Is this a standard shocker?

Dave Dyer · Postby **Dave Dyer** » 15 Feb 2014 10:22

Hi,

I bought a TR7 uprated suspension kit from rimmers many years ago (mid 90's) it was Spax shocks and uprated springs.

I'm in the process of stripping the front struts these are fitted to, but when I removed the front strut inserts they have 'Record'France, stamped on them. When I bought them I assumed they were spax and excitedly fitted them, not checking anything.

I'm now thinking I was given standard shocks instead of the spax, unless spax are made in France?

Thanks,
Dave

TR Tony · Postby **TR Tony** » 15 Feb 2014 11:41

As far as I know Spax have always been made in the UK, even though the company changed hands around 1999. They have been to a few places in the UK but are based in Oxfordshire now.

Amortisseurs Record are indeed a French company making shock absorbers, they still exist & their Super range lists front & rear shocks for the TR7/8. Record's website says they specialise in aftermarket shocks & are the last 100% French owned independent shock absorber maker! Looks like you were supplied with their product rather than Spax back when you bought that kit.

I don't think Record were ever a supplier of "standard" shocks to BL, who used Monroe, Girling & possibly Armstrong, but how Record compare to Spax in terms of specification is anyone's guess.

So what are your impressions of the Record shocks over the last 15 years? And what have you got on the back of the car!

Tony

1981 TR7 FHC Cavalry Blue
1980 TR7V8 DHC Jaguar Regency Red - sadly sold!
1977 TR8 FHC EFI Factory development car Inca Yellow

busheytrader · Postby **busheytrader** » 15 Feb 2014 11:47

I'm on my second pair of front Spax on my Wedge.

Whereas the rear Spax are bright yellow and have Spax stickers on them, the front Spax inserts are black with no identification IIRC.

TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, S/S Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & PolyBushes all round, Anti- Dive, Strut-Top Roller Bearings, Capri Vented Discs & Calipers, Braided Hoses, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AT 14" 5 Spokes or Maestro Turbo 15" Alloys, Cruise Lights, S/S Heater Pipes, Replacement Fuel Tank. No Door Stickers. Mine since July 1986, V8 from 1991 courtesy of S&S V8 conversion and big brake kits.

Dave Dyer · Postby **Dave Dyer** » 15 Feb 2014 12:51

Hi Tony,

The rear shocks are Spax adjustables. As for how the shocks have performed over the last 15 years, I'm afraid I don't know! Its the old old story, I took the car off the road all those years ago to do a quick tidy up and it ended up having a lot of work which was never finished! As I've very nearly finished my other TR7 project I've now started back on this one, but I'm going over what I've already worked on just to make sure its all ok.

I'm a bit annoyed with myself, that I didn't check the shocks and knowing what rimmers customer service is like, theres no chance going down that route!

Busheytrader, yes mine are the same, yellow rear with stickers, black front with no stickers and its only when you look close in good light that you can see the Record marking on it.

Dave

jeffremj · Postby **jeffremj** » 15 Feb 2014 15:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I don't think Record were ever a supplier of "standard" shocks to BL, who used Monroe, Girling & possibly Armstrong<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">My original front shocks were Armstrong - 1980 vintage.

Beans · Postby **Beans** » 15 Feb 2014 16:27

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Dave Dyer

... the front strut inserts they have 'Record'France ...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Sounds rather familiar.

I had a set of these on my first car many moons ago.
Must have been around 1990, were also sold as Spax.
In my case they also were black but had Spax stickers placed strategically over the "Record" stamp.

Quality was rather poor as they were completed gone within 30.000 kilometres.
Have steered well clear of Spax since.

<center>

1976 TR7 FHC (needs some TLC ...)
1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, a.k.a. Kermette)
1981 TR7 FHC (Sprint engined a.k.a. 't Kreng
[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]My full Blog[/url]</center>

Beans · Postby **Beans** » 15 Feb 2014 16:35

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TR Tony

... what have you got on the back of the car!<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I have Koni Special D adjustables on the DHC.
And the '76 FHC came also fitted with these.

Hope they are up to the old Koni quality so should last for a while yet.

<center>

1976 TR7 FHC (needs some TLC ...)
1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, a.k.a. Kermette)
1981 TR7 FHC (Sprint engined a.k.a. 't Kreng
[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]My full Blog[/url]</center>

TR Tony · Postby **TR Tony** » 15 Feb 2014 17:02

Dave, apologies for drifting slightly off your topic but Theo are your rear Konis part no 80-1680?

Everyone says the rear Koni 80-1680 is NLR for the TR7 but I have a question! The original part number GSA374 is listed for the TR7/8, the Stag, Triumph 2000 & 2500. So presumably the same physical size & fit for all those models? Koni still list part no 80-2069 for the Stag, 2000 & 2500 - why will this not fit the TR7?

Tony

1981 TR7 FHC Cavalry Blue
1980 TR7V8 DHC Jaguar Regency Red - sadly sold!
1977 TR8 FHC EFI Factory development car Inca Yellow

Beans · Postby **Beans** » 15 Feb 2014 17:15

Koni rears for TR7 are 80-1680
Probably different length?

<center>

1976 TR7 FHC (needs some TLC ...)
1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, a.k.a. Kermette)
1981 TR7 FHC (Sprint engined a.k.a. 't Kreng
[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]My full Blog[/url]</center>

FI Spyder · Postby **FI Spyder** » 15 Feb 2014 18:01

I've got white Koni shocks on the rear, they had/have the Koni stickers on them. They were on there when I bought the car in 2006. Next time I have it up on jack stands (some time in near future) I'll have to check the part number. I assume it's stamped on the body somewhere.

- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

j.johnson23 · Postby **j.johnson23** » 16 Feb 2014 17:51

Regarding the rear dampers,I swapped a pair of shot ones on a Stag for a standard pair I had been using when I upgraded to KYB dampers.
They fitted right on with no problems.
I always thought it odd that cars of vastly different weight and spring rate used the same dampers,but for normal driving the seem to work ok when new.

tr8coupe · Postby **tr8coupe** » 16 Feb 2014 18:55

[:)]a i got spax at the mo and not happy going as before to koni
i do have escort struts [:D]

BMW Z1 ( sold)
Westfield sport carbon (sold)
Eurosport x1/9 turbo (sold)
TR8 coupe
fiat coupe 20vt red wow bargain
Ginetta G27 (sold)
TR7 v8 monster on 245 tyres all round (sold)
TVR VIXEN (sold)
Alfa GTV 3.0 CUP lol(sold)

frankman · Postby **frankman** » 19 Feb 2014 14:18

Koni rears for TR7 are 80-1680 not available - sade - or is ther an update?

Hello from Switzerland

Frank

Beans · Postby **Beans** » 19 Feb 2014 15:58

I contacted them (Koni) late last year, they indeed are no longer available.
Revington still lists them, but expensive, but as ever you get what you pay for.

<center>

1976 TR7 FHC (needs some TLC ...)
1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, a.k.a. Kermette)
1981 TR7 FHC (Sprint engined a.k.a. 't Kreng
[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]My full Blog[/url]</center>

Anonymous

Is this a standard shocker?

Is this a standard shocker?

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