Uprated suspension

[F1 LOTUS]

Monters, read this to be going on with, I'll see if I can find some sketches...
http://209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:0PKofEi7oHcJ:grassrootsmotorsports.com/archives/swaybars.html+adjustable+anti-roll+bar&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us

Neat Alfa example here
http://www.alfaholics.com/racing_and_competition/performance_and_racing_parts/suspension/document_376_117.php

[davidjt]

Having read the article, I'm even more intrigued by the possible effects of tyre pressures. Being a bit long in the tooth, I can just about remember when amateurs drove to a track, raced and drove home in the same car; practice was about deciding what tyre pressures to use in the race, as well as posting a grid time.

Anyway, our fronts are working so hard compared to the rears (on a track) that there must be a significant difference in temperature and therefore pressure, front to rear, even after a single hard lap; and therefore in TLLTD.
So do the seriously competitive among us, as well as reducing the static pressures all round, also aim for a (10%? 15%?) differential front to rear?

Driving around some of the great circuits is fantastic, (the pits straight at Le Mans in your Lotus is just the dog's boll***s) but as Nige implied, as soon as you get out-braked by another car...........

[surfboardfiller]

The LEF Esprit boys have had Lotus offer to re do their suspension, on the S1, and that is being discussed at the moment. Why not get Lotus to do the same for the M100?

Lotus were asking for about 75 owners to be interested in order for them to do the development. We know they have a few M100 test cars sitting about at Hethel and who has better credentials then Lotus to do the upgrade and who better than the car designers/makers them selves.

What say you LEC; it has to be worth asking them, doesn't it?

[F1 LOTUS]

Well done Surfers, I wondered who'd think of this too -I was thinking the same thing

Seriously though, do you know what Lotus would be doing - applying lessons learned over the past 15 years and specifying new dampers, bushings??? Maybe back in the development days of the M100 it was all done seat-of-the-pants, maybe they'd set it up on a 4-post shaker rig? Sounds jolly interesting and as you said "who better"

[GeoffSmith]

I wondered who'd think of this too...

Why him or me!

Seriously, I'd talk to Bibs to see how it worked and what financial commitment was necessary. There may have been some help via the 'young Mr. Grace' - 'old Mr. Grace' link but there's no harm in asking. From what I heard from BigSi at Castle Combe the work on his car had turned it into an Elise beater in the corners.

[Monty]

errrrrrr have you seen how much Lotus charge for stock front dampers & springs Don`t think i`ll be putting money in there pocket (if i can help it), there profits on parts is one of my hates with Lotus

[F1 LOTUS]

More food for thought coutesy of Autospeed: -
http://autospeed.com/cms/A_2746/article.html
http://autospeed.com/cms/A_2359/article.html

[XiPHiAS]

maybe a good solution :

http://www.lotuselancentral.com/forum/v ... hp?t=12675

[Martin R]

A few thoughts from a Elise owner and driver who does a few trackdays. The Elise weight distribution is approx 40 / 60 front to rear. God knows what it is on a Elan but i cant see any way you are ever going to get close to this. The other big plus on the Elise is the relative light weight. Tyres also make a Massive difference. Ive run Yokahama Advans on track and they are good. Toyo R888,s are a different world again. The grip is simply phenominal. Ive 2 sets of rims so i can have a set of R888 just for the track. This is where i would start on a Elan personally. Finally i also get passed by loads of Elises but it does not stop me enjoying it

[Elanlover]

.............You are left with around 3 clicks (out of ?16) to play with on the adjustable dampers, so they aren't really adjustable; go any softer and it feels like a '60s Cadillac.

In case people don't know, there is a proceedure to increase (or reduce) the dampening with the Protech beyond the standard clicks as shown on their site here (point #8 ). Not that I've tried it.

[abmunro]

I am certainly interested in any improvements to the handling.

[chrishewett]

I have just been talking to Andy Waters about the suspension on the elan as he has just driven it today to test it after fitting the new peco.
Andy races his exige in the elise trophy and has had many years preparing and racing all sorts of cars.
I also have a 111s elise which Andy has uprated with his racecar settings and I can assure you not many things will keep up with it through the corners.
His view was that, amongst other things, he would have stiffer springs made up and alter the castor to give more feel to the steering. He has recently done similar things to a MR2 that races and is now running rings round the rest of the field. He has offered to use my car as a testbed with a view to offering a setup to anyone else who may be interested.
What I need is a front and rear spring so that he has something to work on. I would appreciate it if anyone could loan/sell me one of each. I would obviously sort out the carriage charges.
If there is any interest in this project I will keep you all informed.
Chris

[Elanlover]

Do you want some Fed springs too? I have the UK sized springs and shocks on my car now hence the car is a bit lower. I'd prefer to keep it that way but some Fed folks may want the car to look as is. Might not help if you need to install them on the car though..............

Can't help thinking how nice it would be to have a spring that was soft initially tdo handle small bumps but harder after the intital hlaf inch or so for cornering. I could be making all this crap up though

[Nige]

Chris that sounds very interesting. As a track day fan in my Elan I'm keen to move the suspension to a more track biased set up whilst keeping the car suitable for road use, it's just a question of where the compromise lies. I don't have springs I can let you have but it was suggested at one stage in another thread that the cost of buying a new spring and damper (front and rear) to determine base (start settings ) is something a number of us would be willing to contribute to in ordre to allow the development of a track biased suspension set up. I for one would be in (like the lookof the Pro-Tech dampers and if I wasn't buying a turbo upgrade I'd already be talking to them) lets see what other interest there is. Starting with stiffer anti-roll bars still makes a lot of sense to me though (particularly if they are adjustable as that will allow a handling balance to be found (or of course cock it up completely)).

[dapinky]

Chris,

I have a set of original shocks and springs sitting in the garage.

They are NOT new, so may have sagged a bit from original, but you are welcome to borrow anything you want.
I can get them to Hethel if you are going, or get them brought nearer to you from someone else at the event??

Give me a shout if it's any good to you.

[Monty]

I`ve started a new thread in the upgrade section for uprated springs and one for stiffer anti rollbar

[bobbrown]

A few thoughts from a Elise owner and driver who does a few trackdays. The Elise weight distribution is approx 40 / 60 front to rear. God knows what it is on a Elan but i cant see any way you are ever going to get close to this. The other big plus on the Elise is the relative light weight. Tyres also make a Massive difference. Ive run Yokahama Advans on track and they are good. Toyo R888,s are a different world again. The grip is simply phenominal. Ive 2 sets of rims so i can have a set of R888 just for the track. This is where i would start on a Elan personally. Finally i also get passed by loads of Elises but it does not stop me enjoying it

The Elan weight distribution is about 60 / 40 front to rear the same as the Elise just the other way round.

[Nige]

Having had one of those days in the office, it therefore occurs to me that if I drive my Elan backwards would it handle like an Elise going forwards ?

I'll get my coat...............

[L.G.]

Having had one of those days in the office, it therefore occurs to me that if I drive my Elan backwards would it handle like an Elise going forwards ?

Which makes our Elans the best handling cars when going backwards.

It's %67 front and whatever left rear I believe. (too much detail)

L.G.

[Foo]

:goodposting:
Well done Surfers, I wondered who'd think of this too -I was thinking the same thing