For a while now I have been a little concerned that the car does not seem to be a sure footed as my last exige or others I have driven, I also find it quite nervous at speed. I was going to get the thing booked in for a geo but had been putting it off as I am looking at swapping the suspension for something a little firmer.
Anyhow to cut a long story short’ish whilst looking into other set ups and considering what ride height I could get away with I thought I would measure my standard set up.
Now I may not be doing this right so stick with me, I measured just behing the front wheel from floor to bottom of the tub and got 150mm and just in front of the rear wheel and got 140mm…
I realise thats not a perfect science but it looks to me like its set up for take off?
So is it just my crappy measuring or is it possible that the car is set up totally wrong? can the standard set up be adjusted for height like that? When we changed my brake pads Benmac said my car was the first elise/exige his jack had ever gone straight under and now I am a little worried that I really need to get a geo sorted (especially before the 11th )
GEO will sort out your stability at high speed, I had similiar experiences.
I run 125/115 on Nitrons and had them as low as 115/105 last year. Overall the low setting felt best although it caused the wheel to rub on the wheel arch when cornering hard right.
I have Nitrons and my ride height are 120/125 as this cures a little of understeer during entry and mid corners. I tried also 115/125 but the wheels are too close to the wheelarches and there are too many contacts between them during braking or cornering even with stiff suspension settings. It seems ok 120/125. Anyway I agree that the geo settings will be the best way to reduce the nervousness.
Keep in mind that it is always a Lotus!!
JC Racing had my car at 128/130, I think 120/125 is where I’ll end up. I suppose if its everyday 130/130 is where ride height should be then just adjust the dampers when at a track.
Actually having just measured it again on a very flat surface, tank half full & 2x75kg peeps inside 115/125.
I run Nitrons with a ride height of 110\120 with driver only and half a tank of fuel. Even with 450\575 springs I have still worn holes in the front arch liners but I don’t really care on the road the car now actualy feels planted and not nervous, and the best part is the flat cornering on track, shame I can’t drive that well to make the most of it…
Speaking on the subject of wheel arch liners. I have my left rear one iwth a hole in it and would like to repair it or get a used one but if it is going to do the same then i guess its useless.
I was wondering, would a set in fiber or kevlar be able to survive a bit better?
It’s a production car all the little bits and bobs are down to you Mr Dremmell proved that!
What you thinking ride height wise?
Cheers for the replys guys, really I guess the point is the high speed stablility which I was hoping a good geo would sort, I just discovered the ride height as I have been looking a swapping the suspension and wanted to know what I could get away with practically for road use. I was just confused as it looks like my car raikes upwards at the front, its in the dealers next week so I’ll either get them or phoenix to look at it as I really want it to be right before it goes on track on the 11th (not that I’ll be going that fast)
I have had a look tonight an I think that 120 at the front would be the most I could get away with to get off my drive, I have clipped the front once already when I exited slightly faster than normal but looking at it as long as I am careful I’ll be fine, 110 and I think I’ll be chopping the heads off ants.
It might be worth getting the dealer to check the condition of the rubber inside the spherical joint where the toe link joins the subframe and reinforcing bar across the back. Mine were knackered after about 15k and caused the car to be nervous at high speeds and have problems with turn in.
Plus to add to the ride height chat, Ohlins shod cars are different to Nitron shod cars. I don’t want to get into a slanging match on Ohlins v Nitrons, but some hard damper dyno facts I witnessed lately have added to my love for all things Swedish!!!
Plus to add to the ride height chat, Ohlins shod cars are different to Nitron shod cars. I don’t want to get into a slanging match on Ohlins v Nitrons, but some hard damper dyno facts I witnessed lately have added to my love for all things Swedish!!!
Please elaborate. This is an interesting subject for those of us that are still on original LSS or lower end dampers. And The old Pesky will restore order anyways
When I had my old elise lowered to (IIRC) 120/120 tyhe arch liners rubbed away in no time and I didn’t see the point in replacing them as it would just happen again.
Downside is the amount of cack off the road that gets chucked up inside the car.
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