Doctor slow Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 Hi learned ones, My GT6 has an advisory on the rear dampers, so I probably need to replace them. Since its a rotoflex car, the rear dampers are made of unobtanium, and there seems to be less chance of getting them than hens teeth. Does anyone know of a sectret source? They are Unipart GSA280, Monroe R1543 or similar. There's a company called TRODO who list them, and there's also carpartsonline and autodoc, but I think they are all German, and have some questionable reviews. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 The Unipart number drew a blank but these came up in a search for the Monroes: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Monroe-Original-Rear-Shock-Absorbers-Pair-R1543/390973781774 The seller lists them as suitable for all Heralds, Vitesse Spitfire and two models of GT6 1972 - 1973 which seems strange to me if the rotoflex versions differ from the non-roto. Rimmers list both Spax and GAZ versions of the GSA280 but does this require the bracket conversion? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spax-Adjustable-Rear-Shock-Absorber-Triumph-GT6-Mk2-Mk3-Rotoflex-68-70/311987463504?hash=item48a3e6e550:g:muMAAOSwETJZ74ka The club sells the full conversion kit including brackets and shocks: https://shop.tssc.org.uk/product/gazrotoconvk-rotoflex-rear-shock-conversion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 Unless things have changed (I hope so) the club is supplying SPitfire shocks with the bracket. Which bottom out.... Gaz shortened a set bought by a friend for his car. A search of this forum should turn up details of a beetle shock that is a good match for teh proper rotoflex one. Think it needs new bushes but that us simple enough. It may be the 1303..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor slow Posted December 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 Thanks for those replies. Colin - The first one on eBay is no longer available - listed, but quantity available 0 ?? - this seems to be the case generally. I must admit there are adjustable Gaz Spax and Konis, but they are very expensive, and I really don't need adjustable anyway. Same for the conversion. What I really don't understand is why this particular type should be so difficult, especially since it's used by VWs and others as well. It's making me a little bit cross! TRODO list them, but do I trust them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 1 hour ago, Doctor slow said: Thanks for those replies. Colin - The first one on eBay is no longer available - listed, but quantity available 0 ?? Goshdurnit that was quick!! Shows how popular they are.... If the VW Beetle part is a fit can someone list the details in the 'Interchangeable Parts' section, for info of future enquirers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 GT6 rotoflex continued until February 73 when the car became non-rotoflex which is why they’re saying 72 and 73. However, you’re correct roto and non-roto shocks are different. Monroe were taken over and their shocks now have a poor reputation. I would go for the club shop offering. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 17 minutes ago, dougbgt6 said: GT6 rotoflex continued until February 73 when the car became non-rotoflex which is why they’re saying 72 and 73. However, you’re correct roto and non-roto shocks are different. Monroe were taken over and their shocks now have a poor reputation. I would go for the club shop offering. Doug I'm going by Dr Slow's original post and the Monroe part number he provided for his rotoflex car, Doug; what I meant was that as the listed vehicles under that part number on this listing are all non-rotoflex, they can't fit both types. They should however fit GT6 from 1967 - 1968 and 1973s fixed and swing spring, (you might be able to claim the very first swing-spring models if they were built in 1972) so either the part number supplied in the first post is wrong, or the listing. Sorry for the confusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 I think I understand you Colin. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ed.h Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 The rotoflex dampers are available in the US. Have you tried Spitbits? Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor slow Posted December 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 Yes looked at spit bits, but wondered about shipping costs to our offshore island Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Clark Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 All the usual suppliers including the Club Shop can offer Gaz adjustables that are the correct length for a Rotoflex GT6. I bought done from the Club about 2 years ago. If you want standard, non-adjustable shocks, I would expect some of the major parts suppliers can help, Fitchetts or Canley most likely. Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor slow Posted December 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 Nigel ...... Nope - tried them - all of the main suppliers. Spitbits are $50 each plus shipping, so I would probably just as well buy adjustables. I just resent paying the prices for adjustables or conversions when I don't want or need that. TRODO, a company i've never heard of, can supply them for £21 each (plus shipping of about £12).Are they Chinese junk? Who knows. Do I buy them?..................... who knows. (I used to be indecisive, but now I'm not so sure!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Clark Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 Just checked Canley Classics website. They only list Koni shocks for Rotoflex rear. Expensive but they are the best! Fitchetts are good for hard to find standard parts but will need a phone call to find out what they have. Their website infant all that helpful! Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 3 minutes ago, Nigel Clark said: Their website infant all that helpful! Nigel It'll grow. Early days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 Beetle 1303 is (probably) the shock that works, having done some digging. Check open and closed lengths. Beetle is 270-415mm, Sachs are available for about £45 a pop, boge about £25. Both quality makes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Clark Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 12 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said: It'll grow. Early days. Haha, predictive typo! Nigel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger K Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 I have Konis for mine, but can't report on performance as it's still in bits. However I have Konis on my other classics, and they are definitely the best. It's worth mentioning that yes, they are adjustable - but not like the others (Spax, Gaz etc.). The adjustability on Konis is purely to allow for a drop off in performance as they get older. They have to be taken off the car to adjust. I've never had to replace a set, they last forever. Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 2 hours ago, Roger K said: I have Konis for mine, but can't report on performance as it's still in bits. However I have Konis on my other classics, and they are definitely the best. It's worth mentioning that yes, they are adjustable - but not like the others (Spax, Gaz etc.). The adjustability on Konis is purely to allow for a drop off in performance as they get older. They have to be taken off the car to adjust. I've never had to replace a set, they last forever. Roger Roger, Konis make the others appear very "ordinary" Mine are now 26 years old... still no adjustments required after my initial experiments all those years ago. And yes, they have been off and checked a few times. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avivalasvegas Posted December 5, 2020 Report Share Posted December 5, 2020 Anyone recognize these rear Rotoflex dampners? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 6, 2020 Report Share Posted December 6, 2020 They're standard-looking black shocks, nothing fancy - does that label read WORX towards the bottom right? (Top right in the photo) Seems to start with a blue 'W' but goes off round the corner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6M Posted December 6, 2020 Report Share Posted December 6, 2020 for rot cars, i got a decent set of avo adjustables if yer intrested also got a set of spaxs too, adjustables note, both will require lowest settings, this is about standard setting on a non adjust type Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HUB Posted December 6, 2020 Report Share Posted December 6, 2020 hi, went through the hunt a couple of months ago, Mk3 Rotoflex with the revised mount...Ended up going for GAZ adjustables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor slow Posted December 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 Well, I'm grateful for all the replies. It just seems crazy that I would have to pay £100-£200 for adjustable dampers, when the original (or at least compatible) type, Monroe R1543 is available for £21.22 each. If they were good enough for Triumph, they should be good enough for me, right?. BUT (!) I can only find them from a company called TRODO, and I am a little bit wary since they are an on-line company based in Germany but with a co.uk website. Autodoc and onlinecarparts are similar companies. I have become more and more aware of scammers nowadays. Anyway, before I decide, I have decided to take off the damper and inspect it. there is some "oily deosit" on the barrel of the damper (hence the MOT advisory) , but I'm not convinced that it came from a leak. In the past my diff has leaked very badly, and it is possible that this is oil sprayed onto the damper. Meanwhile, I'll do some more research while I wait for the weather to get a bit warmer. (By the way, for Nigel, Fitchetts was the first company I tried -they didn't have them). Thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 7, 2020 Report Share Posted December 7, 2020 1 hour ago, Doctor slow said: Well, I'm grateful for all the replies. It just seems crazy that I would have to pay £100-£200 for adjustable dampers, when the original (or at least compatible) type, Monroe R1543 is available for £21.22 each. Are you definitely sure about the part number? My post above (which confused Doug) says that I've read listings for this part number which states that it fits ALL Heralds, Vitesse, Spitfire and GT6 (on the two year dates given) - which are all NON-rotoflex. As I said, it can't fit both - not non-roto and roto cars, and be suitable for both, unless possibly it's the rotoflex bracket conversion, but they won't be suitable for an unconverted rotoflex GT6 as a straight fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor slow Posted December 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2020 Well I started with Unipart GSA280 and cross referenced that..........although i'm beginning to wonder even where I got that from! - Not really, that was from the Rimmer diagram for rotoflex. Really I'll have to take it off, check that it really needs replacing, then move on from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now