Dampers - Protech v Nitron Street

[finmac]

My SLR has original bilsteins fitted. The ride is choppy and harsh and spoils the experience a bit. So, been looking at what's on the market.

 

Protech at under £600.

 

Nitron street at £840.

 

Or Nitron NTR R1 at £1340.

 

Wondered what experience people had of these different shocks please. Not sure I'd be wanting to spend over £1000 on shocks, so primarily interested in the two cheaper options.

 

The car will be 90% road use with a few track days each year.

 

 

[tangomikeromeo]

I’ll start the traditional chorus of ‘talk to Simon @ Meteor Motorsport’ shortly followed by a declaration of interest. I bought the NTR R1 valved by Meteor a few years back and they are possibly the most transformative upgrade I’ve made. 

They made any corner on any road and any bump confidence inspiring rather than teeth chattering. Much more comfortable and if you’re chasing tenths it probably helps when wound down to hard. 

Hopefully others will be along to comment on other options but I don’t regret the man maths. 

But do bear in mind they have a recommended service interval too so it’s not fix and forget. 

[Simon.Rogers]

Thanks for the mention.

I would only point out that all shocks should be serviced regularly.

[nickh7]

I’ve got the street Nitrons and they are brilliant, I’ve had Billy’s two sets of AVOs and with a set up at Gemzo Motorsport the 7  was transformed. The roads in West Yorkshire are terrible but they take it in their stride. 

[SLR No.77]

Fin, I was in the same predicament, 1999 SLR on its original Bilsteins. The ride was harsh and very unpredictable on broken roads and quite honestly was not enjoyable. On track it was "okay" but that's not where most of my miles are.

I considered the Nitron Street Series but on the advice of a local member who has them, I've opted for the NTR-1s instead. Setup costs are the same, refresh costs are the same, and the difference in purchase price over the Street Series is likely to be retained if I sell the Nitrons on when/if I sell the car ... get the Bilsteins off and store them before them decide to leak.

You need to be realistic about costs though, by the time I'd spec'd the Nitrons with Simon, fitted them myself with all new bolts for the shocks, wishbones and rear end, then had a full chassis setup by Dave Gemzoe, I'd spent a little over £2K. But, for a car that's nearly 20 years old I'm now happy the suspension is fully refreshed and working correctly, and is top drawer. Would I spend the same again? Yes I would ... it's £2K better spent on suspension than engine mods.

Dave did pick up on a slight difference in rear wheel camber (left to right) but I'm happy to address that in the future, for fast road use it's not going to really matter. 

Stu.

[Toby S]

I've got Protech on my 1993 1400 Supersport and I think they are great plus also value for money - definitely better the the Bilsteins I was replacing. Single adjusters have around 13 settings to play with

You say the ride is choppy - I know with mine, it had been set up for mainly track use when I bought it, and the spring rates I felt (or should I say, my backside and fillings  felt) were a bit harsh for the road, which is where I typically drive the car - They were 300ib front and 200 ib rears which I reduced to 250Ib front and 150Ib rears, set the front dampers at around 8/9 and the rears at 4 (soft) and the car handles just fine - Ok I'm not driving at the limits like you would on the track, but overall I'm very pleased. You should be able to get some change out of £600 for the lot and has left me enough to put some R888R's on the rims for the summer.

Happy to chat off line if you like.

Regards

 

[Grim Reaper]

Had some Protech dampers on my Mini Cooper Sport (coilover conversion from cone & trumpets)

Rubbish!

Damper rods seized up in the alloy tubes..

Replaced them with Spax, far more robust.

I have Nitrons on my seven, been faultless once they were valved correctly.

[tangomikeromeo]

@ #3 re need for servicing - (as usual) good advice to be heeded but when the service costs get to be a big percentage of the original outlay it puts me off. 

But the man maths of service costs on something expensive sits more comfortably. 

Perhaps I have Upgradeitus worse than I thought...

[Alan Reeves]

 

Simon what do you call regularly serviced, a couple of years ?

 

[Simon.Rogers]

Yes all the manufacturers quote 2 year intervals.