evening all,
just wondering if anyone knows anything about the kyb front dampers, ie how do they compare to the standard dampers, value etc.
https://sslrelay.com/buypartsby.co.uk/k ... ordID=2923
think thats the link
oh yeah opinions of the site aswell!

thanks - ben

i have got the excel-g for the front but i haven,t fitted them, probably in a few days i can tell you something

Hi Guys,
Fitten Land Rover 90 shocks to the rear and I'm looking at something, anything for the front - how did those KYB shocks work out on your cars?

Thanks!
Nick

what year do they need to be on the front?

Gas is always best - but believe me, after your old knackered shocks, anything is going to be a vast improvement. I think Chris has KYB gas shocks on one of his 300's.

asuming budget will not allow adjustable you do need gas dampers. KYB may still offer them and QH also do them

They do a model called Excel-G which are apparently supposed to be upto 10% stiffer, £65 a pair or something so pretty reasonable. Worth a try I reckon.

Chris, with good front suspension? Never....!

i proved them (excel-g) in my car, and for drifting are not stiff enough, they are fitted with dai,s springs wich are too "hard" for these dampers, and the don,t work perfect, but for somebody who want a bit sporty volvo with chopped or standar springs i think it,s a very good option, or if you need to replace your standar ones.

Interesting that you mention Dai's springs - I'm waiting for payday and then that was my plan, down to the letter. I'm not planning on going whole-hog drifting just yet, but I was planning on doing the springs and dampers at the same time, just because everything looks like it'd fall to pieces on disassembly anyway. Is that combination really that terrible?

I just want the damn thing to stop bouncing every time I change gear!

You do need very good dampers to have correct control of the springs. The important part is the rebound valving more than the bump.

I'l repeat my advice that any new dampers will impress you.

I'd bought new front gas shocks for my 360 last year. I got a garage to fit them because I was lazy and busy - they were the wrong shocks, probably 240 ones but I didn't know for sure so they went in the bin. So they bolted in a pair of hydraulics from the local motor factor. My '60 now handles better than any V300 I've ever driven - which is a few. The gas Koni adjustables on the back do most of the hard work in my opinion - the fronts just need mitigate understeer. On a RWD car natural propensity is for oversteer, and it's the Konis which control this.

There was some guy on here about a year ago, I forget his name, from Inverness coincidentally but he did have rally experience. Someone more dedicated than me can possibly link the thread. His theory is that you want a stiff rear and a relatively loose front. So he advised against uprated anti-roll bars and super stiff front springs. I think he may have a point.

Going to work I encounter a whole series of high speed roundabouts. Entering at 50mph (this is a hypothetical speed stated for demonstration purposes only) - I get a small amount of understeer, always predictable and quickly and easily corrected. Then a minute amount of understeer on exit, which does nothing to affect control but gives you a nice seat-of-the-pants sensation.

So - my advice is concentrate on rear suspension components first. Reap the benefits, then uprate the fronts incrementally - if you get a increased handling then all well and good. But if things become less able then take a step back.

Thanks everyone - my first round of ugprades is relatively modest in scope, partly due to my engineering inexperience and partly due to cost! Dai can expect me to finally get back to him about those springs shortly but I'm afraid those awesome adjustable shocks will have to wait until round 2.

That's where I throw everything to the wind, tear out the interior, fit a 230 lump and bucket seats and the best suspension and tyres I can for some serious trackday fun...

Fantastic advice from everyone, as a newcomer to the 300 madness it feels like an entire backup panel of experts at my disposal - most comforting!

id forgotten about this!

well they're fitted and have done about 300 miles now, very impressed with them, at the minute they're being used with standard springs, but ive a set of 200lb dai springs to fit when time permits. if you only do the front you'll highlight how bad the rear is, and vice versa.


Ben

Ben any shocks will be an iprovment over orignal worn items. Anything gas is going to be even better. The KYB's are quite good value giving a slight improvment but still at std money

For a long time I got away with running std front dampers with some of my 200lbs front springs up front and 1" lowering blocks and a pair of adjustables on the rear. iT handled prettey well like that but was a little bumpy on the rougher roads around here untill I eventualy managed to do something with the front dampers.

Now if builing a car from scratch I would always do it all in one hit.

Ive got some of the KYBs, only just fitted them with 3" lowering springs. It is a little bumpy, but still to wear in Im sure. Think my wheels are toeing out a bit though, need to sort that.

Edit:

I can recommend the KYBs as a cheap option. Im really happy with how the car is driving. I want adjustables, but I had to keep my costs down somehow.