Suspension

If you require Bilstein dampers please use the links above!

Find the right product for you: 1.- Select Make:   All Values ALFA ROMEO AUDI BMW CATERHAM CITROEN DAIMLER FIAT FORD GINETTA HILLMAN HONDA JAGUAR LEXUS LOTUS MARCOS MAZDA MERCEDES MG NISSAN PEUGEOT PORSCHE RELIANT RENAULT ROVER SAAB SEAT SKODA TALBOT TOYOTA VAUXHALL VOLVO VW WESTFIELD 2.- Select Car Model:     All Values 100 106 145/146 155 156 164 166 19 190E 200 205 206 240 260 2CV 300ZX 306 309 356 400 405 5 600 626 75 80/90 850 90 900 9000 911 912 924 928 940 944 95 960 A3 A4 A6 A8 ACCORD ALFETTA AROSA ASTRA AX BARCHETTA BEETLE BORA BOXSTER BRAVO/BRAVA C/S/V70 CALIBRA CAPRI CARLTON CAVALIER CIVIC CLIO CORDOBA COROLLA CORRADO CORSA COUPE CRV E CLASS E-TYPE E12 E21 E23 E24 E28 E30 E32 E34 E36 E38 E39 E46 ECLAT ELAN ELISE ELITE ESCORT COSWORTH ESCORT1&2 ESCORT3-6 ESPACE ESPRIT EUROPA EXCEL FIESTA FOCUS G11 G12 G15 G21 G27 G32 G4 GIULIA GIULIETTA GOLF1 GOLF2 GOLF3 GOLF4 GRANADA GS GTV IBIZA IMP INTEGRA IS JETTA KA LEON LUPO MAESTRO MANTULA MEGANE METRO MGB MGF & TF MIDGET MINI MR2 MX5 NOVA NSX OCTAVIA OMEGA ORION PASSAT POLO PRELUDE PUMA PUNTO QUATTRO RX7 S & RS MODELS S CLASS SAXO SCIMITAR SCIROCCO SEVEN SIERRA SKYLINE SLK SOVEREIGN SPIDER SPRITE SS1 STILO SUD/SPRINT SUNBEAM SUPRA TEMPRA TIGRA TIPO TOLEDO TT TWINGO VECTRA WESTFIELD XJ XJS Z3 ZAFIRA ZX 3.- Select Brand:     All Values BILSTEIN GAZ

All dampers are priced individually

Performance and race dampers use stronger internals, with larger diameter rods and improved oil seals. Racing applications utilise remote reservoirs to control damper fade in the most arduous conditions. Damper selection needs to be thought out carefully. Adjustable dampers offer a range of benefits but it does not mean that a set of well matched non-adjustable dampers and springs are inferior. Our suspension suppliers spend a lot of time and effort making kits that have been tested and will improve handling out of the box. Adjustable dampers need to be set up correctly to work in harmony with the springs and the intended application, and even the conditions. Cold weather means the oil will be more viscous and the damper “harder” than in hot weather. When installing an adjustable damper generally it is best to start off with the softest setting and then work up from there. Inititally change front and rear at the same time. Later on you can experiment with different settings to ensure correct handling balance. If you are serious about extracting the best from your car you will be looking at a set of dampers with separate bump and rebound settings.

Most dampers today are gas pressurised twin tube design. These still use oil in a reservoir but are pressurised by gas at a relatively low pressure. The tendency for the oil to foam is reduced over a non-gas charged damper. The result is a faster response of the damping valves as well as improved damping characteristics.

There is another design of damper called a monutube which in comparison with the conventional twin tube system, ensures minimal foaming of the oil in the shock. This in turn makes the damper more stable and better able to cope with intensive use. It does this by keeping the oil in the damper under high gas pressure. Bilstein pioneered the monutube damper and still lead the field in this area. Another benefit of the monutube design is they are sometimes mounted “upside-down”, this saves a small amount of unsprung weight which can again improve handling, together with the fact that monutube designs are often 20% lighter. In addition the monutube high pressure gas actually adds some spring rate to the car which may help you if you are running in a class where you must run standard spring rates.

Monutube dampers generally have a worse low speed ride, but are often better at controlling the tyres contact with the road on a high speed surface with bumps. Adjustable twin-tube dampers usually permit a wider adjustment range so they can work with different spring rates. For racing use monutube units may need re-valving to cope with set-up requirements.

Balance Motorsport can help you choose the right application for your vehicle to maximise performance and value. We currently sell Shock Absorbers online from Bilstein, and Gaz and Nitron (available on special request). We are able to provide a rebuild and revalve service on Bilstein Shocks if you want to operate them with significantly stiffer springs.

No coilover kit listed for your car? Telescopic dampers all round? Buy coilover springs to go with your dampers - we spec for you or you choose - click here