Intrax 1K2 with Black Titan and ARC

[-Eidos]

Hi gang,

I wanted to show the community another awesome option for coilovers.

They're from https://www.intraxracing.nl/en/ , a company with a strong motorsports heritage known mostly in the EU.

The front coils are upside-down, which gives you more direct feel, less camber and caster change from bending of the shock and therefore more grip and control. The rears are a true-coilover.

Both front and rear are equipped with a thermostat, which ensures that the damping characteristics stay the same throughout the race or session.

These are made to order and customized to your specific car, driving style, goals, and even color preferences.

For my set-up, I told Donald that my car will be:

- 75% track day car
- R-Compound tires
- Full kinematics
- Eventually will see about 100-200lb weight reduction
- Will get minor aero in the future
- Like to aggressively ride curbs on the track
- Seeing tracks that are in decent condition with the occasional rough spots. Big willow, Streets of Willow, AutoClub Speedway, and Buttonwillow.


I also requested to get their ARC (Anti Roll Control) option which allows you to run a softer spring and eliminate body roll if you want a true dual-duty car. It works independently of high and low speed adjustment so it works with their 2-way and 4-way option as well.

Their description:

Our ARC® system is developed by our current engineer and co-owner Niek van Sambeek and Henk Thuis (previous owner and founder of Intrax) with one thing in mind; a system that enables the engineers to use a softer spring and or setting with all the benefits (more traction, more grip, better handling, easier on the tires etc.) but without the disadvantages (extra body roll, pitch, squad or a collapsing system due to the softer spring and or setting).

They didn’t want to use any electronics because this will be seen as an active system which is still banned in 99% of all the competitions. And they didn’t want to connect the shocks with each other because this makes the system too heavy, fragile and difficult to install/maintain.

After lots of drawing, discussions, designing they started to test with a system which is purely hydraulic/mechanical and uses extra valves and pistons per shock. These extra parts react “intelligent” on the high and low speed of the piston connected to the piston rod without interfering with the normal adjusters of the high and low speed (so the ARC® can also be fitted on the 4-way system).

You can roughly say that the unsprung weight is the high speed movement and the chassis movements is the low speed.

For the high speed the system builds up enough pressure to keep the unsprung weight under control. Together with the soft spring/setting you will have a much more optimized constant pressure per wheel which ensures more traction, grip etc. When you brake and or corner the system will build up a lot of pressure. This way keeping the body roll/pitch/squad and dive under control. The extra great thing of this system is that when the high speed is there for a longer time it build up pressure very progressively, preventing a collapsing system. So when you drive high curbs, hitting big potholes or landing after a jump the car will still feel very much under control. Way more than with a regular system.

I also got their Black Titan coating.

Which is defined by them here:

Black Titan is a development that has been done for the military air force. They were looking for something that would make the engines more resistant to the various tortures that they are exposed to extreme temperature and condition. Black Titan was then invented. It is extremely hard, very low friction coefficient and resistant to corrosion. After using Black Titan on their aircraft engines, the maintenance interval was sometimes extended by 100%.

Intrax has thought, which is good for their engines, is also good enough for our shock absorbers. The coating is placed on the guide and piston rod, which is no longer prone to corrosion, but the friction with the other components is also reduced, which again benefits the damper's action.

All paired with their 1K2 system, which is their one way system that allows you to adjust the compression and the system will proportionally adjust rebound.

Intrax has a lot of other options like their 2-way and 4-way systems. They also have EMC (Electronic Magnetic Control), which allows you to adjust your shocks from inside your car. As well as EHC (Electronic Height Control) which allows you to adjust the height of your car from inside the car.

I've had one track day so far, and it was a huge transformation from my previous TCK Kline SA/DA set-up. Not to say that the TCK's were bad (They're actually great for the price), but the Intrax is on a whole different level.

Despite the Intrax set-up running stiffer springs because of my goals, on the middle setting (Front 15 of 40 clicks, Rear 26 of 50) the whole system feels much more compliant on the street than my old set-up (300#/600# on track settings) because of the quality of the dampers and ARC.

On these same settings, I get much less unwanted body roll, a more compliant chassis over curbs, and sharper turn in on the track. So a net positive on both fronts.

It was tough to find a distributor for these in the US. SD Garage in SoCal ultimately ended up helping out, so reach out to them if you're interested! They're working on a custom blue and silver color way that will look great.

[swagon]

Good on you for taking the route untraveled. Several guys in the UK run Intrax on their M cars and they're the real deal from all I've read about them. All positive remarks.

A more streetable setup with ARC could be the ticket for me, but it's a hassle to get them serviced from where I live, if somethings goes tits up.

[MR RIZK]

I can't tell by the photos however depending where the rear spring sits in relation to the oem swaybar it will hit if you don't offset the damper.

Look at other brands like MCS, JRZ, AST etc they offset the lower bush in the control arm

[-Eidos]

Originally Posted by MR RIZK

I can't tell by the photos however depending where the rear spring sits in relation to the oem swaybar it will hit if you don't offset the damper.

Look at other brands like MCS, JRZ, AST etc they offset the lower bush in the control arm

Haven't encountered any fitment issues with my oem swaybar! Intrax fits these on tons of F8X cars and race teams over in the EU with little issues.

That said if you're running anything custom, let them know and they can tailor to your set-up.

[5thscaleracer]

Good choice! i run Intrax on my 190E Cosworth they are the real deal...

On My F80 i went with MCS only due to local support.

[noemon]

Nice,

Can I check if it comes with lower front control arms?

Did you use the OEM ones or did you go with SPL or someone else?

[-Eidos]

Originally Posted by noemon

Nice,

Can I check if it comes with lower front control arms?

Did you use the OEM ones or did you go with SPL or someone else?

The kit does not come with front lower control arms. I went with SPL.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by -Eidos

The kit does not come with front lower control arms. I went with SPL.

Mind sharing a pic or two of the rears mounted? Without a quick release, do they need to be installed and then filled with nitrogen?

[M3SQRD]

Nice setup! Intrax are a premium damper.

What’s up with the front strut on the right side of the picture? It appears to have an extra externally threaded tube extension on the bottom of the strut without an end cap/adjuster.

[-Eidos]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

Nice setup! Intrax are a premium damper.

What’s up with the front strut on the right side of the picture? It appears to have an extra externally threaded tube extension on the bottom of the strut without an end cap/adjuster.

That's just packaging that wasn't removed for the photo. Should look like the left side.

What's cool is you can build the 1K2 to have inboard rebound adjustment too. Same with height.

I may do that when it comes time for a rebuild.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by DRLane

Mind sharing a pic or two of the rears mounted? Without a quick release, do they need to be installed and then filled with nitrogen?

The length of the hose looks to be too short to mount the remote reservoir inside the trunk. It might be just long enough to get it into the trunk. You don’t need a QD to get the damper into the trunk.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by -Eidos

That's just packaging that wasn't removed for the photo. Should look like the left side.

What's cool is you can build the 1K2 to have inboard rebound adjustment too. Same with height.

I may do that when it comes time for a rebuild.

Got it. Thanks!

What do you mean by height? Does it have a hydraulic lifter under the spring?

[-Eidos]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

Got it. Thanks!

What do you mean by height? Does it have a hydraulic lifter under the spring?

You can read on it here:
https://www.intraxracing.nl/en/ehc/

[-Eidos]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

The length of the hose looks to be too short to mount the remote reservoir inside the trunk. It might be just long enough to get it into the trunk. You don’t need a QD to get the damper into the trunk.

This is customizable but unfortunately I didn't think in advance to ask for a longer length hose. Basically everything is bespoke to your desired setup and goals.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by -Eidos

You can read on it here:
https://www.intraxracing.nl/en/ehc/

Thanks. Similar product to what’s offered by Nitron, etc. A small hydraulic lift system to increase ground clearance.

[-Eidos]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

Thanks. Similar product to what’s offered by Nitron, etc. A small hydraulic lift system to increase ground clearance.

Yep! Hopefully there's more innovation as companies start incorporating these new features. Intrax has had this for a long while now.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by -Eidos

Yep! Hopefully there's more innovation as companies start incorporating these new features. Intrax has had this for a long while now.

These hydraulic lift systems have been around for a while and I don’t believe Intrax pioneered these systems.

[-Eidos]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

These hydraulic lift systems have been around for a while and I don’t believe Intrax pioneered these systems.

Correct. I'm speaking more to specifically for the F8x. Nothing to do with who actually invented it.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by -Eidos

Correct. I'm speaking more to specifically for the F8x. Nothing to do with who actually invented it.

KW and custom hydraulic lift systems (HLSs) have been available for years on the F8x. However, my cars aren’t slammed with MCS 2WR setups so I have no need for a HLS. Also, they add unsprung mass and complexity (hydraulic lines and a pump) that’s not needed on all setups. Furthermore, they can cause clearance issues if you’re trying to maximize tire widths with a 2.25”-dia main spring. If you have a giant front splitter then you might want to invest in a HLS but it’s not something that’s absolutely necessary on all track/street setups.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

KW and custom hydraulic lift systems (HLSs) have been available for years on the F8x. However, my cars aren’t slammed with MCS 2WR setups so I have no need for a HLS. Also, they add unsprung mass and complexity (hydraulic lines and a pump) that’s not needed on all setups. Furthermore, they can cause clearance issues if you’re trying to maximize tire widths with a 2.25”-dia main spring. If you have a giant front splitter then you might want to invest in a HLS but it’s not something that’s absolutely necessary on all track/street setups.

I want it for my splitter and ride height requirements. Stanceparts has a small compressor option without tank and thus the weight impact is a couple lbs. They’re the chosen supplier for the super light race kit cars. The cups are at the top of the strut and therefore don’t impact tire width. The Intrax looks similar so I’m not sure how it too would impact tire width?

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by DRLane

I want it for my splitter and ride height requirements. Stanceparts has a small compressor option without tank and thus the weight impact is a couple lbs. They’re the chosen supplier for the super light race kit cars. The cups are at the top of the strut and therefore don’t impact tire width. The Intrax looks similar so I’m not sure how it too would impact tire width?

I only looked at the picture of the HLS which shows it at the bottom of the damper. Does the video show a strut version with the HLS on the top of the strut? All of the kits I’m aware of have the HLS at the bottom of the spring and, therefore, increase the effective diameter of the strut at the tire sidewall height. If the Intrax strut version sits at the top of the spring then it would not impact tire width.

Edit: I watched the videos and they did not show the HLS on a strut. Where did you see it mounted at the top of a strut/damper?

KW and Nitron HLSs both mount under the main spring. To run wide tires on the front of the F8x you need to run a short main spring. Adding an under-spring HLS will affect tire width because it effectively increases the length, and possibly the diameter, of the main spring. From what’s been shown, the Intrax HLS looks similar to KW’s and Nitron’s HLS. Stanceworks is the only one I’ve seen that mounts at the top of the strut. Do they make custom top mounting surface that interfaces properly with camber plates of different diameter springs? The universal system has a smooth top surface which won’t seat properly with any camber plate so is it the piston shaft that keeps the HLC centered?

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

I only looked at the picture of the HLS which shows it at the bottom of the damper. Does the video show a strut version with the HLS on the top of the strut? All of the kits I’m aware of have the HLS at the bottom of the spring and, therefore, increase the effective diameter of the strut at the tire sidewall height. If the Intrax strut version sits at the top of the spring then it would not impact tire width.

Edit: I watched the videos and they did not show the HLS on a strut. Where did you see it mounted at the top of a strut/damper?

I haven’t, just assumed if it was like the other kit. Definitely agree, I wouldn’t want it on the bottom, although I don’t believe it would affect the spring diameter either way. But it would increase the perch?

I was thinking this kit on TTX46. Have various cups for down to a 2.25ID. https://www.stanceparts.com/product/tankless-front-kit/