Posted By: Anonymous
KYB Excel G rear shocks - 31/01/2006 07:33
My quest for the perfect (for me) suspension set up continues and this week I'm trialling some KYB Excel G shocks which are currently standing in for my Koni sport adjustables on my FK Konigsport kit. Personally, I find the ride with the Koni's too harsh although the body control is excellent.
I've tried KYB's before but their Gas Ajust model which I thought had far too much compression damping for the light weight of the Coops rear IMO, resulting in a very stiff ride. These shocks were listed as a mild upgrade over OE but they were a very serious upgrade and more like van shocks designed to assist the spring rates and stabilise large heavy rear loads.
The Excel G's are also a Gas shock but seemed to be a lighter alternative on paper. Testing off the car they have slightly more compression and rebound damping than OE but far less compression damping than the Gas Ajusts or the Koni Sports. This seemed to be what I was after.
On the car the ride is improved, slightly more comfort, no real feeling of underdamping and only very slight reduction in body control over the Konis.
Unfortunately they seemed to have unhinged the balance at the front again and despite the 100n/mm front springs Ive still got more movement at the front than I would like. This may also have something to do with the front / rear weight distribution as I've raised the level at the rear by 10mm.
Im playing around with the settings on the Koni front adjustables over the next few days and we'll see how we get on.
At the moment the KYB Excel G's represent a bargain and at £40 a set, way cheaper than anything else out there but still better than standard shocks. I suspect these will mate nicely with the Eibach springs overcoming some of the issues with a crashy ride when running with standard shocks. It also appears that the Nissan guys have been running these successfully with Eibachs for some time.
What a pity KYB's dont do the fronts.
More later
I've tried KYB's before but their Gas Ajust model which I thought had far too much compression damping for the light weight of the Coops rear IMO, resulting in a very stiff ride. These shocks were listed as a mild upgrade over OE but they were a very serious upgrade and more like van shocks designed to assist the spring rates and stabilise large heavy rear loads.
The Excel G's are also a Gas shock but seemed to be a lighter alternative on paper. Testing off the car they have slightly more compression and rebound damping than OE but far less compression damping than the Gas Ajusts or the Koni Sports. This seemed to be what I was after.
On the car the ride is improved, slightly more comfort, no real feeling of underdamping and only very slight reduction in body control over the Konis.
Unfortunately they seemed to have unhinged the balance at the front again and despite the 100n/mm front springs Ive still got more movement at the front than I would like. This may also have something to do with the front / rear weight distribution as I've raised the level at the rear by 10mm.
Im playing around with the settings on the Koni front adjustables over the next few days and we'll see how we get on.
At the moment the KYB Excel G's represent a bargain and at £40 a set, way cheaper than anything else out there but still better than standard shocks. I suspect these will mate nicely with the Eibach springs overcoming some of the issues with a crashy ride when running with standard shocks. It also appears that the Nissan guys have been running these successfully with Eibachs for some time.
What a pity KYB's dont do the fronts.
More later
