S1 Suspension Upgrade Help

The place to "speak geek"
User avatar
ABZ-Elise
Posts: 556
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2007 3:59 pm
Location: Inverurie

Post by ABZ-Elise » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:31 am

ABZ-Elise wrote:
Baggy wrote:
ABZ-Elise wrote:Sorry to hijack this tread but does anyone have Steve Butts phone number or e-mail address. I don't want to join another forum just to get someones number.
You have Steve B's hotmail address on a pm
:thumbsup
E-mailed him last night. He said he could do me the a complete 110/120 kit for £530 inc vat & delivery.

Sound fair?
1999 S1 Elise - For Sale
2003 E46 M3 - Sold
2004 Defender 90 Truck Cab - Sold
1989 Defender 110 (Project) - Sold

User avatar
Victor Meldrew
Posts: 5733
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:01 pm
Location: Unable to use location services. Please turn on your wifi....

Post by Victor Meldrew » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:42 am

yep.. I went for his 100/110 kit. Fine on the speedbumps round my way.

You need to budget in for a geo as well though. Easy to fit them yourself.
Well it moves... might as well make the most of it....

User avatar
ABZ-Elise
Posts: 556
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2007 3:59 pm
Location: Inverurie

Post by ABZ-Elise » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:55 am

John Reid wrote:yep.. I went for his 100/110 kit. Fine on the speedbumps round my way.

You need to budget in for a geo as well though. Easy to fit them yourself.
Don't suppose you've got any pics of how your car sits with the 100/110 kit? Did you use rack raisers?

My car will be going back to Mark Hutcheson for the geo set up.
1999 S1 Elise - For Sale
2003 E46 M3 - Sold
2004 Defender 90 Truck Cab - Sold
1989 Defender 110 (Project) - Sold

User avatar
Victor Meldrew
Posts: 5733
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:01 pm
Location: Unable to use location services. Please turn on your wifi....

Post by Victor Meldrew » Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:32 am

Well it moves... might as well make the most of it....

User avatar
Victor Meldrew
Posts: 5733
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:01 pm
Location: Unable to use location services. Please turn on your wifi....

Post by Victor Meldrew » Tue Dec 18, 2007 9:37 am

One thing I will add is that at 100/110 you need to be running 50 profile tyres or you will get problems with clearance.
I have 55 profile 888's and they rub on the arch... clams all chunked anyway after someone left an exhaust on the dual carraigeway

110/120 is probly the best option to be honest..
Well it moves... might as well make the most of it....

User avatar
ABZ-Elise
Posts: 556
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2007 3:59 pm
Location: Inverurie

Post by ABZ-Elise » Tue Dec 18, 2007 10:30 am

John Reid wrote: 110/120 is probly the best option to be honest..
Chances are thats what I'll end up ordering, just to keep things simple.

I'll have a look at those pics when I get home and decide...work computer won't let me go on those sites
1999 S1 Elise - For Sale
2003 E46 M3 - Sold
2004 Defender 90 Truck Cab - Sold
1989 Defender 110 (Project) - Sold

User avatar
Pedro
Posts: 172
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:53 am
Contact:

Post by Pedro » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:22 pm

Hey Guys,

I have the S1 to S2 Bilstien upgrade kit, pre-assembled and I believe they were set at the 130mm ride height. The garage fitting them, (on Sat), advised that there are three settings on these shox, and that I may want them set to the lowest ride height, which I think will be about 110mm, (10mm difference at each of the 3 settings). :?

I am looking for advice on this..? Has anyone had the Bilstien upgrade kit fitted at the lowest setting, and if so are you pleased with the result or do you think they may be better at 120 or 130mm..? They don't think the rack raiser plates are really req although I have heard otherwise..?

Cheers,
Pete :D
'97 S1 Elise - Ongoing Project Spec
www.dynamic-it.co.uk

User avatar
Shug
Posts: 13835
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2005 8:28 pm
Location: Deepest, Darkest Ayrshire

Post by Shug » Tue Jan 15, 2008 6:25 pm

110F/120R is the received wisdom as a happy compromise that's still everyday usable. Make sure that they do that - the 10mm rake actually makes the world of difference.

Steering feel will change slightly (to me, it's more 'alive') as you'll increase bump-steer. I'm lower than that and don't feel the need for raiser plates.
2010 Honda VFR1200F
1990 Honda VFR400 NC30
2000 Honda VTR1000 SP1
2000 Kawasaki ZX-7R

User avatar
Baggy
Posts: 490
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2005 4:10 am
Location: The Deen

Post by Baggy » Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:02 pm

Erm...Hang on...

Did you not buy the kit that B&C sell set up at 130/130 same as me?

Part No A111C0148S

if so they sent mine with them set at the height they were supposed to be.

ie front spring in lowermost groove, rear spring uppermost groove.

If you move the rears anywhere from the recommended uppermost groove, you will raise the rear further than the 130 the new brackets set the height at.

I suppose you could lower the front by moving the circlip up one or two notches but I don't think it's as simple as just moving the heights....first of all the rear damper bracket they supply is matched to the height the dampers are set at and also lotus have fannied about with the spring rates for this kit to suit the level 130/130 ride height for the S1 (the spring rates on this kit are neither S1 or S2).

When Mark H was sorting out the geo on my car after I fitted mine he mentioned that he would normally set up 5-10mm or so rake but he also said that you can dial in the same effect by altering the spring rates which is what I would suspect lotus have done.

have you had a look at the fitting instructions that came with your kit?
if you want a copy, let me know...it details all the part nos and pretty detailed explanation.

If I were you I would leave them alone :)

Oh one handy hint, you have to fettle the spreader plates supplied for the two new rear damper mounts cos they don't fit (unless they've improved them since August last year.

Cheers
Baggy

Silver S1 111s

The Deen

User avatar
campbell
Posts: 17379
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:42 pm
Location: West Lothian
Contact:

Post by campbell » Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:45 am

ABZ-Elise wrote:
John Reid wrote: 110/120 is probly the best option to be honest..
Chances are thats what I'll end up ordering, just to keep things simple.

I'll have a look at those pics when I get home and decide...work computer won't let me go on those sites
That's what I did. Ideal.
http://www.rathmhor.com | Coaching, training, consultancy

User avatar
Pedro
Posts: 172
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:53 am
Contact:

Post by Pedro » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:08 pm

Hi Baggy,

You are spot on, read instructions, and your right these are already set with the correct settings to be fitted straight out of the box. I will advise the garage of this. :D

Front on lowest setting
Rear on Highest setting

I noticed the spring rate is different on the front to the rear, do you know which springs are which..? I know this is probably overkill, but I am starting to feel a bit nervous about this new shox upgrade :?

Cheers,
Pete
'97 S1 Elise - Ongoing Project Spec
www.dynamic-it.co.uk

User avatar
Rich H
Posts: 9314
Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:11 pm
Location: Preston

Post by Rich H » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:12 pm

Rears will be stiffer...
1994 Lotus Esprit S4 - Work in progress
1980 Porsche 924 Turbo - Funky Interior Spec
2004 Smart Roadster Coupe - Hers

User avatar
Pedro
Posts: 172
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:53 am
Contact:

Post by Pedro » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:16 pm

Thanks richard,

I was hoping someone might have the part No's for the springs..?

Cheers,
Pete
'97 S1 Elise - Ongoing Project Spec
www.dynamic-it.co.uk

User avatar
Baggy
Posts: 490
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2005 4:10 am
Location: The Deen

Post by Baggy » Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:11 pm

The part nos for front /rear springs/dampers (all different) are on the instructions...

I don't have them here but have another look & if you still can't find them I'll post them up tonight.
Baggy

Silver S1 111s

The Deen

User avatar
Pedro
Posts: 172
Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:53 am
Contact:

Post by Pedro » Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:57 pm

Hi Baggy,

Ok, I got the part No's. (front 0007/0015 lowest setting, Rear 0009/0057 highest setting), What I am wondering now is about the fixing instruction that says: -

"Replace the rear damper top mounting brackets with the new brackets, damper eye lowermost"

Does this mean the damper fixing holes in the bracket face the ground, (like this L), as opposed to the front bracket where the damper fixing faces up, (like 7)..? :?

Apologies for the sh!t* example, but you might know what I mean...? :D

Cheers,
Pete :D
'97 S1 Elise - Ongoing Project Spec
www.dynamic-it.co.uk

Post Reply