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 he suggested I reach out to 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 dampers in the past I knew that are fine for a street/light track use for a novice driver, KW and MCS were the next step up and suitable for more advanced track use but still not at the level I wanted and Ohlins R/T were the next step up in terms of quality and performance but I wanted better and a TTX option was not available for our cars. In addition several people were reporting that the Ohlins dampers were a carry over design from the Golf platform and provided limited ride height adjustment. Anything more than a 10mm drop in ride height they would bottom out, this resulted in a damaged camber plate. Taking that into consideration I decided that development and testing on a damper setup designed specifically for the needs of the 8V/8S platform was needed.

Why #UltimatePerformance / JRI Dampers?

Having a true dual purpose car can be a compromise, 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 versatility of their suspension systems ranging from all out competition cars to true dual purpose vehicles. It is impressive to say the least. A prime example of this is here…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?

  • Service and support

The off the shelf products from Bilstien, KW and Ohlins are often driven by the need to release a “universal product” that follows into the 80/20 rule. While this may work for many if you are looking for that last edge you need someone to work with you to find that last bit of adjustment for the way that you drive your car. 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 double adjustable damper comes into play.

The front dampers provide 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 rear dampers provide independent compression and rebound adjustment.

Detailed setup instructions can be found here.

  • 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.