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JRZ suspension - is it the best out there?

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Old 10-11-2002, 07:35 PM
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Aussie 996
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Question JRZ suspension - is it the best out there?

After reading a few posts and checking out a few web sites it seems that JRZ coilovers are a preferred choice for track days...
One of my buddies in Australia races his GT3 and has fitted Ohlins suspension - but I can't find a USA supplier. Other guys also use Penske coilovers but I havent seen them either..
(Will fit the GT3 adjustable sway bar as well)
If anyone could offer some advice or point to some good suspension sites it would be much appreciated! <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />
Old 10-11-2002, 08:09 PM
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wjk_glynn
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[quote]Originally posted by Aussie 996:
<strong>...has fitted Ohlins suspension - but I can't find a USA supplier.</strong><hr></blockquote>


Öhlins USA Inc.
703-C Old Spartanburg Road
Hendersonville, N.C. 28792
Tel. +1 828 692 4525
Fax. +1 828 692 0595


Karl.
Old 10-11-2002, 08:39 PM
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Aussie 996
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Thanks Karl - will give them a call - and see if they have a web site!
Anyone else have a view on a great suspension set up?
Old 10-11-2002, 09:13 PM
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996FLT6
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I think the next step up from ROW 030 suspension is the HR coil-overs plus GT3 adj. stabilizers which can be purchased from Gert of <a href="http://www.Carnewal.com." target="_blank">www.Carnewal.com.</a> I'm not too familiar with the JRZ/Penske or Ohlins but it is quite expensive. Is it worth the dollars? I imagine it's main thing is track oriented. Regards. Mike
Old 10-13-2002, 08:01 PM
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Armando Ramirez
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You can talk to the guys over at the racers group about the JRZ's (no I don't own stock in them :-) )

However, you need to make a choice about what you plan to do with the car and how much time you want to spend trying to setup your car.

I don't have enough time or $$$ to have a shock eng follow me around from track to track to figure out what the setting need to be on a tripple adj shock...too many things change track to track...are you going to dial it in for every track...are you doing DE or racing...??? Even if your racing..Do you have enough experience to sense a small change in an infinitly adjustable shock....I don't...But we all want better handling and some adjustability.

I went with the Single adjustable JRZ's really like them and the work very well with the GT3 bars. (Do the mono ***** while your at it...you'll love'm). You can spend more money, but will you get any real use out of the extra *****?

Just my $.02


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Old 10-13-2002, 09:49 PM
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Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems
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Hi:

We use a lot of different racing shock setups here, JRZ, Moton, Penske, Bilstein Motorsport, and my hands-down favorite are the Motons.

Ohlin's are very well made, but I am not familair with their valving setups for Porsche cars, like I am for all of the ones above.

The quality control of Moton dampers have been far better than JRZ's in my experiences.

Hope this helps,
Old 10-13-2002, 10:07 PM
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Robert Linton
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As to the world of high end race shocks, at the top are Ohlins (<a href="http://www.ohlins.com)," target="_blank">http://www.ohlins.com),</a> Penske ( <a href="http://www.penskeshocks.com/)" target="_blank">http://www.penskeshocks.com/)</a> and Sachs (<a href="http://www.sachs.de/)" target="_blank">http://www.sachs.de/)</a> (some would add Dynamic to this list [ <a href="http://www.dynamicsuspensions.com/" target="_blank">]http://www.dynamicsuspensions.com/]</a> -- distributed in the U.S. by Carl Haas). All three make excellent products and offer a wide range of professional racing equipment. As you speak with different high level teams in F1, CART and IRL, you will get different opinions. Much, however, has to do with the customization and service commitment to a particular team by the particular manufacturer (Sachs, fore example, goes to great lengths for Ferrari F1 but for the 360 GT running in GrandAm, the owners switched to Penske -- which, by the way, supplies several F1, CART and IRL teams). Having said this, I have a personal preference for (but no affiliation with) Penske as I find working with them a pleasure and the quality of their customized product as good as it gets.

On the other hand, for club racing and even for GrandAm and non factory team ALMS racing, Armando's point about complication is absolutely correct. The time and expertise required to properly set up a very sensitive triple adjustable Ohlins, Penske or Sachs is beyond the ability and budget of most -- particularly as the settings would be different track to track, driver to driver, weather condition to weather condition, spring rate to spring rate, etc., etc., etc. Further, the cost of the high line triple adjustable shocks is multiples thousands each.

Given this, several options are in order.

1. Going to a somewhat less sensitive and less expensive unit such as JRZ ( <a href="http://www.jrzsuspension.com/)" target="_blank">http://www.jrzsuspension.com/)</a> or Moton (no web site) (I would pick Moton as I believe it to be a bit more user friendly) or even less costly units such as Bilstein ( <a href="http://www.bilstein.de/index2.htm)" target="_blank">http://www.bilstein.de/index2.htm)</a> or Koni (<a href="http://www.koni.com/)." target="_blank">http://www.koni.com/).</a>

2. Going to dual adjustable or single adjustable (for club racing, I would go to the single as one must be quite proficient to get full use out of even dual adjustable).

Finally, should someone wish the best of the best (which no one other than a high level professional needs) simply for the sake of having it, one can obtain titanium/aluminium struts and/or dampers with an almost infinite range of adjustment pieces -- with even titanium quick disconnects between the damper and the cannister.

P.S. I cannot opine as to the long term durability of JRZ vs. Moton.

P.P.S. Although somewhat off topic, for motorcycle racing, msny say Ohlins is the best.
Old 10-14-2002, 12:30 AM
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StephenB
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Moton was founded by Jerome van Gool. He was also one of the original founders of JRZ back in 1992.

Contact info below:

Moton Suspension Technology, Inc.
PMB #348
3000 Old Alabama Rd., Suite 119
Alpharetta, GA
Tel 770 663 4834
Fax 770 663 0982

Moton Suspension Technology BV
Mondriaanplein 12C
5401 HX Uden
The Netherlands
PO Box 651
5400 AR Uden
The Netherlands

Tel +31 413 259838
Fax +31 413 259892
5400
Old 10-14-2002, 09:38 AM
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Robert Linton
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My apologies for not putting in the Moton contact information. I do, however, believe that the correct U.S. telephone number is:

(770) 663-3834
Old 10-14-2002, 11:15 AM
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Aussie 996
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Thanks for the replies. Some great food for thought there and places to follow up. I will post how I get on.
Adressing some of the questions: the use of the car - will include use for driving around normal roads - but after driving a GT3 around in Australia for a few months was not a problem - so a stiff setup is fine by me.
As for the adjustability and inherent cost / time that the higher end three way systems require; I agree that unless it is a dedicated race car the additional investment is unlikely to result in a far better set up - without the tuning! My rally car is relatively simple to set up as the adjustments differ more for wet / dry tarmac.
I am leaning more toward a single adjustment system, and will then look at spring rates. I was thinking of a setup around 4-500 lbs in front and 6-750 lbs rear. But have seen far stiffer springs for pure race cars.
Thanks again for the input ! appreciate it



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