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