Yesterday at Barber had my second AST shock to fail. The shaft shears off were it goes in to the camber plate. This is the second time it's happened and thank god both times have been on the out lap. I'm pretty sure that the answer is not to put a new one on and see if I can get a third failure. Maybe the next time I would be going down the hill into turn 12 at Road Atlanta. at 110 mph. When the shock breaks there is no way to control the car, the wheel is just flopping. If I'd been up to speed it would have torn the wheel off and been total loss of control. Failures like this should NOT happen. This stands to cost me new set of coilovers, and getting the car reset up. I'm guessing costs of some where north of $3000.00 at the cheapest. If I go with JRZ or Moton looking at $1000.00 a corner for just the shocks. This is what pisses me off about the MINI after market, vendors sell the stuff as track test tough and is just junk. How many failure do you see in races because of a shock breaking? I've been to lots and don't think I've seen one. Well back to the track, got a student and a car to collect and get back to the shop. Guess I'll do a few sessions in the Porsche but hate to take a total street car out when I have a track car. This is over $1000.00 in entry fee up in smoke because of parts failures.
If I remember correctly the first one failed due to a clearance issue with the camber plates. I know of another failed for similar reasons. On the other hand the set I've been running, first with IE Camber plates that were clearanced, an d now with the TSW plate have seen no clearance issues. The front shock shafts are inspected often. There are also dozens if not more sets of these running around the US with no issues at all. Before condemning the the product find the reason for failure.
if you're running IE plates, umm, buck up and spend some $$$. Those things are POS....I spent more time 'clearancing' them than installing. They didn't stay on my car long.
i look forward to hearing more about this. AST 5200's are on my short list of coilovers for my race car build. from Vorshlag's website, "CAMBER PLATES : We highly recommend Vorshlag camber plates be used with AST strut kits". i guess that we know why they make this recommendation..... w/ camber plates and one set of springs, the 5200's are about $1250 a corner. i don't have a lot of info on MINI applications for the JRZ's, but onasled has them on his car. i don't think that you can get Moton clubsports at $1000/corner. glad that you weren't injured and that the car will live to fight again. edit: after spend some time on Vorshlag's site, i see that the shafts in the 5000 series are much larger than the 4000 series. i would be comfortable w/ the 5000's and Vorshlag's camber plates.
it appears this failure isn't AST's issue but rather caused by IE plates and an unheeded warning NOT to run the two together
i'm not sure that Vorshlag had camber plates for the MINI when the OP bought these coilovers. these were, i believe, the AST's previously offered by TSW (4000 series?). correct me if i am wrong.
The current Vorshlag Camber Plate is the one TSW previously had. There is a new and improved TSW Camber Plate under development.
thanks for the clarification, nathan. i sent a link to this thread to Vorshlag and asked for their response. hopefully they will chime in.
Explain to me how the hell you would know that? What's on my car was what TSW said put on the car. By the way PGT you track your car? Mine does nothing but track day.
I'm right aren't I (and the truth hurts)? orly? posteriquoteâ„¢ not a relevant question for this thread
Don't be bothered by PGT, he is just stirring the pot. :arf: Have you asked TSW about their new KW set?
Profanity edited out by Site Owner...back to the thread content... Get a life. Turn off the computer and go outside.
No I haven't. I've not sure I think the 3rd time is lucky. I know one of RSR drivers I'll see what they do and there is a guy in New Orleans that races with NASA.
I'll chalk this one up as "I'm right" :lol: and wow, nice attitude. I've been outside all day, working on the car. :cornut:
Meanwhile... I can't tell from the picture, but was the break a clean shear? Are there grooves or bends or necking from previous stress? What kind of noise does that make when it goes, or does everything just get loose?
Ok, now that we are past the beat each about the head an neck portion of this thread can we get to the root cause please? Roach, can you post some pictures of the shock and the camber plates please? Also what brand of plates are you running? What are the alignment specs?