KurtB Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 Hello Folks, Recently I took my car to Blyton for a track day and noted that the back end was a little wayward in left handers. I realise it'd been a while since I last tracked it and thought I'd over inflated the rear tyres (27 psi cold). I lowered the pressure (to 25psi hot) and the problem seemed less obvious. Taking the car out for a spirited drive found me applying the oft mooted 'dab of oppo' on the local roads, which are quite undulated. Now, I noted that this again seemed more prevalent on left hand bends, and time was called until further investigation was carried out. This is the outcome of what Jody and I found... I think Jody has an image of it on the car, but you can see the top eye end of the rear nearside damper has come away from the rest of the body. This meant that the damper wasn't actually attached at the upper end and was only sitting against the upper mounting by the weight of the car alone. The location was also assisted by the wheel speed sensor resting against the suspension spring. It doesn't bear thinking about this failure, had it happened at speed on the road etc. I think I turned white at the discovery... This prompted me to carry investigation and what I discovered was, ahem, shocking... To put it into words, 7 of the 8 eye ends where the shocks attach to the car were cracked and split! It REALLY doesn't bear thinking about the possible consequences, but I urge you to check your damper attachments if you have GAZ fitted. I've been in touch with Gaz and they asked me to return the assemblies. They emails back to say that the dampers were 8 years old and beyond repair (obviously), and this had happen due to corrosion. They have offered me a discounted replacement set, but I'm not sure that's good enough. I'm clearly without suspension at the moment (and I'm slowly now undertaking a full refresh), and have had to cancel my trip to Lotus in the Peak (I'm gutted about that), cancel insurance, sorned the car etc. It'll be a long while before I can afford the replacement parts (being a full time dad doesn't pay well) and I'm already missing my car! I feel this isn't my fault despite me servicing the car myself (no maintenance requirements for the damper fittings), and I bought the car with the suspension already fitted. Given that other cars may be fitted with similar suspension should Gaz be doing a recall? Is there something I could do from a legal perspective, or is it just a case of rotten luck?
The Cakes Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 I have some standard shocks that came with my Exige I purchased recently. There's got to be a way where we get you back on the road and you put me back where I am now shock wise at some point down the line. When you can afford it?
AlanS1 Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 You are very very lucky that these did not give way while driving. I wouldn't like to think what could have happened. Looking at the photo's i am surprised they have lasted this long. They seem a very poor design.
Alex B Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 My thought would be it shouldn't matter on the age, such a severe failure due to "corrosion" shouldn't happen.
Reg Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 So has the steel sleeve of the bush rusted and therefore increased in size breaking the aluminium ring? That's a bit worrying! However, it would seem to me that the fact you didn't purchase them originally. Gaz, (depending on the size of the discount) seem to be acting quite fairly...
Martin R Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 Kurt, i have some LSS in my loft. They have done 40K. I had to change the rear brackets to go to 46mm Nitrons. They are crashy on the bad roads but will get you mobile if you want to use them as a stop gap? I dont see why they will not be a straight swop with the rear brackets i have?
dobbo Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 No help to you, I'm afraid Kurt, but many thanks for posting. I've checked mine and all seems OK. I even cycled my damping adjusters ! Of course, I forgot to count clicks - anyone else running Gaz and give some rough idea ? I've just set them all to mid-points at the moment (23 clicks from soft).
SimonE Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 Blimey Kurt - the Gods were looking after you - that is very worrying and you are absolutely right to alert others!! The basic mounting design just doesn't appear right to me for fitment to a high performance car - the only available movement appears one directional around the mounting bolt whereas Koni LSS and Nitron have rose jointed mountings (rather than rubber mountings which will degrade over time) which allow forthe slight multi-directional movement which assists in the dissipation of the suspension loadings which on an Exige/Elise can be quite substantial especially on trackdays with sticky tyres. Will be interesting to hear what Gaz say? Hope you get back on the road pronto
@ndy Posted April 14, 2015 Posted April 14, 2015 I run Gaz Gold Pros and as part of my winter engine upgrade I've also refreshed all the suspension and found the dampers in great condition apart from the rusty springs, Will be checking more frequently now. FYI - My damper bush's are Aluminium Dobbo, I'm currently running 7 clicks on the front and 9 on the rear from soft. However mine only go from 0 to 18 clicks ?
KurtB Posted April 15, 2015 Author Posted April 15, 2015 Gentlemen, Firstly to The Cakes and Martin R, thank you for the generosity of the shocks, I'll definitely consider your offers and be in touch via PM when I sort out a more comprehensive plan of attack. Simon, Gaz have said all they're going to I think. That is they're 8 years old, their design has moved on and here's the offer (half price Gaz Golds). It's not a bad offer, but I'm starting a refresh and this incident is making me loose faith in their product. I did buy a set for my Elise many moons ago, but it may be worth saving for a set of basic Nitrons. Reg, yes that seems to be the size of it. Overall I realise I'm very, very lucky, and just think that this could happen to anyone in the same boat, with potentially fatal consequences. Honestly it doesn't bear thinking about.
Alex B Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 I've just read through this post over on Seloc and there is some interesting and also some just plain odd points been made.
KurtB Posted April 15, 2015 Author Posted April 15, 2015 Yes Alex, but if something is worth slating, seloc is the place for it! The place is full of trolls.
Alex B Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 There's one particular one that I read as: It broke because it got dirty. "Cocopops: Perhaps you might have noticed sooner had you cleaned it? Or maybe a bit of tlc?" Then there's this one: " Quote: Originally posted by roadboy... On 8 year old dampers in that sort of condition I can't see how you have any comeback with Gaz at all and I think it's jolly nice that they even offered you a discounted set. /2p glad nothing serious happened, but I'm with Dan on this one : shocking state for a set of damper, be it a track car or road car " I'm sorry but you wouldnt expect to have to take the shocks Off a normal car to clean them so what's makes a lotus any different.
@ndy Posted April 15, 2015 Posted April 15, 2015 Gaz will always get slated on Seloc and I know Nitrons etc. are better, However I'm very happy with mine and the offer of half price on GG Pros is very fair.
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