another on SNGB site if you look thats for the same shock but higher rated for fast road/race

[MarekH]

I had these made to help me fit my spring.......you're welcome to borrow them for as long as it takes.

These don't look to be anywhere near safe imho. Take a look at how coarse the threads are on a commercial product and how thick the metal is. Ask yourself why that might be....

kind regards
Marek

[Heuer]

Take them to a motorcycle repair shop. They will have a powered spring compressor that fits the E-Type rear shocks. Basically they are the same diameter as many m/c shocks. A local shop did mine in a matter of minutes - gave the guy a tenner and he seemed very happy!

[andrewh]

Take them to a motorcycle repair shop. They will have a powered spring compressor that fits the E-Type rear shocks. Basically they are the same diameter as many m/c shocks. A local shop did mine in a matter of minutes - gave the guy a tenner and he seemed very happy!

Thanks David. I am just trying to establish if I need the shorter springs on the Gaz. . If my brain is working correctly, unless I have reasonable ability to lower the platform then I cannot drop my ride height and since original springs would necessitate the lower platform being at the lowest level, I would not have any adjustment to lower the ride height. Ergo shorter springs required!!

[Series1 Stu]

These don't look to be anywhere near safe imho. Take a look at how coarse the threads are on a commercial product and how thick the metal is. Ask yourself why that might be....

kind regards
Marek

Don't worry about it Marek. Those are M12 grade 8.8 screws with matching grade 8 nuts. Since the nut has sufficient thread engagement to ensure the thread will not strip before the screw fails, and the permissible tensile load on the screw is around 36kN (or around 3.6 Tonnes), then the threads are unlikely to fail when compressing a spring rated at around 300lb/inch (52N/mm) by around 2 inches. Even if compressing 2.5" (63.5mm) the 2 screw threads would share a load of around 3.3kN - 1.65kN each. Well within the strength rating of the threads.

I would urge caution to ensure the clamps are screwed down evenly, but this is to avoid the risk of the spring throwing them off and/or launching itself across the workshop. Not for any reason of load sharing.

I get what you are saying about commercially available spring compressors but they are designed with regular and varied use in mind for springs of much higher rating than E Type coil springs and they need to build in large factors of safety to mitigate misuse and poor maintenance.

I agree with David though - a motorcycle workshop is a great place to take them

Regards

[andrewh]

I think, and thank you for all your help, that I will buy the GAZ shorter springs. This will enable the springs to be fitted with no compression required and the ride height to be adjusted by altering the lower platform. A standard spring would stop the ability to lower the car as far as I can tell due to its length. It does beg the question that if the short GAZ spring is 270lb but in an 8 inch length will it have the same characteristics as a 270 lb Spring in a 10 inch length. One for the spring experts I think!

[mgcjag]

Both springs will compress 1in if you apply 270lb to them......Steve

[abowie]

I have a compressor for McPherson struts. You use the smallest set of jaws.

I fitted a set of the Gaz adjustables (not the adjustable perch ones) to an XJS recently without issue. You compress the spring, insert the shock in one end and then slide the C shaped locking piece over the shocker.

For your shocks I imagine that you wind the adjustable perch down to the lowest setting first.