Shock Absorbers

[bobanderson3]

I am looking to replace and perhaps upgrade the shock absorbers on my 1980 Beta Spider. I am having difficulty in locating a replacement shock absorber.
Can any one help:confused:

[Charley]

I recently tried to find struts for my Beta Coupe here in the USA to no avail.None of the vendors have them for front or rear.I ended up contacting omicron (http://www.omicron.uk.com/) in the UK and they have struts in stock.Prices including the shipping are very reasonable.They also ship super fast,I had my struts from the UK in two days after I ordered.

[1,6 HF]

I recently tried to find struts for my Beta Coupe here in the USA to no avail.None of the vendors have them for front or rear.I ended up contacting omicron (http://www.omicron.uk.com/) in the UK and they have struts in stock.Prices including the shipping are very reasonable...

particularly with the GBP currently below US$1.57...

[SubGothius]

particularly with the GBP currently below US$1.57...

:eek: (...places long-awaited order for polybushes with BetaBoyz...) 8)

[the_superhero]

I have some more in California. Reloadable type (they need it), some very low mile ones, some koni orange.

All CHEAP. Make an offer even.

Thank You. Trevor

[Charley]

I have some more in California. Reloadable type (they need it), some very low mile ones, some koni orange.

All CHEAP. Make an offer even.

Thank You. Trevor


If what you mean by offering "reloadable type" is struts tubes that use replaceable inserts,the replacement inserts are impossible to find here also. No vendors that I am aware of in the USA have them,you would have to source replacement inserts from across the pond also.Believe me I have tried to find inserts here,forget it. The struts that Omicron sells are the complete sealed units. Bolt them on and drive.

[PAV]

Beta boyz sells Spax inserts.
They claim Spax are better than the Konis
BBz also has aftermarket springs, Lowered and stiffer

Keep in mind, Koni can really trick out your shocks, really trick them out.

BR,

PAV

[the_superhero]

Beta boyz sells Spax inserts.
They claim Spax are better than the Konis
BBz also has aftermarket springs, Lowered and stiffer

Keep in mind, Koni can really trick out your shocks, really trick them out.

BR,

PAV

I agree SPAX are better ...for some drivers.

Also look for bilstiens SP? I recall finding a slew of them.

I also have the Track Springs. Stiffer and maybe 28mm lower than Euro. In an unusual turn of normal geometry, that actually helps the strut live longer since Lancia only raised the springs, not the strut stroke for the N-A market. Those and the newer struts were on the car for maybe 1200 miles. The other struts were on the other car for less than 2000, but I didn't swap them off. I just ordered more, and more, and more, and saved too many things in storage.

[Jim Keller]

Just so you have an idea, Koni NA in Kentucky charges $140 each, includes shipping back to you, for standard Lancia Koni strut rebuild, and that comes with life time warranty to the person that pays for the rebuild, just went thru that 2 years ago, however, I paid an extra like $100 to have it made with the adjuster on top so you didn't have to take the strut off to change the setting. They can also make them double adjustable for more money, all it takes is buckets of cash! just buckets of cash! LOL

I highly recomend the Konis, especially if you can get a set of 4 used ones cheap enough as previously suggested above so rebuild and purchase price is close to buying a stock one when the vendors get them in. New stocks are about $139 each front and $149 each rear for the Wayass stock type IAP sells and I don't think there is much of a warranty where as you'll get a lifetime warranty having a set rebult by Koni NA. IAP will put you on a waiting list for the next shipment, they get them in from time to time, but you have to ask them to do that, they don't generally offer to put you on a list when you call and they are out of stock.

If you go the Koni route, I can make one promise, you won't be dissatisfied with the investment, I won't own a Beta anymore without Konis

[Will]

You know that the stock struts are internally adjustable and are good quality struts already, right?

I've been meaning to do a "how-to" on my website for the folks that don't know how to modify the stock struts, but it's pretty simple. I've got to crop the pictures and write step-by-step instructions, buit the stock struts have a spring under the piston and a nut on the bottom end of the rod, the way they come stock they can be adjusted about 20% stiffer or much (50%?)softer. This is rebound adjustment of course.

If you want to change bump, you can do that too by making a new disc for the foot valve with new smaller holes in it. This is cheap, it's nothing more than a glorified washer with two little holes drilled in it. If you want to send me your foot valves I can do it for, I dunno, $20 ea to cover the hassle.

You can also change the fluid viscosity to get a much wider range of adjustment. I filled up a strut with Mobil Vactra and, well, you aren't going to be running 300lb springs I don't think, so something in between would be good. I'm told some folks like to use motorcyle fork oil, which best I can tell ranges from 5W to 30W.

I don't think what oil you use chemically is important, merely viscosity- and if you are mixing it needs to be homogenous or stay in suspension without seperating. I don't know if aeration is an issue, I don't think so but maybe it depends on how extremely you are abusing the strut.

The choices of different weights of hydraulic fluid and oils can be daunting, so sometimes it's helpful to remember that the SR-71 Blackbird tears through the sky at over mach three and reaches skin temperatures over 500 degrees F, and it's entire hydraulic system- and cooling system -are filled with nothing more esoteric than regular jet fuel (JP-7) pulled from the tanks. Meaning, it's easy to get bogged down in a lot of technicalities in oil selection when basically any oil/fluid of the appropriate viscosity will probably work for you pretty much the same.

If you want to spend the extra money for externally adjustable shocks like Konis, go right ahead- I'm just pointing out that you can stiffen up your stock struts pretty easily, to match your target spring rate. (spring rate determines optimum shock/strut rate).

Hope this helps. I can post some photo if you want/need.

[Grundo Farb]

This is getting to an interesting point on shocks and springs. I have the after market konis on my VX coupe and am extremely happy with them but the ride height is high (I guess with the stock VX shocks) and tends to be a bit too rolly for me - but the handling is very good. I know the VX models had "uprated springs" but have no idea what they were uprated from and to.

I am (over some time) modifying the car with a view to compete in tarmac rallies and want to stiffen the suspension but am not sure which direction to go. JAMEX make after market springs but they seem to be progressive and not sure I want to go down that route, the beta boyz springs are uprated they say but is that to the same or less than the VX. Has anyone any spring rate information on these?

But I also agree having driven a friends VX with the stock shocks - I like the Konis!

[DJ]

As one of my winter projects I'm doing some research on options for rebuilding/upgrading Scorpion/Montecarlo struts and would like to expand that to Beta struts. Does anyone have a set of stock rebuildable-type struts they'd let me have or at least borrow for a while? I'll cover shipping costs both ways.

Thanks,

[brian r]

As one of my winter projects I'm doing some research on options for rebuilding/upgrading Scorpion/Montecarlo struts and would like to expand that to Beta struts.

It's been a while since I was on the Monte Hospital site, but remember seeing that they were modifying Monte struts to accept off-the-shelf VW Golf inserts. I thought that was a great idea, since there are tons of options for VWs.

[Jim Keller]

So far as ride height, that's all in the springs, the struts have no bearing what so ever on that

I had the IAP sport lowering springs on the good Zag and they were perfect for stree, I believe Beta Boyz are pretty much the same and I have heard nothing but good so far on those. I am unaware of JAMEX or any other spring company having them for Betas, but I haven't asked them directly myself

My next move on struts and springs, if I am able to hang on to it thru this eco nightmare anyway, is to have my Coupes Koni's rebuilt after I convert them to coil overs, then I can use an infinit varity of springs and ride heights till I get the one that I feel is perfect for me, as well as stuff some overly wide meats and sweet rims under the stock body without modifying anything other than the flare rolled fender lips that is already set in stone within the plans for the Coupe

[DJ]

It's been a while since I was on the Monte Hospital site, but remember seeing that they were modifying Monte struts to accept off-the-shelf VW Golf inserts. I thought that was a great idea, since there are tons of options for VWs.

There are a number of options. That's the insert I'm looking at but I've never heard that's what TMH is using. You should not need any mods other than possibly a spacer underneath to use the proper Rabbit strut as far as I can tell but I'll have one in hand soon and will be able to see better what's needed then.

TMH offers Koni inserts that require mods but I'm not certain as to the donor source. One thing is for certain is that they are definitely expensive. Konis are great but $300 apiece is a lot of money for inserts, IMHO. FWIW, I recently bought adjustable Koni yellow inserts for my Alfa for about $200 apiece.

So far I've found inserts that will supposedly fit the Scorpion strut from KYB, Tokico (adjustable and non-adjustable), Spax, Cobra, Cofap, Monroe, Boge, Sachs, and Bilstein. I hope to eventually buy one each of these to test with if I can first determine the dimensions of the units. Obviously there is also a Koni that will fit the housing but I'm not sure of the source. There is anecdotal evidence that suggests that the Koni Rabbit insert is too large in diameter to fit the Scorpion strut housing.

[DJ]

My next move on struts and springs, if I am able to hang on to it thru this eco nightmare anyway, is to have my Coupes Koni's rebuilt after I convert them to coil overs, then I can use an infinit varity of springs and ride heights till I get the one that I feel is perfect for me, as well as stuff some overly wide meats and sweet rims under the stock body without modifying anything other than the flare rolled fender lips that is already set in stone within the plans for the Coupe

Yer just dreamin', Jim! You KNOW that you're eventually gonna beg me to come out there and take that old beater off your hands for next to nothing. :D

[Jim Keller]

Well.......Uh.........it really isn't a beater anymore though! just so you know! ha ha, you could buy and drive till the next preventitive maintenence item needs addressed at this point with no worries about any mechanical or electrical issues, (you can even cook your breakfast on the engine if you choose with no worries of cross contamination to the food it's so clean under the hood! LOL), just the few rust through places you folks from outside the rust belts always seem to freak out about, around here, everyone has sheets of automotive metal laying around waiting as everything, not just our cars, rust out all the time, (from lawn mower decks, kids riding toys to tools!), and you need to be versed in the operation of a welder, (or have friends who are), and how to cut out, shape, fit and stitch sheet matel patches in without warping the metal to repair same is all, it really is no big deal after you've done a few, especially on cars that don't have structural rust in the framing areas like this one, it's all in the rockers for the most part from sitting outside in yards beside garages in the weather by PO's when they lost the argument with the wife about who was not going to scrape their windows in the winter, (I scrape for those who care so the Beta can sit inside next to the wife and kids car),......it has been repeatedly rust proofed over the years, it's gonna take me a year of hard labor to get all this yellow sticky gooey rust proofing and the black rubbery undercoating off! it's all over everything! and a real "B" top get off aftr working on it if you happen to get into an area I haven't cleaned off yet! LOL

I may be begging sooner than later with the wife un-employeed and no outwardly hopes of obtaining employment any time soon around here, Ohio has been really hit hard with all sorts of job losses in every stitch of the economy, not just factories where we have lost the most jobs. But on a bright note, my in-laws are looking for a decent car for my West Virginian red headed wicked witch of a mother-in-law and looks as though they will be taking the Fusion off our hands, that'll gain us a lot of stress and financial reliefe with payment and insurance savings and positively save the Coupe from any thoughts of fire sales......I have driven only 1750 miles total, (my van and the Beta, and just about all of it was for no better reason than just getting out of the house), since last June when I bought the van, for that few miles, I guess I can use the Beta if I'm stuck home without a car and absolutely need to go somewhere and let the wife have my van

[the_superhero]

Hows $40 ea?

[Jim Keller]

$40 each for rebuildable Koni's is a steal, $40 each for known good used stock struts is a darn good bargin, $40 each for wiped out stock struts is a rip off! LOL

[HFStuart]

You can still get shock inserts from KYB. A lot of Jap cars use KYB so soemone that specialises in that sprt of thing might well be able to get them.

Part numbers (I think - make sure you check) are F 663047 and R 665034 for 'premium' or F 363040 R 365040 for 'super'. I've no idea what the difference is.

There's a possible dealer in this link from pretty much exacyly 4 years ago http://lancisti.com/forum/showthread.php?t=446

Just make sure you don't get shocks for a Mitsubishi Lancer by accident.

[jp]

I am very happy with the ones I got from Omicron