Frequently Asked Questions
Q1 - Where are the shocks made supplied by Racing Shocks Australia?
A1 - NOT MADE IN CHINA. All shocks sold by us are manufactured & assembled in the USA (Motion Control Suspension & JRi Shocks). We sell premium products. Purchasing shocks from us means you are not purchasing counterfeit units. We deal directly with the manufacturers. Many brands sold or assembled in Australia are made from China & are not designed for motorsport. They come out of the same factory & often rebranded with small detail changes
Q2 - What is the difference between Asian made products compared to the brands Racing Shocks Australia sell?
A2 - The big difference is that the shocks we sell are designed to perform & last. Our motorsport shocks are completely rebuildable or serviceable unlike the inferior products that are a street-derived products aimed for motorsport. The modular design allows our shocks to be upgraded or hold their value better for resale if the customer ever wants to resell them. The high precision quality of the products & how they are designed make them more efficent which makes them more reliable but also perform at a higher level. This means lower costs long term but with the ability to retain high adjustability & repeatability. If you want to purchase true performance quality shocks, you need to budget for a minimum spend of AUD$1200.00 a corner. Anything below this mount is lost money. Long term this also means less shocks are then ending up in landfill. Vehicle owners of Porsche, BMW, Muscle cars, Hotrods, Harley Davidson & Indian Motorcycles are long term supporters of our brands & widely accepted in the USA
Q3 - Do we sell complete coil over units?
A3 - We can offer complete coil over units at an additional cost of purchasing other items such as springs, strut/camber mounts etc which we can source or assist with. Our aim is to sell the shocks & represent the brands as a service dealer. We believe that every customer is unique & the products are tailor made for him or her, whether it is his car, driving style or needs. We offer a premium product & don't expect to sell thousands of units a year. Our products are often used on street applications that are also used for track days.
Q4 - My car runs a separate rear shock & spring assembly. Can this be made as a coil over spring unit?
A4 - Depending on the vehicle, it is possible. Additional parts may need to be purchased to ensure no interference with other components
Q5 - Why are some shocks mounted upside down on the vehicle (main body towards the chassis)?
A5 - For maximum performance, motorsport competitors mount the body eye to the chassis to reduce moving unsprung weight (suspension arms, uprights etc - anything that is moving with the wheel). As the body contains oil, it has the higher mass content of a shock. However the gain is often small & can sometimes lead to the shafts being exposed to dirt, gravel etc which can prematurely wear out seals or cause minor oil leaks. For cars that are used in multiple applications (street & track use), we recommend to mount the shocks as per manufacturers installation direction for maximum reliability. All of our shocks are gas shocks & can be inverted without risk of cavitation. NOTE: Harley Davidson shocks made by JRi must be installed in the same direction as supplied with the installation instructions
Q6 - What warranty comes with the shocks?
A6 - We provide a minimum 12 months warranty on all JRi Shocks & Motion Control Suspension units sold by us as per the manufacturers terms & conditions. No warranty applies to these brands if sold via 3rd parties, whether sold new or used, from a private or business advertising as a dealer in Australia or overseas. Only Racing Shocks Australia are official dealers for these two brands unless otherwise listed on the manufacturers website.
Q7 - How often do I need to have the shocks serviced?
A7 - Like every other mechanical/hydraulic device, the oil can deteriorate over time & with prolonged use near hot objects. This can cause forces to drop & seals to eventually leak. For racing only, we recommend getting your shocks dyno tested every 12 months with a view to servicing every 5000km or 3 years, which ever comes first. This ensures your shocks remain at peak performance for longer & reduce long term costs of components wearing out. For vehicles that see street work, although they may be used more regularly than a race car, they often see less abuse & can remain on the car up to 3 years or 60,000km. The more regularly they are inspected & checked, the cheaper the cost is long term.
Q8 - Apart from dyno testing the shocks, are their any other maintenance requirements for the shocks?
A8 - We recommend cleaning them with a rust inhibitor/water repellent spray lubricant & a rag especially if they have been used in wet conditions every few months. Sometimes dirt or grime can get on the threads & cause the ride height adjuster to get tight. if not cleaned, this could cause damage to the threads. Pay specific attention to any monoball mount/fixtures, threads & shock adjusters where water & dirt can reside. Do not use any solvent such as brake clean which can cause damage to the seals. We also suggest the gas pressure be checked every 12 months minimum if not more regularly for more competitive racing.
Q9 - What is the minimum gas pressure that should be used?
A9 - This depends on how the shock is setup & its application. While the JRi Shocks & Motion Control Suspension units are not designed as through-rod technology, the latest designs allow them to run the gas pressure as low as 75psi up to 280psi similarly to more expensive brands. We wil always advise what the recommended gas pressure is for your application. Gas pressure can be used as a tuning tool but please discuss this with us before proceeding. Too little gas pressure can cause cavitation of the oil & internal damage to the shock.
Q10 - Some brands have designed the struts to be inverted (body to top mount). Can Racing Shocks Australia supply these?
A10 - Our brands do not supply inverted/large body diameter struts that fit into existing strut housings. Although these are cheaper to manufacture, they are not as strong as proper monotube designed struts & can still bend with side load. These also require high maintenance intervals to ensure proper sliding operation within the housing & limit the ability to make fast setup changes at the track with spring changes & bump packer gaps. All of our struts are supplied with 22mm diameter shafts & large supporting bearings to ensure low friction & strength
Q11 - Can anyone import these from outside of Australia?
A11 - Purchasing shocks manufactured by Motion Control Suspension or JRi Shocks from outside of Australia will not incurr additional warranty supplied by Racing Shocks Australia. Only via agreement from the manufacturer may we agree to honor any manufacturer warranty claims for the brands we sell if bought overseas. All claims must be supplied with a copy of the receipt of purchase, any official documentation supplied with the units, the date & who sold them the items. The importation of shock absorbers are considered DANGEROUS GOODS & as such, must be de-pressurized before being able to freight the shocks on a commerical airplane. Failing to do so may incurr delays in freight time & other problems with customs, including penalties. Purchasing from us eliminates these issues & guarantees your items arrive safe & are properly pressurized before fitment.