My suspension upgrade saga

Post by **simon** » Tue May 02, 2006 8:42 pm

Thought it was about time I posted about the suspension changes I made.
I took Stu P's advice and went for the Protech single adjustable dampers with 325/390 springs.

I had been waiting for a set of 2nd hand S2 LSS that I was meant to be buying off Bernard Scouse but after 3 or so months waiting, he changed his mind!

Anyway, back to the Protechs. All seemed to be going well when they turned up and I fitted them within a couple of hours. Something didn't seem right though as I was trying to measure the ride height and couldn't get it low enough without have the front springs loose. I took it out for a road test to check things over and heard a slightly disturbing clang so I tightened up the springs and left it as I was off to see Mark Hutcheson a few days later.

I went to see Mark the Saturday after fitting but it was pretty much a wasted journey as it turned out the springs were wrong. Mark set me up with a rather comical 140/150 ride height and sent me home. Turned out Protech had sent me S1 (7.5" instead of 7") springs by mistake and said they couldn't get the correct ones for at least 2 weeks, no use for the SIDC day

After discussing it with Mark, we decided to buy another set of front springs with helper springs to allow more droop (easy Shug).

Things seemed to be going well when these new springs turned up the next day. However, after fitting and taking the car out of the garage, the joiners that connect the helpers to the main springs jammed in the damper spring seat

So, once again I had to take the dampers off and put the S1 springs back on.

I then arranged with Mark to go back up and see him as he reckoned he could modify the joiners to fit. Went up on Wednesday the 19th and he was able to modify both the joiner and the spring seat so that it is impossible for them to jam together. After doing that he then did the full geometry and we finished up at about 10:45!

So all that meant Saturday was the first time I'd really driven it in anger and the 48s had only done about 30 miles plus the run down to KH. I took pics as I fitted it the first time so at some point I can add that to the wiki thing.

And I know I've said it before but Mark deserves another recommendation for the effort he went to in getting me sorted out in time for Saturday

Post by **simon** » Tue May 02, 2006 9:04 pm

Here it is standard:

then at the comical 140F, 150R:

and the finished setup, 120F, 130R:

Stu160 · Post by **Stu160** » Tue May 02, 2006 10:52 pm

So did it all turn out fine in the end Simon,Are you happy with the Protechs.

Feel bad about recomending them,if they are not good

( car looks great in the last pic by the way)
( have you put your pants on yet?

)

Stu

Scottd · Post by **Scottd** » Wed May 03, 2006 12:28 am

Those wheels are so cool

So I'm allowed to say where my S2 suspension came from now

scott

mac · Post by **mac** » Wed May 03, 2006 7:54 am

Have to say the wheels do look good on your car Simon.

I'm also very impressed as I didn't have you pegged as a techy type person for the elise, but I'm obviously wrong. How else would have thought about pro-tech, found another member who uses them and got a base setting for Mark to work to.

Mac

Post by **simon** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:00 am

Actually, I couldn't get any more camber if I tried at that ride height.
I'll have you know Mark emailed me the other day asking how I found the springs as he has someone else upgrading.

Post by **simon** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:03 am

Stu160 wrote:So did it all turn out fine in the end Simon,Are you happy with the Protechs.

Feel bad about recomending them,if they are not good

( car looks great in the last pic by the way)
( have you put your pants on yet? )

Stu

I am happy with them Stu, it was just the cock up with the springs that annoyed me as I'd sold my old ones to Scott so I was stuck with that silly ride height! I'll need to play about with the damper settings and see what effect it has as I've only really tried 2 settings so far.

And I don't know what webcam you've been looking at

Post by **Shug** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:29 am

Si - that really does look the danglies.... Out of interest, what was the damage for the Protechs? Looking to shunt the Ledas at some stage (prolly after I recover from recent outgoings and then get a CR box)

The_Rossatron · Post by **The_Rossatron** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:31 am

looks great! Do you still have your old wheels?

PhilA · Post by **PhilA** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:39 am

looks unbelievably low in the flesh!
the speed that Si took through duffus was v impressive!!

Lawrence · Post by **Lawrence** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:43 am

I was chatting to Mark at Forrestburn on Sunday and I'm happy to report that he has enjoyed meeting you all and looks forward to helping us all progress.

He may even be checking as I type

Post by **Shug** » Wed May 03, 2006 9:45 am

Lawrence wrote:I was chatting to Mark at Forrestburn on Sunday and I'm happy to report that he has enjoyed meeting you all and looks forward to helping us all progress.

Except for 4mil of course. He's already Ayrton Senna and can travel as quickly as the human frame can handle....

Lazydonkey · Post by **Lazydonkey** » Wed May 03, 2006 11:02 am

Shug wrote:
Lawrence wrote:I was chatting to Mark at Forrestburn on Sunday and I'm happy to report that he has enjoyed meeting you all and looks forward to helping us all progress.

Except for 4mil of course. He's already Ayrton Senna and can travel as quickly as the ape frame can handle....

Post by **simon** » Wed May 03, 2006 1:11 pm

The_Rossatron wrote:looks great! Do you still have your old wheels?

Yeah, keeping them for the road as I don't see the point in using 48s on road. The AD07s are good enough and offer plenty of grip on road.

Stu160 · Post by **Stu160** » Wed May 03, 2006 10:54 pm

Thats a relief,I was thinking I had made you buy somthing you regretted.
I still like mine(I think) car has not moved for 2 months,to busy fixing other things

Stu