Young Version — August 1999

The original dampers are quite appealing! This month, we visited Cockpit Morioka in Iwate, a technical shop familiar to readers of this column. The shop feels open and welcoming thanks to its extensive glass frontage. Suspension work is one of its specialties. We asked manager Mr. Oikawa about it: “If you want your car to look cool, change the suspension before choosing wheels. Then select the wheel offset to match the ride height, and you can get a flush fit. Replacing the tension rods also greatly increases the adjustment range, so I recommend it to people who drive on circuits.” That makes sense! They handle an astonishing 200 to 300 wheel alignments a year. They adjust the car while stationary, test-drive it, then adjust it again, so the job takes a little longer—but you can trust them with it. They also sell original dampers for street and circuit use. The setup uses the factory shell, so check them out if you have been unable to find dampers that fit your car!

...match the wheel offset to it, and you can get a perfect flush fit. Replacing the tension rods also expands the adjustment range, which I recommend for circuit drivers.” They perform 200–300 alignments each year. Their process involves adjusting the car while stationary, test-driving it, then making further adjustments, so it takes some time. But with this shop, that care is reassuring. They also offer original dampers for street and circuit use. The shell uses the factory part, so anyone who has had trouble finding a damper compatible with their car should check them out.