Suspension advice

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:19 pm

after Robin had a poke and a prod at the car last night, I have a strong recommendation to change my bouncey bits. Options include:-

1. Steve B Kit
2. New or 2nd hand LSS
3. 2nd hand Nitrons
4. Protech (alothough I understand there's a 'compatability' issue...)

So, not wanting to spend a grand here, but I don't want kit that'll fall to pieces after a few trackdays. Being realistic, I will be using the car for 'spirited' road driving and 10ish track days a year. Only motorway mileage will be infrequent trips to Dundee.

Thoughts please?

Cheers gents,

Greg

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:25 pm

SteveB's S2 kit everytime. until you want to go mad on big tracks with sticky tyres its by far the best option.

Post by **Shug** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 5:26 pm

GregR wrote:
1. Steve B Kit - would be my choice for your needs
2. New or 2nd hand LSS - just as prone to farkin up as the standard Konis
3. 2nd hand Nitrons - great, but more track-biased and used is always an unknown quantity - I never seem to see that many up for sale either...
4. Protech (alothough I understand there's a 'compatability' issue...) - unproven (although Simon A & Stu like 'em) But if you know how to tune them to what you want the car to do, then go for it - reliability and longevity also an unknown...

To summarise - unless you really need the adjustability or will be fitting slicks & cornering like 4mil sometime soon, the Steve B S2 kit would be ideal.....

robin · Post by **robin** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:31 am

mckeann wrote:SteveB's S2 kit everytime. until you want to go mad on big tracks with sticky tyres its by far the best option.

I think a set of rebuilt nitrons for the same price would be a very good alternative. They have the distinct advantage of both adjustable ride height and damping rates which means you can firm it up for the track and soften it off for the road. Adjustable ride heights allows you to fix the corner weighting when you get that sophisticated. Finally they can be rebuilt when the time comes - so if you're keeping the car in the long run they'll work out cheaper than S2 kit.

But then I'm biased

Robin

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:35 am

grand, a true strokey beard moment...

Still, I guess it'll come down to availability - my preference if I'm honest is Nitrons, but if i can't find a decent set within a month or two then I'll have to go the S2 route. Need to get my Geo done, but don't want to shell out on that only to replace the bouncers and need to get it re-done.

Post by **campbell** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 12:23 am

I've had adjustable Spax for about 3 years now (I think). They don't really adjust any more as the adjusters seized (I failed on my regular maintenance there!) and in any case, the Spax are so primitive that there isn't really an adjustment cos they need to be pretty hard to keep up with the springs.

I'll almost certainly move to a Steve B S2 kit next time. Minimal setup, quality damper, choice of ride-height (when ordering) and sensible price.

Can't deny Robin's advice on Nitron, though, these are much more advanced than the Spax and do feel fantastic when set up properly. Fd's car was a shining example of this for me. Main call is the price.

Campbell

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 9:35 am

me again,

Are the S1 exige standard issue dampers the same as LSS?

if so, these could be a bargain in the making

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lotus-S1Exige-adj ... dZViewItem

Lazydonkey · Post by **Lazydonkey** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:37 am

Can you adjust any of them from the cockpit "low rider" style before you plough in the gravel trap ?

Scotty C · Post by **Scotty C** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:39 am

you think the guy would have given them a quick wash.

I have lss (standard on the 340r) and to be honest they are great on the road and on the track until you get a dry day with 038 then they just need to have a few clicks to stiffen them up a little.

I have been thinking about changing my lss for Nitrons for a while now. but have been holding off as I might need stiffer springs to cope with the hondas s/c extra weight.

) only joking.

Scotty C

mac · Post by **mac** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 10:55 am

Progressive springs - are they standard fitment on the exige?

Mac

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:19 am

me again...

S2 exige setup = Bilsteins... are those the same as S2 standard items? I may be able to get my hands on a much reduced set of exige Bilsteins ... would those be fitable to my wee car?

This is getting farking confusing!

Greg

Post by **Shug** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:22 am

GregR wrote:me again...

S2 exige setup = Bilsteins... are those the same as S2 standard items? I may be able to get my hands on a much reduced set of exige Bilsteins ... would those be fitable to my wee car?

This is getting farking confusing!

Greg

Not the same setup. Lengths and fittings are the same as the 111R (we swapped out Andy's standard Bilsteins for the Exige ones) but they are different to the K engined S2's (for which Steve's kit is developed)

You'd have to ask Steve if he does brackets for an S1-111R damper conversion, but I seem to remember reading somewhere that the rear dampers are too long for the K subframe....

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 11:38 am

I'm actually pretty glad about that - cuts out a further element of confusion

Scottish Elises

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