Hi the old 77 is bouncing all over the road the Gabriel shocks have expired. Is anyone running GAZ adjustable shocks? I can pick up a new set for about the same price as a set of monroes. Thoughts and experiences much appreciated.

 

Gaz adjustables very good indeed, particularly on the rear. Start with 9 clicks up from softest, and fine tune from there. Gaz fronts good too, but not better than Boge (the OEM riginals). Make sure you fit the gaz shocks with the adjuster pointing INBOARD, guess how I know...
Monroes the worst I have ever fitted, avoid!
Greg

 

Monroe was once a classic brand of good quality. I think the making has gone to Asia and the quality lessened.


Carl

 

i put some rears on bout month ago,, SACHS.

feels good rides great BUT raised the rear about 2", i think hi-pressure gas.

i'm not used to looking at the car that way!!?

 

Cheers for the replys, locally I can only source GAZ, Monroe and KYB. They KYB option is far more expensive. I'm thinking GAZ. Am I right in hoping these won't alter the ride height, I know they are not height adjustable.

 

I've had that happen. Some will insist that shocks cannot alter ride height but...they can.

It take very little effort to lift the car an inch or two. Just put one hand under a bumper a lift! The force from pressurized gas shocks can easily do the same.

Also...and my memory is a bit foggy on this....but it seems like some rear shocks are built so the the spring collett ends up in a different position. This might enter into the picture. I'll have to mull that for a bit.

Cheers
DD

 

Nic,

You haven't said if you're talking about fronts or rears. I'm running Gaz adjustable on the rear. They make 2 types. One type also has an adjustable spring height platform which means you can get the ride height just as you wish. I fitted the fixed-height ones and then changed them to the adjustable-height ones. Very pleased with my setup.

Good luck

Paul

 

I am replacing front and rear. Cheers Paul did you find your first set up sat to high? What is the ride quality like? My car is a street car and here in good old Newzealand our roads are pretty rough. I'd like to lower the front end as it sits about an inch higher that the rear. Do gaz make a height adjustable shock for the front end? What are your thoughts on running standard springs?

Thanks

 

It's only coil overs that are going to be height adjustable. Change in front springs or spring spacers is about the only way to change front ride height.

 

As baxtor has said, the height adjustment through the shock platform only relates to the rear.

When I changed mine, I fitted Eibach springs which are a replacement sport spring for the XJS originally based on the Aston DB7 springs. With this combination on the adjustable Gaz but with no platform height adjustment, it drove great but sat just a little lower, enough for me to just touch my exhaust on my sloping driveway. When I changed to the adjustable height Gaz, I adjusted to the factory height but I also needed to back out one more click on the shock adjusters to then get my ride as I wanted. Gaz and Eibach is a really good combination IMO.

I really don't think you'd regret fitting adjustable-height Gaz on the rear. Just spray a bit of wax or similar to stop them tarnishing.

Good luck

Paul

 

Cheers guys. I'll see what I can find. Do you think the GAZ with no height adjustment and a set of lowering springs all round is a good way to go? I know the low rear springs and gaz rebound / comp adjustable Are readily available over here, unsure about front springs, and it looks like the height adjustment shocks are made to order. Any links to international suppliers ?

Thanks

 

Nic,

Beg, steal or borrow the extra money to get the rear height-adjustable ones! There are so many owners who are unhappy with their ride height after fitting pattern or different rear springs. The height adjustment just takes that problem away.

Keith at XJ Restorations in the UK has definitely shipped springs and Gaz shocks abroad. So maybe worth a call. Tell him that I sent you.

XjRestorations, Jaguar Restorations - Independent Jaguar Specialists

Cheers

Paul

 

Excellent thanks Paul.

 

Has anyone installed KONI classic?

 

I am not happy with the KYBs on the front of my XJS or my wife's 99 XJ8L. Luckily I did not change the rears at that time. I am still looking for new springs all around and then I will look into a replacement set of shocks.

 

Your memory serves you well Grasshopper. The rears are not just shocks they are coilovers and if the spring perch is in a different position then ride height will change. I noticed this when I replaced the Boge with Bilstein, my ride height dropped. I pulled the shocks out and checked them against the Boge and the spring perches on the Bilstein were slightly further apart.


To the OP I would not install Monroe, I ended up going Bilstein and I'm very happy with them good ride quality and excellent control. To make your decision you need to way up whether ride comfort or performance is your thing, unless you get shocks that have bump and rebound adjustment.

 

Slow progress here guys but definitely getting closer. I had some shorter stiffer front springs made by a local company, borrowed a jag spring compressor then installed them in my garage, a daunting task but it actually went very smoothly. Installed gaz adjustable front shocks and have a set of Gaz height adjustable rear shocks on the way. She’s looking good.

 

That looks great. Would you care to share the specs on the front springs, if you know them? I've got Gaz shocks and DB7 springs all-round and the front sits too high, but this looks just right!

 

Hi I don’t have the specs, I removed the standard springs and sent them to a coil spring manufacturer, with my desired ride height. I had the new springs a couple of weeks later at a good price.