OSRAV KGA Dampers

Not sure if anyone has heard of OSRAV dampers, they are a Company based in Vittorio Veneto, Italy.

These were my first suspension modification fitted many years ago and then passed on to Nigel who's been running them ever since with great success.

They are a replacement damper kit but unlike the Billys that most opt for the KGA kit is adjustable for bump and rebound from an adjustment point at the top of the damper (Koni are only adjustable in rebound).
These would be a very good option for those who like to play with suspension settings to get the car handling just how they want it or for those who like a nice Bilstein feeling normal ride then turn it up to hard for track days or more spirited driving.

Hopefully Nigel will post up on this thread as he's driven with them for much longer than I did, I moved on to Billys, Koni, FK and Leda since then but I am going back to a set of KGA fronts.

I managed to find an OSRAV UK dealer Zagato Lancia who are willing to supply the kit for Fiat Coupe's.

Prices will be;

KGA Fully Adjustable Kit £528.75
KTA Non Adjustable Kit £334.87 (Bilstein Alternative ?)

OSRAV Website

So thats another option in the handling department for you all

Interesting Jimbo.
I might be intersted in something like this soon as I am planning a suspension upgrade in the near future if funds allow.

Same as symonh will be nice to hear Nigel's input. More options out there the better

I would be interested for the adjustable ones, in the near future, just had to pay out for a turbo and bits so cant at the mo.

I picked these up secondhand from Jimbo about four years ago.

I ran them for about 100,000 miles, until the rutted, pockmarked excuse for a public highway in and around Coventry finally took their toll and one of the dampers collapsed internally.

I guess we should also remember that my car had led a pretty hard life - big miles in all sorts of weather and driven [ahem] 'enthusiastically'

However, if they had not failed, I would happily be running them today - the damping control was fantastic - I could have them really soft, but the control was still there - no bouncing, just a nice gentle ride.

Similarly, if I increased the damping, the car took on a new character, with a firm but controlled ride, ideal for B-road hacking.

The hardest setting was too hard for the road, but I used it a few times on the track and at TOTB, where the smooth surface meant it handled like a go-kart

I have Konis fitted now, and they are definitely a step down from the Osravs

If I was in the market for mid-price suspension, this would be it - better than Billies in my opinion.

One bad thing about the rear dampers is that the adjusting is at the top. You need to take them out if you want to adjust them.

I'm on to this Freddan, finding out if they can be run inverted so it would just be a case of Osrav swapping the bushes around and we're in business

Hmm, adjustability and a good ride, sold to me! Is there a UK distributor?

Gareth

Isn't that the whole point of Jimbo's first post?

Well, erm, no! I've heard of them, maybe from my overall interest in all things Italian car and motorsport, Jimbo didn't mention where he got them from, just that the company is Italian.

Anyway, a bit of delving, I've found a UK (sole) distributor, Clicky!

I've emailed them for a price.

Gareth

Even when he said this?

ohhhhh....despite needing a new engine i'm soo tempted!

think i better sell all my old crap!

Ry

EDIT: I assume it is but can you confirm the price is Inc VAT? thanks

I appear to have a selective vision impairment! I can't apologise enough!

Gareth

I have them, and got them from Zagato, they were good to deal with

Having to adjust the rears by removing them is a pain, I set them mid to start with 10 out of 20 "clicks" and they were far to hard for the road, I have now set them at 4 clicks off the soft setting from memory

the fronts are easy to adjust.

I run them with Eibach springs. Ride and handling is pretty good, although they can't hide the coupe front heavy nature (I also run camber bolts so 1 degree neg) and have done a track them on them were they were good

Will take a bit of tuning to get to how you want them, but as was stated they adjust both re-bound and bump (I have KGA)

I havn't got anything to compare them against other than OE but they seem quality to me

That sounds really good

Jimbo, what are these like compared to the LEDA gear ?

my stuff is getting a tad tired & I've given up on returning to LEDA for a refurb.

Taz me old, Leda wanted £350 to shorten the damper body on mine, at the moment I've got 1" of travel on the front when I have it at the ride height I want.
I can get a set of the osrav fronts for that and be just as happy with them.
To be honest, I doubt you'll notice much difference as you run a normal Eibach spring on your Leda's IIRC the osravs would probably be slightly softer than the ledas on their softest setting but just as firm on the hard setting.

Are you looking at a full set or just the fronts Taz ?

ideally Jim, a full matches set would be ideal, however the fronts for me would have to be adjustable ride height & camber.

I'll keep an eye on this thread

I've managed to set up my coop to be reasonably comfy, but stays nice & neutral, so you can gauge how it drives, Flea has been out in mine & noted it was quite a neutral car, which I guess is no bad thing

These aren't for you then Taz, the fronts are just a McPherson strut like the Billys, no height adjustment on them, although they are a slightly shorter damper so do lower the car a little more.

My Leda's are great and a really nice ride for 1" but where that would be great on a track its not so great on the road and the price Leda want to shorten them will buy a set of front osrav's

What do you do ?

Has anyone tried the non adjustable set?

Was planning on getting billies this month but the price has went through the roof.

If so are they much harder/softer than OE?

cheers


Paul

Not tried them Paul, why not give Zagato a call and ask if they have anymore info.

ahh, only just noticed the fully adjustable ones are less adjustable than i realised.

height adjustment is one think i really do need

Ry

hmmmmmm group buy anyone??

bulldog to get hight adjustment you need coilovers. if you go for coilover expect it to be very expensive or a crap ride.

which coilovers are these then

Ben

The osrav's aren't a coilover, the adjustability refers to damping. Unless you have £1000 to spend, forget about coilovers.

coilover that will adjust
gaz = expensive but good
fk= cheap but crap ride.

I run fk coilovers and i find the ride fine not crap as you mildly put it

Ben

FK's are a budget coilover with a poor damper insert, they are great for knocking around town with the lowered look but put them on a B road and you'll be slower than a standard coupe, they just don't handle bumpy roads well, the under rated damper can't control the spring that ends up with a pogo stick handling car.


Oh, and unless you buy the konigsport FK's with the Komi insert, they are not adjustable.

Fair play then

Apparently i dont know what i'm on about,

times like these i think why do i bother



Ben

I'm only givng you an honest review Ben, I don't understand why your taking it so personally ?
I've got a set of FKs in my garage that I removed because I didn't like them, however if you like them then enjoy them.

How much do you want for the FKs then Jimbo?

Benny, you and me know that FKs' with Bravo top mounts are just fine, and it was Jimbo that pointed us in that direction. However Jimbo's needs (and those of a few others) are more sophisticated, that's fine, each to their own.

For some, the standard suspension is OK, for others a set of billies on standard springs are OK, for a lot of people einbach springs and billies are the best, costing around the £400-500 mark (maybe some bits 2nd hand).

Any more than that and it's coilovers, starting at FK', then KW's and Ledas and Osrav's...where you can spend £1000 or more too much for me, but as I said, OK for others. The FK's are "budget" coilovers that are crap IMHO with the supplied top mount, ride is far too harsh and crashy, although I never found it bouncy, maybe I had it lowered too much But with Bravo mounts it's much better, and I don't get any of that negative behavoir that Jimbo mentioned. Maybe I just don't push it hard enough, maybe Jimbo never had the FK's + bravo mounts on long enough.

So good luck and thanjs to all those people prepared to spend a lot of time testing out alternatives for us In my case I joined the first GB for FK's but by the time I eventually got around to fitting them most people had found that they weren't happy, but I stuck with them and then fitted the bravo top mounts, so much better.

Im not having a pop at Jimbo thats me being grumpy

I agree that other peoples suspension needs are different which are fine.

Also like you i cant really justify spending 1k or more on other types of coilover.

Well since fitting mine about two weeks ago w/bravo top mounts and finally geting the tracking and camber adjusted to -1.2deg yesterday, i was very impressed with how the coupe corners and performs
like yourself Dave i hav'nt experianced any bounceyness, this could be due to me only lowering it by the min of 30mm or me replacing both front inserts

Ben

I need new suspension on my baby and missed the boat with the Bilstein increase.

I was going to go for Billies with standard springs. Would these ones be just as good (non adjustable ones)?

cheers

Jimbo

The link to Zagota Lancia is broken

Is there another stockist?

Try THIS

Gareth

Has anyone tried the non adjustable ones with standard springs?

I don't think anyone on here has, but if you do, don't forget to do a write up!

I'm going for the adjustables, I'm just a control freak!

G

Spee have you got your KGAs on yet?
If so how are they?

Anyone fitted the KTAs ?

Would love to know as I,m going to chat with them next week about my (delayed) suspension referb.

No Tim, I've hopefully secured some coil overs, but we'll see, I haven't got my sticky mits on them as yet.

Gareth

I have the adjustable Osravs, bought from Zagatos 3 years ago. The car handles very well, and neutral. Although its firm, its compliant. Normal ride height maybe 1cm lower. Just about to put Eibach Pro springs mainly for look.

OK,after another chat with Clive at Zagato I've ordered the adjustable Osravs today.
There is going to be a few weeks wait as the Italian factorys shut for August Holidays.
I'm going to run them on standard springs and will post my thoughts when I get to try them.
Tim

My Eibachs are on, and in conjunction with the Osravs, I'd say its a bit bouncy for me. As the shocks are adjustable, I guess hardening them up might work. I'd be interested in talking to Zagato to see whether they offer a suspension balancing service. They emailed me back saying their mechanic is on holiday (this must be the aforementioned Clive?).

Can you stiffen your damp/rebound settings and post a feedback after that?

I'm willing to let go my almost new set of billies for the adjustable Osravs, but only if they stop the bouncy ride that I'm feeling with the Bilstein/eibach combo

Turn the damping up

Forgive my ignorance, but can this be done with the allen key while the car is standing or does it need to be fully jacked up with no weight on the wheels?

I had some Konis on my Lancia Delta HF and just adjusted them with the car standing.

I hope Osravs work that way as well. Unfortunately, for what I know from Jimbo it only adjusts the fronts that way. The rears have to be removed for adjustment because you can't access them with the allen key, right?

Nonetheless, it seems to me that you can kill bouncing from rising damp/rebound on the fronts only and let the rears a little softer, thus preventing lift off oversteer

I've just been under the car, and at the back, you can access the nipple (ooh er) for the gas/air, but can't see the screw adjustment at all. The front can't see a thing as the cars too low.

I'd really prefer to get the car checked out by a professional, as who knows whether the current gas pressure is correct in the dampers to start!

I'll wait for the guy at Zagato to get back and discuss with him. Alternatively, can anyone recommend another garage that knows how to set up suspension on these cars, or indeed should any good sports car suspension tuner be ok?

The rears have to be off because the adjuster is on top.
The front adjusters are also on top, so you can access them easily. Just open the bonnet.

Jimbo will probably arrive and can post a much more detailed info I presume

Addict, I can call you if you PM me your number.

The fronts are adjusted under the bonnet at the top mount where the damper strut comes through the top mount.

There should be an allen head on the top of the damper strut.

Put your allen key in this and turn them fully anti-clockwise until it stops, that should be them at fully soft.

You then need to take her out for a spin down a nice bit of road and keep turning the allen head clockwise (the same amount for each damper) until you find a nice setting your happy with.
Do it in one full rotation at first and then you can fine tune them in half turns.

The rears are adjusted up at the top of the damper, the damper needs to be dropped for that or have fingers like ET.

Zagato should do it for you seeing as they sold you the kit.

I'd just set them at half way through thier adjustment range and leave them at that.

Hi Jimbo
Thanks for your expertiies on this

Some mate here on the forum is running with Osravs and he post that half way on rears is too hard for road use.

IIRC, he posted that he's running on the 4th setup from softest.
Well... I think it's a matter of personal taste here

That some mate should be Paul:

"Having to adjust the rears by removing them is a pain, I set them mid to start with 10 out of 20 "clicks" and they were far to hard for the road, I have now set them at 4 clicks off the soft setting from memory"

Thank you for that Matijn

I just checked my fronts and they are set fully clockwise, which I think means they are at their hardest?! As I said feels like a stiff pogo stick (is that bouncy?)

If this is the only adjustment I can make, i'll try loosening off a few turns and see if that makes a difference...

PS: Jimbo, I have pm'ed you with my number.

As I said in my PM, I was working off memory, go with the arrow direction on the damper (the opposite of what I said)

The osrav's aren't bouncy so they are either on fully soft as we think they are according to the +/- arrows or they are on so hard the car is bouncing over the bumps with only the tyres for travel

Hi Jimbo,

do you drive these KGA's with OSRAV springs, or an other brand? I am up to order the KGA's but am undecided for the springs yet. (OSRAV/Eibach/Apex?)

I don't Martijn but I used to own a coupe with them fitted.

I had the KGA's with Eibach springs, the Eibachs are a little too firm for my liking but they are the best spring on the market if you want to lower your coupe.

I didn't know osrav made springs, it may be worth giving them a try ?

Just to say thanks to Jim for his help. I checked the full travel on my front shocks and its 5.5 full 360 degree turns from top to bottom. I set them at 3 turns which is just over half way hard. Feels nice, but will try out for a few days and decide if go harder still.

And bouncing??!

Update.
With the new Eibach springs the car is too hard with the Osravs set at hardest. Despite a mate telling me the "bounce" was due to shocks set too soft this was the exact opposite! If I hit a dip, because the damping is rock hard I literally get thrown out of my seat!!
I have now softened the fronts to half way and the car feels more compliant, with no detriment to handling (don't forget it's the springs that stop the car leaning). As I can't adjust the rears they are still set at hard and frankly rock hard. Definitely not suitable for the road at all (and I like a sporty ride!)
I will visit L&M this week and get the rear softened as that is the way to go. I will try fully soft and then at least I will have experienced both extremes.

The Osravs came with my car so when sorted they should be good but frankly if I was starting from scratch I would not buy them as the access of the rear is downright stupid and there is next to no support or knowledge for this product by uk garages. Relying on one small garage, Zagato, is too limiting (they seem only to have one guy!) and so far it's been difficult to get a timely response. As for contacting Osram Italy....

I'll post again when rears adjusted.
Cheers all.

Don't go fully soft on the rear Mark, I remember trying that with mine. The rear was banging off the bump stops with the damper having no control over the spring, about half way would be nice if I remember correctly.

It's a shame a spring company can't make a shorter but only slightly uprated spring, say 15% instead of the standard 30% uprated.

Thanks Jim, useful input.
It was still too hard before we did them this time, so will go all the way to fully soft then wind them back a bit.

When you say "it was still too hard" you mean that you were you running them at half hard settings?

They have 20 clicks from softest to hardest right? I'm asking this because I'm considering swapping my billies for osrav's

Nelson,
Not sure if they were half way, but they were a few turns softer than now. That's why I'm going to set them near softest to see the other extreme.
I'll let you all know after I see my garage later this week.

Well, my Osravs have been softened:
Rears taken all the way down to soft then back 2/22 clicks = 10% hard; and fronts made soft then back 2 turns (2/4.5) = 40% hard, although I can experiment with the fronts myself.

Gone is the kick in the butt when hitting a dip in the road. The car is still rock hard according to my wife, but for me its good.

Conclusion: Sporty hard but soaks up the bumps well enough. If you combine Osravs plus Eibachs, for the road keep the Osravs soft.

Looks like your nearly sorted.
It will be interesting to see how your ride and settings compare to mine on standard springs.
Its just a matter of waiting for them to arrive from Italy now.
It would be nice to set it up and have a good blast before I put her away for winter!

I ordered mine today, KGA + Eibachs.

Hope them to be here in a week or two... how long did yall wait between order-arrivement?

I wish! That would be ideal for me, I find my Eibachs too hard, standard too soft!

Group buy maybe?


G

There are other spring makers:
H&R
Bilstein
both well reputed.

I have driven the car a couple of hundred miles now and played with the settings. I left the rears at softest less 10% as the garage set them, and have now experimented with softest setting at the front and brought them back to 1.5/5.5 = 27% hard which seems optimum for the road.

Cornering is excellent with no roll as we all know the Eibachs are stiff. I'd say the car feels a little heavier steering when at softest but lighter at 27%. Feels very sporty and corners hard and fast. It doesn't break traction though, except when road is wet.

The bouncing and crashing is so much better than it was, although its still a very stiff ride.

As I said, the reason I put the Eibachs on was visually to lower the car, my previous ride was as good. I've a hunch they were Osrav springs and a little better suited but the car sat higher. Now I've played with the setting its all pretty sorted now.

My only concern is how the car will perform on undulating fast roads, as to how the car will keep contact with the tarmac or dip and jump? I'll let you know once I've followed my friends in their 911's!

Anyone here drove the coupe with KGA's + std springs? I don't mind the car being not lowered. I would like to keep a little comfort with the car, it will never see the track anyways.

If there's anyone with this experience, please post it up!

A coupe on eibachs keeping up with a 911 on bumpy roads? Hmmmmm!

Yes indeed. I owned a 911 turbo prior to buying this coupe and believe me this coupe is VERY quick and handles surprisingly well too. In our convoy to Gaydon was a 911 turbo, a new 500 Abarth SS, a F360 and an F355. The Abarth was allowed to lead the way at a cracking pace on the twisties, and on the straight I had no trouble opening up a gap from the 355 and keeping up with the others. (Of course at very high speeds it would be a different matter.)

So its official, Osravs with Eibachs are now sorted!

Had a chat with Clive at Zagato yesterday and the delivery of osrav shocks is due in on Friday.
Because of the intrest from owners they are now making the coupe shocks stock items.
So no more waiting in the future they'll be off the shelf items.

911´s are slow.

Sweet! That means mine will be in Friday as well

No, not really. If you drive them right.

And I was talking about the turbo, very fast in any vintage.

EDIT: offtopic

You're probably right, it's just most owners don't seem to drive them as they should.

Hey Martijn,
Let us know when your new Osravs are fitted.

Hey Mate,

Yeah i will, they will come in this Friday. In holland the Eibachs are out of stock, so i will ask Alternative Auto's if they can still get them for the 16VT. I asked a around a little for Apex but that seems to be a no-go. Osrav springs currently are not in stock in Italy, and nobody knows when the new batch will come in. So... i talked this setup over with Saint from NZ, who also runs osrav/eibach on a 16VT and decided on this combo.

It will probably be on the car around 8th of october.

I got my Eibachs in, as well as my OSRAV. Both came in today. The OSRAV say KGA 379-> 20V TURBO COUPE FIAT.

Errr... Right, 20V Turbo, i have a 16V Turbo.

anyone with a 16VT got a set? Saint, with his 16VT, thought he had 20VT shocks as well, he will double check tho.

Oh well, everything will be mounted october 8th.... I cant wait!

Does anybody happen to know if these are only available as part of a full kit, or available individually? I think I'll be needing a new set of rears and these could very well fit the bill.

Matt, I'll buy some fronts if you want to split a kit ?

Sure thing Jimbo - we're talking adjustables yes?

I wouldn't have it any other way Matt, the KGA is the model we are after I believe.

At the risk of spannering Jimbo's attempt at getting some front Osravs....

mattB - I have some secondhand Osrav rear shocks - they used to be Jimbo's, who took them off when he thought they were defective - turned out they weren't, and I've had them in my shed ever since.

I have no idea how well they work (also no reason to suspect they don't work just fine)

Make me an offer I can't refuse

i need new spring and dampers and like the sound of there,but wondering for the extra £300 or so im i better going for the gaz coil overs just didnt know how much better the coil over would be

any advise would be great

The Gaz kit is height adjustable, easier to adjust the damping and allows you to fit any number of different spring rates to tailor them to your needs.

The osrav's are fixed height so you will need an eibach spring to lower the car, this already takes your price nearer the Gaz kit. The front osrav's are simple to adjust but the rears require the damper dropping out.

Both dampers adjust bump and rebound at the same time both will improve the car but the Gaz kit probably more so.

cheer for the advise it only seems like two people have the gaz coil over on at moment

My OSRAVS will finally be fitted tomorow. I will let everybody know how they get on, i put the rears at 6 turns from soft! (or 5, i will have to check).

Mine arrived this week and I'm booked in with MotorMech a week on Monday.
Paul is also fitting new wishbones,topmounts etc to bring everything up to tip top condition.
The camber bolts from the group buy will also go on (With out too much camber).
My only disappointment is that the whiteline 22mm rear arb is out of stock at Balance Motor sport.
Still I can wait a few weeks and fitting them separetly will let me see what the arb adds on top of the improvement of the Osravs.


Watch this space !!

Mine have been put on the car today! Because of a boost leak @ my FMIC i havent really driven the car hard, but for now it feels fine. Its on Eibachs, which are a bit stiff but not too much. Just have to slow down a bit for speedbumps ofcourse, but thats all.

Setup:
Fronts are half way
Rears on 6 clicks from soft.

Feels real good!

OK,Measured the height ,from the ground, to the underneath of the end of the sill nearest each wheel.
This is on standard springs and shocks (70k).
Cold tyres with book preasures.

FRONT N/S 180mm ....O/S 175mm

REAR N/S 197mm ....O/S 205mm

Osravs go on Monday so I'll cheak if the ride hight is altered.

So I've received my Osravs today and I must say that the package sucks!!!

They came all in one little box and they all rubbed on it's way home. I ended up with the 2 fronts lacking serious spots of paint because of that!

I know that they are going under the car and nobody will put an eye on them after that, but nonetheless I consider this to be a major fault from Osrav.

Did anyone here experienced something similar?

PS - Maybe off topic but I'm swapping them for my like new set of Billies (about 2000 miles). If anyone's interested...

It's going back a few years but yes they came in one box, however, the box had the dampers seperated by cardboard compartments.

A bit of touch up paint should keep the corrosion away and you'll enjoy them once they are fitted.

Same here Nelson - mine were damaged as wel. I used some hammerite paint to keep corrosion away.

I must say people, that the various set-ups here on the forum are probably experienced very different by others. Something that saint calls "Way too soft" i will call nice and comfortable for a daily ride. When driving on the motorway with say 80 mph, and you meet a nice small bump in the road, my passengers on the rear bench hit their head on the ceiling (and one on the window...)

Thanks for the input guys.

About settings... Of course it's a bit difficult to really say that they have 20 or 30 clicks because they just don't click!

Anyway, the rears (when the center hole - one of the 3 visible ones - is facing you), can be moved 28 times anticlockwise from soft, so I'm going to set them at 5 from that just to start with, and hoping to kill some lift off oversteer with that (one thing that many mates aren't really complaining about, instead of understeer which seems the major concern among owners).

I'm complementing the Osravs with front and rear Eibach ARBs and camber bolts. Already have powerflex bushes and strut. So let's see the difference...

The fronts can be easily adjusted. Anyway... I find them somewhat easy to compress with my bare hands at fully hard. It's just me?

Having now driven with the Eibach/Osrav setup for a few months and couple of thou miles, I am very pleased with the products and also the setings I chose.
I am so glad we set the rears at fully soft (fronts harder though) as its still sporty hard but bearable over dips (I previously experienced the phenonomenon Martyn mentioned of passengers (& me!) hitting the roof!).
10/10 for fast road use.

addict... are the rears at the softest setting still capable of controlling the Eibach spring?

I ask this because I'm also on Eibach springs and they are stiffer than OE ones, and this is probably why the coop suffers from bouncing (stiff springs and under damp/rebound dampers, or so I think!...).

You can't reproduce the load a moving car will put on the damper so you will always be able to push them closed easily, it's when they are travelling very quickly that the damper starts working.

I tried on the softest setting and just hit the bump stops all the time

I'm sure they come preset for 'fast road' settings but check that on your dampers. Just count how many turns it takes to adjust them so you can put them back.

Thanks Jimbo,

I'm going to start at 5 from softest. The annoying thing is that you have to dismantle the rears for adjustment. So let's hope 5 will be fine for my needs.

We bought a Spax kit (shocks and springs), for my wife's Ford Puma (which are being fitted now), and the rears are so much easier to adjust

I run the rear at the softest setting, and just 2 turns back (unchanged since I posted a while back). Bumpstops no problem, they were replaced prior though. As I said the feel and performance is 100% now, and me coming from a modified 911 turbo too, so that is praise indeed

By 2 turns you mean shifting one hole to the side 2 times?

When you are facing the small cylindrical insert in the rear shock, the one with the holes you put the allen key to turn it, you can manage to see 3 holes in it.

When I say 5 from softest I mean I face the center hole and turn it anticlockwise until the key hit the shock (this is a turn of about 4 or 5mm), and do this 5 times.

Doing that, the insert can be rotated 28 times until fully hard.

Are we using the same measurement unit here?

I have no idea. My garage said 2 turns out of 22 top to bottom. Either way I suggest all the way soft then 10% back. Any harder and I think you will 'hit your head'!
Good luck.