Anyone run any of their stuff? Anyone use it for competition? Had a good quote on some shocks and wonder what the general consensus is.

Cheers

 

And how do they compare to Mono-tube AVO's etc?

 

both are crap buying a set of 4 none are ever within reasonable range of each other on the shock dyno regardless of quality or service you atleast expect the left shock to be same as the right side on the same axel.

 

Rod tarry uses them i think so must be good he only buys the best!

 

Recommended to me by my Mr Rainbird. They are one half of the Leda boys the other runs Gaz. BAD are more Topend. They are obviously crap cos Tiger has said so . Can you see why i would never ask such a question on here, too many experts ready to say just about anything you suggest is shite. My car is made up of bits that are proven to work & ive never asked anyone on here for advise or im sure my car would not have achieved what it has. Can i suggest you ring them they may just know more about suspension kits than Mr Woods does golf .

 

I appreciate what you're saying there Rod but if he's had them on a dyno and they don't match up then I can sort of see why he'd say they were crap. Have yours been on a shock dyno?

Thanks for replies so far.

 

I bought BAD coilovers with my own money for my own car i had more handling problems than i started with i took them to independant shock dyno specialist who gave me the figures the dampers were nowhere near within reasonable range of each other on both high and low speed on the same axel.

I had them revalved to my original spec elsewhere because BAD aftersales was crap afterwards they were ok but value for money no better than budget coilovers for premium price imho just because you or someone else uses them doesnt mean sod all OP asked question i gave my first hand experience.

 

What did you run instead TWoods?

 

Im now on KW competition 3-way adjustable monotube before the Black Art it was on Leda which the car came with those i had refurbed by Gaz then sold them on because for endurance racing they overheated and went sloppy when pused hard over 20 laps at most circuits.

I had good experience and service from Proflex Pro-Tech Exe-Tec who i use for rally stuff but for more road or track based Nitron and Racing Red are very good value too.

Also worth noting most of the twin tube UK shocks are from very similar designs and much is interchangable between cheaper ranges in Leda Gaz Avo Racing Red Nitron ect are basically same product infact many parts are interchangable with slightly different rates and paint jobs. I would just go for the cheapest who can supply you with your desired rates. ps go for eibach springs not ones made buy the company themselves which tends to be too harsh or mis-matched with damper rates because they cannot produce the spring as well as Eibach.

Trevor

 

Thanks Trevor - AVO do some twin tube shocks with simultaneous bump/reboud adjustment (can't really get my head around how it adjusts both bump and rebound in the same click) which are pretty reasonable at £900.

It is for tarmac rallying so they need to be upto the job really but not proflex upto the job lol

 

MadRod got owned

 

UP

 

Got a great quote for some front monotube AVO's, and keep my current twin tube rears. (which according to nigel would be upto the job)

 

In basic terms 3 popular types one is via a variable bleed valve (the adjuster) which bleeds both bump and rebound together. Second type is done by needle jet valve the knob adjusts how much the hole is blocked by the needle bypassing the shim stacks middle of the piston another form of bleed valve if you like. Third way is having lots of bleed holes of different diameters in the piston with shim stacks covering them which are preloaded set to open at your chosen pressures. In remote reservoir the valves are at the top of the remote canister doing the same thing the advantage is increase oil volume helps keep it cool longer another thing to remember bump or rebound rarely a linear rate so having longer stroke makes it easier to fine tune.

The 2 way adjusters with 2 separate knobs for bump and rebound using combo of the above usually needle valve for bump and piston with bleed holes with preloaded shim stacks for rebound the 3way can also control high and low speed on the bump , the 4way controls high and low speed on both bump and rebound using combination of either valve arrangement above its more complicated than that beyond my ability to explain in words unfortunately.

Like to add if you can spec your rates well there is little advantage over extra adjustability which is great for very frequent tweeks like over a long race with pit stops or multiple stages to fine tune with track conditions tyre wear weight ect otherwise save yourself the money.

dont know what car you got but shop around mate that sounds expensive for single adjuster monotube coilover for 2 fronts, pm me i dig out some phone numbers for you.

 

Sorry original price was for 4 shocks. Now been quoted £600 for monotube fronts.

Thanks for info.

Rod?

 

Is that for a pair Dan or each? S, D or T adjustability?

 

For a pair. Simultaneous Bump and Rebound and obviously height

 

So single adjustment?

 

Yes

 

night night Rod

 

The C2 I was out in had the double adjustment AVOs. Seemed very controlable

 

By the way i dont have Black Art Designs suspension & at no point did i say i did , my suspension is Leda . BAD rebuilt them fitting better valves & better struts, there service was first class.
People must use who & what they want. but please research things.
I worked with the boss of BAD on a defence contract & will pass on this thread as feedback.

 

I know, the are the same as the monotube ones I am looking at apart from double adjustable. Don't do doubles for fiesta fitment

 

I use Black Art and have had no problems with them and John's after-sales service is one of the best I have personally used*.

Did you actually buy these new, because if they had been sitting somewhere and not in regular use, then it is highly likely that the seals were shot, which let gas / oil out causing the mismatch?

I hear what you're saying about the LEDA's (and many other dampers) overheating, which is why when ordering you should always specify the "Emulsified Gas" option for track / racecars, which negates this (all kits ordered through me had this as a standard ) .

*As an example, he came along to the Snetterton Time Attack round to fettle Warren Kelly's BAD dampers and while he was there, he even gave some pointers on how to set up Dave Jackson's Ohlin's equipped car - all FOC.

 

TWoods...Can you supply us with you original invoice or the date you bought them? As we can find any reference, did you buy them under a different name or were they bought secondhand?

What type of unit do you have? Single adjustable, Emulsified Gas, 3 way adjustable remote canister?

We will be more than happy to dyno these units in front of you and correct any issues they have FOC.
You say that the parts are interchangeable; does this mean you have opened the units to find out? This may be the reason they are no longer equal. Who did you get to revalve them?
I would like to point out our units use a different system to the other makes you spoke of.
If you had asked us for a damper setting of your personal choice we would have been happy to oblige, we can still do this for you if you wish.
We pride ourselves on aftersale service and would have appreiated the chance to put any issues you may have right.
Feel free to come in and see us or call to discuss.
John, Black Art Designs Ltd.

 

Mike, can i ask what these are like to run on the road?

 

With the correct spring rates, on their softest setting, they are like Konis on their mid-setting, so really nice. Obviously if you start going silly on the spring rates, then it is then that they become an issue. You really have to decide if you are building a road car or track car, otherwise you have to accept the compromises that soft or hard spring rates give.

 

I had Bad make me a kit with softer valving and springs an was very impressed with the ride/handeling.

Mark

 

Thanks lads, gives me something to think about when i look to replace my suspension next year.