De Carbon shock absorbers

[Huib]

The comfort type shock absorbers made by Delphi are no longer available.

I now have sport and competition versions made elsewhere. They are in a totally different class.

Already in the 60s and 70s Fulvisti replaced the original De Carbon dampers on the coupé as well as the berlina by the sport version of the De Carbon shock absorbers made by Bilstein. These new ones are even better.

I use the sport version on my 1967 coupé rallye 1.3 for daily driving. I am quite happy with those. Not only better peformance on bumps and pot holes but also better stability at high speed and less diving when braking.

I tested the competition version for normal road use. They are too stiff for me. If it is your thing to go over bumps at top speed, launch your Fulvia into the air and land on one wheel, these are your shocks. I doubt if you will be able to get the spring to hit the stops. Diving when braking is virtually gone. Stabilty at high speed is maximum.

See http://www.viva-lancia.com/huib/coll/de-carbon.htm

Huib

[Ali]

Hi Huib,

are the sport or competition shocks available for lowered cars as well?

Ali

[Huib]

Hi Ali

If you still have the original bump stops at the front and the rear, these shocks should work. Shocks should not be allowed to "bottom". The bump stops prevent the shocks from bottoming. If minimum travel is still the same as on an original car, you can use these shocks.

I would also assume that you have done the lowering properly by using a stronger spring with less curvature. The spring has to be stronger to compensate for the fact it has less available travel. I am not sure if it is a good idea to use shocks to compensate for springs that are too weak. That would be true for any shock.

Huib

[Ali]

Thanks Huib, so I have to measure travel first, but the car is not yet finished.
Car has been lowered by using the standard springs and setting each leaf deeper. Each spring has now around 50 mm less curvature. I´m not sure, if the springs are weaker now, but I don´t think so..

I´m afraid, car is riding on the bump stops to much, when leaving them with standard height..

Ali