Stupid prices (& who pays them?)

[chrism]

Yep you saved around £50 on those shocks compared to SWL at today's prices.

My GAZ rears (GP7-2133OE) were ordered from SWL just before Christmas and arrived this morning. I chose the GAZ-matic rear springs. Cost £89.23 + £40.95 each before tax. (Balance is only a few miles away too... (nb. different item code tho'...))

SWL say they're made to order for m100s - and with no experience of setting up adjustables I asked what the OEM settings were:- front 12/13 and rear 5/6, they say for GAZ on m100s

I presume these stand for adjustment clicks tho' I don't know which way. I expect all will be revealed when I fit them, but the weather will have to be warmer.

(Wow - look at me; having spares on the shelf, buying from RA, a list of jobs to do and a total belief that I will (have to) prevail... )

[dapinky]

Chris, you're settling in well! - just need to grab hold of some stuff that you don't need now, or expect to need in the near future, "Just in case".

SWL was my first place to look as I know they do the GAZ stuff, but they list as 'Not currently available' so I simply moved on to others. I have no idea of what setting would be good on the shocks, but I know that AVOs start at "OE" settings, and progressively stiffen up - so a "zero" setting would be standard, with lots of further options for whatever track use you envisage - mine are set a couple of clicks up from lowest setting, and it suits me and the use it currently gets.

Can you tell me anything about the springs you got? I know that SWL have a picture which just looks like a 'Standard' pair of springs with their own part number on them.... so I am assuming that Phil has had them made somewhere, but it would be nice to find out where. (I wouldn't want to do him out of business, but again, his web site says 'Not currently available')

[chrism]

GAZ Springs + dampers seem always to be NCA on the SWL site.

I rang them and they recommend - and take orders for - GAZ stuff advising a 5week-ish wait if they haven't got parts on the shelf, or they might have another source.

Sorry, dunno much about the springs tbh. I bought them at the same time 'cos mine were manky. They're GAZ-matic, so I presume they're matched to the dampers and come from the same place.

Hmm, my dampers are invoiced 'OE' so I'll ring to see whether the softness is pre-set or if I have to adjust them. I suspect I'll probably have to set the length. I'll report back asap.

[chrism]

Update:-
My rear shocks + springs arrived wrapped together by GAZ. SWL sometimes advertise standalone GAZ-matic springs but they're not sourced from a different manufacturer. There is a little label on the spring - '84MI/D x 9" x145LBS' - otherwise nothing else.

I'm fairly sure that the zero setting for GAZ is not 'OE', like on AVOs. I phoned GAZ and they said the shock softness was set at '0' on delivery; there are 22 adjustment clicks in the '+' (clockwise) direction but 6 clicks is about OE for Lotus m100 rears.

Re fitting, they say adjust the length of the spring lift thread to ~3/4 before fitting, lower to the floor and use the supplied tool to wind down to the previous measured height 'cos it's easier to adjust down than up.

All that sounds quite straightforward and 'do-able', I think...

[dapinky]

The numbers on the spring are very similar to the Lotus OE specifications - the 84mI/D refers to the Inside Diameter of the spring being 84mm (OE ones are 3.38" which equates to 85.8mm), and they are the same rate at 145 pounds per inch.... the Lotus ones are 9 1/2", but as the spring platform is adjustable for height, that doesn't matter so much that the new ones are 9" (just that the lower end of the spring will look like it's 3/4" higher than the OE shocks to give the same body height).

I am still waiting to hear back from the spring maker I sent the enquiry to, but it's nice to know that there are options anyway.

One tip when you fit yours - make sure that the adjuster knob is accessible when it's fitted to the car! The shock can go in 2 ways, one with the knob facing inwards, and on e outwards..... it may look like it's better one way or the other for access, but remember that when the wheel is on, it may not be - the choice is yours, and really, once they are fitted and set to where you want them, you are unlikely to need to worry about it.

[chrism]

Yep good advice. I strongly suspect pointing the rear adjusters inwards so as to merely jack up to adjust rather than take wheels off?

re springs: I seem to remember a recent conversation with a suspension specialist that when springs wear they tend to sag but their spring constant or stiffness remains unchanged. This makes me think that dampers are mostly the bits that usually need renewing and if the (unbroken) spring has retained its original length then it's absolutely ok to re-use. I wonder how many of us think it's best to 'go completely new' when we wrangle our m100s (I confess that I do ...)

I recently replaced my fronts with m100 NA coilovers and the original springs I replaced (tho' rusty) were still exactly right (according to wiki - and I agree with the fronts - fronts should be 27.2cm and rears 24.1cm* in case anyone is intending to replace shocks and retain the springs). Of course, we don't know 'til we've got it all apart - so if we're d-i-ying we play safe cos of the inability to easily get parts off the shelf (and garages will always fit new bits to enhance their guarantees) but I'm keeping those front springs and the other associated bits just in case I (or a fellow-mukker) will need them. I'll do the same with the rears, too. Those shocks weren't leaky but they'd had a pounding for 30+years...

ps unless anybody viewing this needs them urgently? :-


* free length

[dapinky]

I have to admit, I haven't even looked at the suspension on mine yet - I simply formed a shopping list to replace all the bits I like to change as a matter of course (all bushes, all nuts/bolts/washers for stainless ones, top balljoints, etc) I like to change the shocks before I use the car 'properly' but for the time being, the old ones will hold the car off the ground. Springs just get changed as they are (comparatively) cheap........

..... I have never heard about the actual 'spring rate' remaining the same, even if the spring is shorter - but if that is true, then just swapping shocks to 'adjustable platform' ones will get it back to OE spec.

At the moment, the only info I have is from an old MOT advisory which states "Coil spring corroded X4".... that was in March 2016, the car has been driven 788 miles since then, and then left sitting on a driveway - so i don't suspect that they have improved much since the last MOT!!!!

That said, they may just require a strip/repaint - won't know until I get to that bit, so there is no actual rush.

My current state of play is that the car has been sitting in the garage for 4 days, with the de-humidifier running, drivers seat is out, passenger to be done today, carpets appear quite dry, and jacking points seem solid from outside...... so I will be whipping the carpets out and stripping the bodyshell enough to assess and then either repair or treat any rust on the outriggers/sills before replacing the underfelt with closed-cell foam. Then it's on to the engine, get the waterpump & cambelt replaced so I can see about turning it over. Once I get it running, it'll be on to the suspension (by then the bushes and top balljoints should have arrived, so I can replace it all. I am fortunate enough to have a pair of spare rafts, so I have cleaned them up, removed the old bushes, and can rebuild them with new top wishbones before having to take anything off the car - then it is a (slightly quicker) case of taking one off, putting one on and not being delayed with too much cleaning and painting the old parts (well, only the bottom TCA/triangular link)....... sounds easy - we'll see how long it actually takes by the time I've found other bits to do along the way - I usually manage to do a lot more, and that involves searching for odd parts and refurbishing stuff that never gets seen.

[chrism]

Yes I suppose we all 'fear the worst', shop for parts, then strip it all down only to be surprised (as I was) that our m100s are actually really resilient...

This might explain the growing mountain of spares in every m100 owner's garage So many of the parts that we renew by d-i-y are actually in good 'nick' and certainly could be spread about rather than 'shelved'.

The only trouble is, if you list them on eBay they attract 'capitalistic' bids (for reasons of rarity rather than v-f-m, I suppose) and high charges...

High five dapinky - you seem to be really focused on saving this one

[dapinky]

High five dapinky - you seem to be really focused on saving this one

I love saving as many as possible - but this one involves going a bit further than I may do ordinarily, as it will be for the missus to enjoy when it's finished..... so I will be responsible for any/all ongoing woes forever....... so it's easier to do it all now!

To be honest, the more I look at the car, the less "bad" it appears to be - the interior is remarkably dry for a car that has been sitting outside for years (damp, not swimming wet carpets etc). I have made no attempt to turn the engine until the belt is changed, but from the colour of the oil I expect it to be fairly okay - it has under 80K miles on the clock and had been well maintained prior to its layup.

I am just trying to 'future-proof' it now, so I don't have to do stuff in 10 years time when parts are even more scarce/expensive.

[abmunro]

On Facebook - Pair of front indicator lens, Orange and white. I must have a fortune of stuff in loft as I have these and pair rear lights!

Clear out continues..
Good condition for 30/35 years old
Collection Leicester M1 J21
No private messages with low baller offers like the other day, please comment on here so everyone can see
Thanks for looking
£199
Thanks for looking

[Tuga2112]

On Facebook - Pair of front indicator lens, Orange and white. I must have a fortune of stuff in loft as I have these and pair rear lights!

Clear out continues..
Good condition for 30/35 years old
Collection Leicester M1 J21
No private messages with low baller offers like the other day, please comment on here so everyone can see
Thanks for looking
£199
Thanks for looking

an alternative would be
https://www.pnmparts.co.uk/elan-m100/el ... lens-0014c

for 40 quid plus postage and VAT (something between 55 and 60).

i have a preference for the "non-clear" ones but they certainly aint worth 3 sets of the PMN brand new ones.

[abmunro]

On Facebook - Pair of front indicator lens, Orange and white. I must have a fortune of stuff in loft as I have these and pair rear lights!

Clear out continues..
Good condition for 30/35 years old
Collection Leicester M1 J21
No private messages with low baller offers like the other day, please comment on here so everyone can see
Thanks for looking
£199
Thanks for looking

an alternative would be
https://www.pnmparts.co.uk/elan-m100/el ... lens-0014c

for 40 quid plus postage and VAT (something between 55 and 60).

i have a preference for the "non-clear" ones but they certainly aint worth 3 sets of the PMN brand new ones.

Exactly

He wasn't happy with someones offer

Tony

[Saltire]

Thanks, Dave, much appreciated

Jonathan
The discount numbers expire after 30 days so its easier to just google 'Rock Auto latest discount codes' as people are always updating them on the site.

Thanks, Colin, understood. I really must get around to ordering, although the car is off-road (SORN) for the winter at the moment, so I won’t actually fit the caliper until March time.

98064904-1E80-4170-B03D-DA3E5AA834E7.jpeg

Rear calipers ordered at 9:54am UK time on Tuesday morning.

Delivered at 4:03pm on Friday afternoon.

Now that’s what I call service!

[dapinky]

98064904-1E80-4170-B03D-DA3E5AA834E7.jpeg

Rear calipers ordered at 9:54am UK time on Tuesday morning.

Delivered at 4:03pm on Friday afternoon.

Now that’s what I call service!

Well, I'm pretty unimpressed with RA at the moment.... I made my order on Monday, and it hasn't arrived yet - - - and yours has!

Admittedly, mine may have come from a different warehouse, and they did say that it would be here on or about 14th, so I can't complain.

Besides which, I am not going to be able to fit the alternator for quite some time now anyway. I am off for an all-inclusive stay at one of the NHS's finest establishments on Monday, and don't expect to be grovelling under a car for some weeks/months.

[Saltire]

14th was the ETA for mine as well, Dave. I was amazed to find it here when I got back from court.

Good luck next week!

[chrism]

Hey, Saltire please let us know the good news of those Cardone 184327/8 rear calipers being a direct fit for our m100s.

And what's more, dapinky - loadsa luck - get back to grovelling under that Lotus really soon...

[Saltire]

Hey, Saltire please let us know the good news of those Cardone 184327/8 rear calipers being a direct fit for our m100s.

Can do - but it won’t be for a few weeks yet. The car’s tucked away on SORN, and I probably won’t be extracting it until the beginning of April; maybe March if the weather is decent.

I *will* unbox them and post some pictures over the weekend.

[Saltire]

Here we are, Chris:

918E3633-0804-46B1-8378-FA435E44F64B.jpeg

63B121EC-FBC1-4AB2-83A0-10012F4CE9DB.jpeg

3D0C21B7-90A3-493D-B435-5630B83A845F.jpeg

7D9F1754-EE54-4CBF-AF8B-2404EDA186EC.jpeg

All looking good: The only issues I can see are that the finish doesn’t quite match side-to-side (I may dig out the VHT paint), and one caliper is missing the bleed nipple cap (but I have plenty of spares). They came with bolts, pistons and copper washers.

Will advise on fitting as and when it gets done.

[dapinky]

Well, I'm even more upset than I was when I made my previous post.....

.... mine didn't arrive with sliders. (but I have plenty of them lying around anyway).

I found (like you) that one was painted, and the other was just an 'oiled' finish - nowt that a clean up with xylene and a squirt of VHT paint won't put right.

I found that one side is a perfect match, straight from the box, but the other side (and I can't recall which) had a handbrake lever which won't work - but I had a spare correct one in the box, so no big issue to swap them over - it *may* need a bit of fettling to get it to sit against the 'stop' as the actual casting is slightly different..... from you picture, the painted one looks like the staraight fit, and the oiled one will need the lever from your current calliper.

I expect that there are numerous actual casting variants, all of which are basically the same, and it is just the luck of the draw as to which ones are put into which box - bearing in mind that Lotus probably spec'd a particular version from GM. Still, at the price these come in at, I can't see any reason to complain.

[chrism]

Well it's good news that we can interchange an expensive current Lotus bit easily with with these Cutlass rear calipers.

A little more pricey but still good v-f-m are pairs of Nugeon, Centric and (perhaps) Raybestos. I suppose these'll still need modding but might match each other better paint-wise. It'd be interesting to know if anyone's bought either of these?

Still, price-wise they're all worth considering - as long as that errant brake lever can be wrangled on all of them...

Grateful thanks dapinky + Saltaire.