Just a quick one. Does anyone know wether you can run suspension on the road if the springs have droop when going over bumps? Or do you need helper springs? And does it affect the car on track?
Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks
Jez do you mean the “droop” of the shocks ie how far they drop when fully extended?? dont understand "Spring Droop"otherwise or prehaps you need Viagra.
As a matter of interest my newish Nitrons have less travel on the rear making the droop about 7 cm less than standard. Did not notice any difference at Snetterton on Monday BUT I am going to 400/475 springs.
Cheers possom.
I think what you could be getting is that the dampers are able to extend beyond the full extension of the spring. - This leaves the spring rattling about between the platforms?
If so then helper springs are a good idea. Left unchecked this sort of thing can make a real mess of the damper body and platforms as the spring itself unseats and reseats.
Adding helper springs would mean the rideheights would need re-setting, but otherwise it won’t affect the car as they’re only there to put enough compression on the main spring to keep it properly seated and would be completely coilbound (solid) most of the time.
HTH
Yes, when the car ison axle stands and the suspension is allowed to extend the springs are what appears to be too short for the dampers. Helper springs will keep the main springs from rattling around i know. But i’m thinking, i don’t think the car will ever unweight that much when going over undulations to affect this. Thus it should be Ok i’m thinking. But i will stand corrected. There are far more gurus out there that no more than i do. Whats your thoughts? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks
Yes, when the car ison axle stands and the suspension is allowed to extend the springs are what appears to be too short for the dampers. Helper springs will keep the main springs from rattling around i know. But i’m thinking, i don’t think the car will ever unweight that much when going over undulations to affect this. Thus it should be Ok i’m thinking. But i will stand corrected. There are far more gurus out there that no more than i do. Whats your thoughts? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks
As I said on SELOC Jez, when you car’s jacked up at WOF time, to check play in wheel bearings etc, I’m pretty sure you’ll find that it’s an instant WOF failure if the springs aren’t captive at full droop… You MAY be lucky and get someone who’s lax and doesn’t check it, but the moment it’s found, you won’t be able to get it road-legal until it’s fixed
Just screw down the spring adjuster seats for the test then re-set (measure ride height first).
Bit like fitting a CAT for the mot.
Have fun… any news on your carbon bits??
So if the springs are loose and i fit helper springs in to keep everything tight it should be OK for the WOF. It passed its WOF on standard suspension but i’m playing around at the moment with Racing Dynamics 3 Way adjustables with remote resevoirs. I have had them for some time but didn’t fit them before as i new i was coming to NZ and was getting the car to be standard as possible. I no you can restrict the droop in the shock absorber body but that will be a specialist job. So helper springs are probably my only way if i wish to keep the suspension on all the time.
Clive just let me know what Carbon Fibre items you are after and i will get them sent to you. I thought you were going to wait until Christmas or when you are out here? Thats why i haven’t mentioned it.
Sorry for thread drift - Jez, great to hear from you. Hope you & Jo are nicely settled in, & enjoying NZ life. Callum says hi too
So if the springs are loose and i fit helper springs in to keep everything tight it should be OK for the WOF. It passed its WOF on standard suspension but i’m playing around at the moment with Racing Dynamics 3 Way adjustables with remote resevoirs. I have had them for some time but didn’t fit them before as i new i was coming to NZ and was getting the car to be standard as possible. I no you can restrict the droop in the shock absorber body but that will be a specialist job. So helper springs are probably my only way if i wish to keep the suspension on all the time.
Clive just let me know what Carbon Fibre items you are after and i will get them sent to you. I thought you were going to wait until Christmas or when you are out here? Thats why i haven’t mentioned it.
Jez,
Helper (or keeper) springs are perfectly, 100% legal. Of the boyracer brigade you’ll see around Tauranga in Evos and WRXs that basically drag along the ground, most of these blokes that do it LEGALLY will have keeper springs in to keep the spring seated throughout the entire range of allowable travel
Jez glad you are still in production…Yep will talk to you at xmas …hope you get your droop fixed by then!!!
Cheers
i use racing dynamic 2 ways and the recomended sus height if i remember is 120/120 from their setup sheet
now i always thourght if you lower so it requires helper springs then you are also compamising the damper /rod postion and the damper funcion range
therefore by fitting differant brackets you get the car lowered without ruining the damper range
and there is now quite a range to choose from or get some frabicated to suit ???
then again maybe i am wrong ?
ps i used differant brackets on my early s1 to get 110/115 ish
Thanks for that info. The shocks are on and the rears appear to be OK. The springs are held tight in the damper collars (top and bottom). Its just the fronts that are loose when the car is jacked up. The recommended ride heights that i got with the shocks after i had them reworked by Racing Dynamics are 112mm front and 122mm rear. But they mention nothing about wether this is with any ballast or without. What s the concensous on this one please? The spring package is 375lb/in front and 400lb/in rear. The compression and rebound settings are 3 clicks front and rear as a base setting. I’m off to a laser alignment place this morning to see what they say and get the rest of the suspension geometry set up. fingers crossed they will be able to help.
hubert over on pinkcore knows quite a lot about these dampers it was hubert who gave me a copy of the orginal set up data
mine where off a motorsport elise with 550/700 springs i now use 400/550
plans are also experts on the dynamic set up and rate them as on of the best plans are also quite helpfull if you send them an e mail
bob
Thanks for that info. The shocks are on and the rears appear to be OK. The springs are held tight in the damper collars (top and bottom). Its just the fronts that are loose when the car is jacked up. The recommended ride heights that i got with the shocks after i had them reworked by Racing Dynamics are 112mm front and 122mm rear. But they mention nothing about wether this is with any ballast or without. What s the concensous on this one please? The spring package is 375lb/in front and 400lb/in rear. The compression and rebound settings are 3 clicks front and rear as a base setting. I’m off to a laser alignment place this morning to see what they say and get the rest of the suspension geometry set up. fingers crossed they will be able to help.
Jez, if you need, I’ve got a stash of front camber shims if you need some tweaking… don’t cost too much, although I’m running low and will have to make up a new batch sometime soon.
Bob cheers for that i willl drop Plans an email. I set the ride height according to the spec given to me by Racing dynamics and trundled off to get a Geo. The camber angles haven’t changed that much from what they were with the LSS setup i had. The castor angles much the same and the Toe In was on the mark. Never the less i will get in touch with Plans reference keeping the front springs compressed with helper springs, or longer springs? Thanks for the advice.