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The set of Carreras with Hall Shocks currently on 2040 are doneski. I am definitely upgrading to new coil-overs as the car gets put back into service.

My driving style:

I drive aggressively in the canyons at a brisk pace away from the public and I do track days (in my sports purpose/hot rod 911) and would like to be able to do the same in the Pantera. Suspension choice for me needs to be for performance however compliant enough to be streetable so the car does not ride like a piece of wood.

I really like the ethos of SAAC products - modernizing the performance capabilities of the Pantera. Their RideTech coil-overs are tuned and tested and the spring rates come in multiple levels of stiffness. That being said the shock is adjustable for ride height, and compression. No rebound.  Not sure if they are rebuildable but I would imagine so. Cost is about $1300

I chatted with one of the Aldan techs. He was quick to point out that they make a double adjustable setup and that they have 34 years of experience with the Pantera platform. Their spring rates come in one rate (pound) only. Not sure if they are rebuildable. Cost with 10% off code is $1370

Can anyone here who uses their car and drives it relatively hard in the twisties/lateral Gs/HPDE (occasional track day) offer any feedback or input on which way to go here?  Perhaps Scott @zr1pantera you wouldn't mind chiming in?

Thanks!

Ryan

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Do some research on Aldan shocks, they are hot rod shocks, good for show n' shine and junk IMO, Hall used to sell them as part of their kit, they always leak.

I'm surprised your Carrera (QA1) shocks have failed, I have them on 2 Pantera's and the GT40 and would be my recommendation for a standard double adjustable shocks as I have no experience with the Ride Tech.

Not sure of the worth of street Aldans for 'vigorous' driving. They have an external damping screw that is often the leak source. Hall used to get one or two a week back for leak fixes when he was selling them. He once described the fix:

* Remove the shock and rotate it upside down, then unscrew the damping adjuster until it comes completely out of the shock body. There is a tiny o-ring on the end.

* Replace o-ring (maybe with a higher quality), lube it and reassemble. If you try doing this without tipping the shock upside down, all the remaining fluid inside (if any) will run out.

Old time motorcycle shops sell shock oil in various viscosities. Not sure how much oil or what weight should be inside; that's why Gary was in business! Too much will likely blow the shaft seal out on a big bump.  I think Aldan was sold at least once since the good ol' days.

Thanks for the responses Joules and Boss Wrench. After being gone for 10-15 years it's great to see you both still here.  @joules that was my suspicion on the Aldans. Thank you for confirming. I won't be buying Aldans.

As for the Carreras, can they be rebuilt? I was told by QA1 that the non-adjustable version (ride height only) that I have on my car they were basically throwaways. Mine feel like rocks but maybe that's the springs. Sounds like I should be looking into Carrera Adjustables.

Which ones are you running, Joules? (model/length) Would the spring rates be the same for a narrow body vs your GT5?

Other than SAAC are there any additional options before moving to an external reservoir Moton type shock?

FWIW, given that I've spent an ungodly amount of time lightening up our whole car and improving the handling, I like Koni's yellow single-adjustable-damping high-pressure gas shocks with heim-joint ends. They are quite a bit lighter than stock or the older red Konis, springs are $45 a set, they are rebuildable, have ride height adjustment and they can be mounted upside-down for an additional small unsprung wt savings. Damping adjustment is still a chore just like the red Konis but my experience is, street guys find a setting they can live with and never touch it again. So usually its a one-time problem. No trouble in 15 yrs.

Not sure. I think you attached the wrong documents to your e-mail. That being said, I’m not sure about the shocks. I bought them from Dennis Quella, so I didn’t pay any attention to part #’s or specs. That was 20 years ago too. I’m using 500/700 lb springs and my ride is still very comfortable. In fact, much more comfortable than a stock 996TT!

Welcome back, old friends are always welcome! The photo's you posted don't seem to be relevant?

The QA1 part number changed but the double adjustable is the DD501 (bushing) or DD502 (Poly), single adjustable DS501 and DS502 respectively. The Double adjustable are $244.50 ea at Summit and single adjustable $169.50.

The bushed shocks will require a spacer either side of the eye and most aftermarket shocks will have a 1/2" dia eye, not a 12 mm (0.471") Pantera shock bolt dia.) so there is slight mismatch that the stepped spacers take up. I can send a drawing if you go that route and need to get the spacers made up. You can of course drill out the shock mounts and use a 1/2" dia bolt.

I am running 550/450# spring rates on the GT5 and would opt for 450/350 on the L when I get to it. Springs are $51.75 ea so not terrible cost if you want to play around with a couple spring rates.

More info- my gas Koni shocks are #30-5436 as sold by D Quella in Co. They still list them on www.koni-na.com along with their current catalogue etc. Since my Pantera is 600 lbs lighter, I use 2-1/2" OD 275 lb front springs & 350 rears and the car does not bottom during open track events. These shocks are pressurized to 300 psi so add 40 lbs to your springs to account for the assistance from internal gas pressure. I had to go to the POCA Archives to retrieve the article I wrote Aug 2008 on installing them, just before a 500 mile road trip with an open track at the end.

Note they are NOT specifically for a Pantera- we are far too small a market for a special shock! Therefore, there's some minor fiddling to mount them where the stockers once fit, but Quella supplies all the necessities. I think frt & rear shocks are the same but the bump rubbers are different.

These are steel body- Quella says each aluminum body equivalent is 12 ounces lighter... for $300 more. The 4 steel assemblies save 26 lbs over stock (29 lbs for aluminum) and will work upside down- which makes ride height adjustments easier. They do not use jam-nuts on the adjustable ride height nut. Instead Koni uses a pointed-end setscrew to lock the single adjusting ring-nut. All spare parts are individually available from Koni-North America in Kentucky.

Oh dear- wish I had read this just a few weeks earlier as I have purchased a set of 4 off Aldan American AS 758HP for the rebuild - marked Aldan American 10-700 on the springs,  from Halls. Halls  said this was their recommended premium drop in shock replacement.

Ah well the information on the Gary leak repair method  may  well come in handy in future Bosswrench - most appreciated !!

I must say they do look like a very good quality product - Beautifully finished, but the road will eventually reveal all!

I will update once I actually  have an informed opinion on the performance.

Still slogging away on the back suspension rebuild! All bushes , bearings in but still waiting on some small parts for the lower shaft reassembly. Getting there.

Attachments

Images (1)
  • Aldan American AS 758HP
@pantera2040 posted:

@bosswrench Am I on the right track here?  The shocks are the high quality Koni 30 Series that are designed for racing applications and are fitted with your choice of the well known quality Hyperco springs.  I went for 450# springs on the front and 550# on the back.

FWIW, I followed the Mike Daily Pantera Place coilover shocks advice and purchased the same from Pantera East back in 2009. Couldn't be happier for street performance, adjustability and ride for past 10 years.

Koni

Koni front

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  • Koni
  • Koni front
@Percy posted:

-they still look like new ! Thanks !

That's when they were new, and I had just installed them in 2009.   Although, they still looked pretty good in 2019 during my rear brake caliper rebuild project and again in early 2020 during my Ball Joint Boot repair project given over 10,000 summer-only, weather-permitting miles driven since winter 2009-2010.

Konis 2019

Koni Ball Joint Boot Repair

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Images (2)
  • Konis 2019
  • Koni Ball Joint Boot Repair
@Percy posted:

Can you give me an idea of the front and rear settings you are running on them ?

I actually don't know the settings other than Marino at Pantera East (Long gone) set them up as complete assemblies for Panteras to simply install. I just followed Pantera Place's Mike Daily's lead, including the same spring rates, after Mike told me the Konis were working out "very well". That was good enough for me.

Pantera East Koni Coilover System (panteraplace.com)

FWIW, Peter- my shock settings might not do you much good given that our car weighs 2690 lbs ready to drive and my springs are lighter. But generally with four-click damping, you'd try the lighter fronts on one click and the heavier rear on two clicks, then go try it somewhere that has bumps and curves. Then adjust  a second time as req'd to not bottom anywhere while still having a comfortable ride.

OOOPs- didn't notice you weren't speaking to me- sorry, Mr Lee!

Jack, I believe you'll find only the rebound is adjustable on the Koni's. As you turn the shaft clockwise, with the adjusting button depressed, you're increasing rebound resistance as opposed to compression resistance. After a bit of trial and error, I found the best compromise was full rebound resistance at the rear (3 clicks clockwise) and only 1 click on the front. This also helps to minimize weight transfer under heavy braking.

Last edited by davidnunn

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