S1 Suspension Upgrade Help

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:52 pm

Yes but Early s1s were set at 165, so a drop to 130 will produce a bit more bump steer.

Geo is a definate yes (For got that bit!)

I went form 165 to 115 without rack raisers and just live with it. I noticed and moaned aobut it for about a week then forgot about it.

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 5:43 pm

RICHARDHUMBLE wrote:Yes but Early s1s were set at 165, so a drop to 130 will produce a bit more bump steer.

Geo is a definate yes (For got that bit!)

I went form 165 to 115 without rack raisers and just live with it. I noticed and moaned aobut it for about a week then forgot about it.

think i went to 110, and not sure we used rack raisers at all - just fitted Nitrons - worked a treat

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 5:48 pm

IIRC its only if you're slamming it below 120 that it matters. Granted the early and late cars differ, but that's only in the kind of mounts, not how much more/less lowering the car will affect bump steer.

robin · Post by **robin** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:14 pm

Whether or not it "matters" depends on how you drive and what you like.

The bump steer in the rear is there to help cornering - gives a bit of rear wheel steering in the corners basically - of course this very same bump steer makes the car a bit twitchy in a straight line over undulating surface.

The bump steer in the front may or may not be there by design and the majority of people who change their ride heights don't seem to notice the difference in handling caused by the increase in bump steer.

Even in the oldest elise service manual I have I see no mention of a 165mm ride height, so not sure where that comes from (remember the ride height and geo settings are measured mid-laden, so if the early elise had softer springs and you measured it unladen you might see something higher than 140). Is there a definitive document somewhere that actually states ride height as 165 on the earliest cars?

Cheers,
Robin

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:18 pm

I can't remember where it came from but I'm sure it was a consideration when I chose my ride height. My chassis had to be drilled to take the later brackets supplied with the S2 kit.

Could be wrong...

robin · Post by **robin** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:54 pm

Yes, plenty of 98 and even 99 S1s need the chassis drilling to take the S2 brackets - but not indicative of 165 ride height I think.

Cheers,
Robin

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:08 pm

Had a quick search through steve butt's posts on seloc and he says the lear;y elises's were 140, and the later elises were 160.

Thats just his info from seloc, but he has fitted a good few kits now and made brackets to suit

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:23 pm

Knew it came form somewhere

cheers 4mil!

Rich

Pedro · Post by **Pedro** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 12:31 pm

Hey Guys,

Where do you measure for ride height..? I want to check where mines is sitting at the moment.

Cheers,
Pete

Baggy · Post by **Baggy** » Mon Dec 10, 2007 1:07 pm

The ends of the seams that run along the bottoms of the sills.

Well....that's where I measured it from anyway.

Pedro · Post by **Pedro** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:13 pm

Hi all,

Unfortunately I am still waiting on the shox from Bell & Colvill. I might give them a quick call just to see if they are on thier way, probably just the xmas post. Keen to get these fitted, as I am fairly sure the present old Koni shox are f*!kd.

P.S. I noticed loads of mobile speed cameras out at the wknd there in Fife. I wonder if the old unsigned form loophole works..?

Cheers,
Pete

ABZ-Elise · Post by **ABZ-Elise** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:48 pm

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.

Pedro · Post by **Pedro** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:53 pm

Sorry, don't have Steve's number, but someone will have it.

Bell & Colvill have despatched ny new shox

apparently they had to re-assemble them correctly, (arrived to them wrongly assembled)...I am just glad they noticed & fixed them, before sending them out.

This means I can get the shox fitted soon, with the rake plates, and will probably get the Geo checked too.

Cheers,
Pete

Baggy · Post by **Baggy** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:15 pm

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

ABZ-Elise · Post by **ABZ-Elise** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 4:33 pm

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