Adamlewis1988
New Member
Hi guys has anyone else experienced a harsh and bouncy ride fitted the nsl kit ? Current set up is 70 mm drop with 20” alloys 265/40/20 tyres
Thanks really not pleased with atm
Thanks really not pleased with atm
Solow nsl harsh and bouncy
- Thread starter Adamlewis1988
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Adamlewis1988
New Member
So my old van has h and r and that was pretty good, though I would try the solow this time as everyone raves about them. Yes fitted with the longer drop links from thq
Adamlewis1988
New Member
Luckily I still have the old van so I will definitely be swapping back to the h and r and fitting the solow and not the old van 
nightmare, so many good reviews for them I don’t understand how people think they are a good ride !
nightmare, so many good reviews for them I don’t understand how people think they are a good ride !
The back to back tests we have done show that the KONI shocks in the H&R kit are the better performers , we have been saying this for a long time . Marketing and media pages do sometimes create biased reviews and can be misleading ,
Drop links wont affect comfort at all if you need longer drop links it just means the damper doesn't have the bracket in the ideal position .
OOPS , Sorry to hear this , There is no magic wand in this industry to get vans super low and super comfy , it just cant happen . The damping rates will make the ride as good as it can be made for the heights the kit can do . We know KONI have the best damper technology and that is why the H&R kit feels good , Some manufacturers slack off the low speed damping forces to try and get more comfort , results arent better unfortunately .
The B8 is a hi pressure gas mono tube damper , i dont think these kits are. Mono tube hi pressure shocks are notoriously firm and expensive.
Adamlewis1988
New Member
Luckily i have the back up plan so I wasn’t too worried, more shocked on how sl actually perform after all the hype. Crs all the way !
Just another point of view used to install someone well regarded on here's kits, I thought this was a good move. Fitted 3 kits in 9 months and well we'll leave that there.
Been a SoLow approved installer for over a year possibly a bit longer. We've installed a mixture of coilovers and air ride system in total just over 80 happy customers we no longer install any other brand, this was my descision, no incentive from SoLow. I could possibly earn more if I offered more brands but I'm happy with the kit and so are our customers. Out of all the air and coilovers kits we've installed never had a complaint about ride quality. I'd say something isn't right.
I don't agree with several of the comments above for several reasons, (Unlike some that are quite blatant at defacing a brand name and it's amazed me their hasn't been a legal case for defamation) it would be unprofessional for me to start a public slanging match on an open forum.
Who installed them? One of the SoLow approved installers? If so get in touch with them and ask them to take another look. If not to show the strength of our belief in the SoLow brand and the quality they offer I tell you what drive up and we'll have a look, go out for a drive, speak to the guys at SoLow whilst your with us FREE OF CHARGE! Let's see if we can restore your faith in the brand.
Been a SoLow approved installer for over a year possibly a bit longer. We've installed a mixture of coilovers and air ride system in total just over 80 happy customers we no longer install any other brand, this was my descision, no incentive from SoLow. I could possibly earn more if I offered more brands but I'm happy with the kit and so are our customers. Out of all the air and coilovers kits we've installed never had a complaint about ride quality. I'd say something isn't right.
I don't agree with several of the comments above for several reasons, (Unlike some that are quite blatant at defacing a brand name and it's amazed me their hasn't been a legal case for defamation) it would be unprofessional for me to start a public slanging match on an open forum.
Who installed them? One of the SoLow approved installers? If so get in touch with them and ask them to take another look. If not to show the strength of our belief in the SoLow brand and the quality they offer I tell you what drive up and we'll have a look, go out for a drive, speak to the guys at SoLow whilst your with us FREE OF CHARGE! Let's see if we can restore your faith in the brand.
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Adamlewis1988
New Member
We installed them ourselves, the only thing I can think that might be effecting the ride is that they are setting at a 70mm drop which means using quite a lot of pre load on the spring. The ride is t horrendous I must admit but I was shocked that they just feel like a std b14which in my opinion is a pretty harsh ride especially around what is left of the Oxfordshire roads now it could be that our local roads are just terrible and that it what it is. My hr/koni was noticeably more compliant and softer set at 80mm drop.
70 mm is with in the range of the kit so you haven't increased the pre load and this isnt the issue !
I would however like to know what Chris's Kind offer to check it out would include and how he could improve it ?? , No damping adjustability so changing height would be all that could be done I guess .
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Sorry Steve your just angling for an arguement on here as you do on pretty much every Facebook forum I've seen you on.
@CRS Performance Your not a SoLow installer and proactively do everything you can to slag the brand off and Bilstein so I'm not sure why your continuing to comment.
@Adamlewis1988 I stand by what I said your are more than welcome to bring the van up to us, you can sit in our nice warm waiting area, work from your laptop if possible for you. We can take a look see if everything is installed correctly and nothing is faulty, we'll go out on a test drive with you and see if there is a problem and if there is we'll resolve it, again free of charge. We have no incentive to do this other than I am brand loyal as I am with all the brands we offer. Once we find a good product we stick with it. Sure it narrows our range but I'd rather off quality kit than something not up to par. Other SoLow dealers can vouch I'm doing this off my own back in a bid to resolve your issue and reinstate some faith in the quality you get from SoLow.
I have to admit after sticking with them for 2 years and trying different tyres and pressures the ride is Bobby and crashy, I’m not that low 60-70mm at best. Adjusted them front and rear meticulously….Maybe that’s just it I don’t know. All subjective but my passengers feel the same so
Hi mate, did you get any further with the NSL kit as feel the same as you with mine
Hi mate, did you get any further with the NSL kit as feel the same as you with mine
Absolutely correct , Here is a comparison on two well known kits . clearly you can see the difference , and you are spot on regarding the travel affecting comfort . , The kit on the left is spec'd to do 90 mm and the one on the right 80 mm ?? ( these are the manufacturers figures )
Its imperative to get as much travel at the lowered ride height as possible , the Harsher ride is usually caused by the shock bottoming out . There fore the shorter shock body and shorter shaft will help Ride quality .
Also important to note that , any system that can drop a vehicle as low as some of these kits do, will be firmer because the spring rates and the damper valving have to react much faster with limited travel otherwise they simply wont work . Some manufacturers Lower the Low frequency damper forces to make the shock feel more comfortable on smooth surfaces , but this can be counter productive on bumpy surfaces . We prefer dampers with multiple valves that can react differently at various Shaft speeds . this takes the bang out of the bumps quite effectively .
I think that comparison is a bit misleading to be honest.
Looking at two struts on a bench at full extension doesn’t tell you what they’re doing once they’re actually on the van. What matters is where the damper is sat in the stroke at the chosen ride height and how much usable bump travel is left before it starts getting into the bump stop.
The advertised drop figure as well, 80mm vs 90mm or whatever, doesn’t really prove much. That’s just the adjustment window on the threaded body, not the damper’s actual working travel. Most kits only have around 30mm of adjustment anyway.
Ride quality is more down to available bump travel, when the bump stop starts working, spring rate and damper valving. If a setup is getting into the bump stop too early it’s going to feel harsh regardless of how long the strut looks sat on the floor.
So comparing the visible length of two struts off the van and the headline drop figures doesn’t really tell you how either kit will ride once fitted and set up properly.
Looking at two struts on a bench at full extension doesn’t tell you what they’re doing once they’re actually on the van. What matters is where the damper is sat in the stroke at the chosen ride height and how much usable bump travel is left before it starts getting into the bump stop.
The advertised drop figure as well, 80mm vs 90mm or whatever, doesn’t really prove much. That’s just the adjustment window on the threaded body, not the damper’s actual working travel. Most kits only have around 30mm of adjustment anyway.
Ride quality is more down to available bump travel, when the bump stop starts working, spring rate and damper valving. If a setup is getting into the bump stop too early it’s going to feel harsh regardless of how long the strut looks sat on the floor.
So comparing the visible length of two struts off the van and the headline drop figures doesn’t really tell you how either kit will ride once fitted and set up properly.
I have NSL's on mine at roughly 90mm drop, running 265/40R20's and my van (T32 LWB full camper) is a dream to drive, ride is significantly improved, remember tyre choice can massively affect the ride, some tyres are much stiffer and heavier which can also contribute to ride quality.
I wouldn't be without my NSL's so if your ride is harsh I would look at tyre pressures, and a few other things before considering anything else maybe.
I wouldn't be without my NSL's so if your ride is harsh I would look at tyre pressures, and a few other things before considering anything else maybe.
