FAQs

Why bring another set of dampers to market for the 8V/8S platform?

After letting a multi championship winning SCCA driver Lawrence Loshak from Loshak Racing test my RS3 on Road America it became apparent that we were at the limit of what the factory Mag Ride could do. Impressed with the capabilities of an RS3 with basic bolt-ons Lawrence suggested I reach out to JJ from Ultimate Performance for a coil over setup. I hesitated at first knowing that there were several options available included Bilstien, KW, MCS and Ohlins.

Having had Bilstien PSS10 dampers in the past I knew that were fine for street/light track use or a novice driver. Next step up were KW V3 and MCS, which are suitable for more advanced track use but still not at the level I wanted. The final options were the KW Clubports or Ohlins R/T , they are the next step up in performance but I wanted better. This left me looking at the Ohlins TTX Pro or KW Competition dampers. The Ohlins are available for our cars and I was not happy with the design and results I was seeing with the KW Clubsports on other platforms. Taking that into consideration I decided that development and testing of a damper setup designed around the needs of the 8V/8S platform was needed and so it began in September of 2019…

Why #UltimatePerformance / JRI Dampers?

Having a competitive, true dual purpose car is a demanding task, especially when looking for a damper that provides daily driver levels compliance and class winning performance. The next challenge was finding a manufacturer that was willing to take on a project and be willing to work a clean sheet design for the platform. Enter Ultimate Performance and JRI Shocks. These may not be household names you see in the magazines but all you need to do is look at their track record, the performance and the versatility of their suspension systems. They range from all out competition cars (Indy, TransAm, NHRA ProStock etc.) to true dual purpose street cars. A prime example of this is from the 2017 Optima USCA series where UP equipped vehicles made up 1/3 of the 86-vehicle field, and took seven of the top-10 positions, including first and second place.

A quick scan through the Ultimate Performance Facebook page and you will start to see why teaming with JJ Furillo became the obvious choice

What makes these dampers so special and how do they compare with the other options out there?

First and foremost these are true racing dampers, using the same technology found in professional motorsport classes. That knowledge and technology has been carried over to the street.

  • Platform specific design, service and support

The design and configuration off the shelf products from Bilstien, KW and Ohlins is often dictated by the need to release a “universal product” that follows into the 80/20 rule. This may work for many but if you are looking for that extra edge you need someone to work with you to find that last bit of adjustment for the way that you drive your car.

Ultimate Performance prides itself on having the best support in the industry, be it via phone or trackside. What if you need a little help dialing in that last adjustment to for a track you’ve never run at? Pick up the phone and call KW or Ohlins on a Saturday or Sunday and ask them for help on adjusting your setup and see how that works…

  • Performance

What makes the UP/JRI dampers special is what you can’t see, it’s the internals…

The sole purpose of a damper is to control the spring and suspension motion and keep the tire planted. While it sounds simple doing this on a variety of track surfaces, racing conditions and different event formats is quite the feat. This is where the valving built into the damper comes into play. It is not about the number of “clicks” it is about the range of of control that the damper provides.

  • Versatility

When you look at some of the vehicles mentioned above think about an event that pushes the limits of adjustment more than the Optima USCA events. In one weekend drivers compete in a Road Rally, Design & Engineering, Autocross, Speed Stop and Hot Laps competition. Vehicles range from late model super cars to highly modified classic American muscle cars. This is where Ultimate Performance has dominated the competition.

    Custom built and configured for your needs

If you want custom valving or a different configuration please contact us to discuss your exact setup and configuration needs.

The standard configuration for the front dampers provides both low and high speed rebound adjustment with compression valving pre-set. The high-speed adjuster controls motions that are larger inputs such as race track curbing to control tire contact and grip in these situations while the low speed adjuster controls body motions (roll and pitch), and is typically used to control the general feel, weight transfer and balance.

The standard configuration for the rear dampers provides independent compression and rebound adjustment.

Detailed setup instructions can be found here.

But why the price tag?

We know these dampers are not for everyone but when you compare them to motorsport caliber dampers (Ohlins TTX, KW Competition etc) there isn’t a significant cost differential and they are actually the more cost effective option for a multi purpose car. Why you ask? It comes down to range of adjustment. When you look at a JRI/UP shock dyno chart vs the competition you will see that most other dampers may require multiple sets of dampers to cover the range that our dampers cover. If you run multiple tracks, run in various conditions and/or various events, from an AutoX to a road course to a drag strip only one set of dampers gives you the flexibility you need to WIN.