Suspension rebuild?

[ZJChaser]

Originally Posted by Green Ghost

Top the best most$ /Nitron race, Penske Racing, I think I’m missing one more. For vary in to it to the person trying to get every .01 second off their lap time.

If I were to move up from the Track Pack I would get the Lotus sport Ohlins or go all out $$$ and get the Penske’s

Forgot JRZs and Motons in that last group.

[Green Ghost]

To me this is what I would do if…

(remember I don’t know what level/how you drive, but you have a Lotus so…)
If #1
Minimum amount of money to spend, road use and a maybe sometime track outing. Get used Track Pack (TP) shocks and a Track Pack or BWR swaybar (said this before but just to be clear, a new swaybar is needed for any new/different shocks you may get). I myself would not get the Sport Pack (SP) Shocks. For a few dollars more the TP shocks are better, the SP shocks (to me) are not worth it.

If you can’t find a TP then get Nitron single adjustment shocks. (you just missed a good deal on a set of these)

Both of these sets up are EZ to use and are fine (better then base and Sport Pack) on the road and OK on the track. You can adjust them soft for say that drive to grammas house over the typical Caltrans smooth freeways and some of the other f-ed up roads and not feel like you wish you had a different car. Or the wife/girlfriend ask you to never take the lotus there again. Then when you get to grams house that’s 5 miles from some smooth grate mountain roads, firm them up (2 minutes max, no tools needed) and have some fun. And the settings are noticeable every click up. You can learn quite a bit with the Track Pack without getting messed up, and if after you go to a track once and maybe get addicted you haven’t A) spent a lot on shocks that you will quickly replace, and B) use these to get better and understand what it is you will want in an expensive shock set when the time comes.

If #2
If you know your going to start going to the track a bit and get better, learn how play with a car, and maybe time your self a bit, but still keep it simple.
Get the Nitron’s.

If #3
If you are going to start going to the track a lot, don’t mind needing tools to make shock adjustments, having a small note pad to keep your setting written down in, timing yourself and try to get every .001 second off the clock you can, bet other people at the track some beer who’s faster, but keep the car good for the street.
Now it goes 2 ways
A) If you are good or a better driver get the Lotus sport Ohlins.
B) If you are a beginner, get the TP not the Nitron’s, get better at driving and then get the Lotus sport Ohlins. Save some money and make learning EZer.

Ifs #1 to 3 are good to go for a little to a lot (20,000 miles+ a year) of road use.

Both the Nitron and Lotus Sport Ohlins are reported to be smother on the road (but not giving up any thing in handling) then both the TP and SP set ups. But they cost more.
There maybe another road based single adjustment shock out there but I don’t know of it. And if I remember right the Lotus sport Ohlins are the cheapest double adjustment shock that’s good (and its vary good).

[fpitas]

Originally Posted by Green Ghost

Track Pack started in 06 and is not offered on the new base Elise. The front shocks have remote reservoirs the backs do not. The swaybar is adjustable, 5 spots or holes, is bigger (fatter) then the base swaybar, and I don’t know how in size it compairs to the Sport Pack swaybar.

I'm pretty sure the Track Pack bar is exactly the same swaybar as the LSS or base, but with adjustment holes.

[apk919]

Originally Posted by slvr05elise

So if you were to recommend a reasonably priced suspension upgrade for someone like me, what would you suggest. Do you think the track pack is better than the LSS and worth the additional money, and does the track pack require corner balancing, alignment etc. PS I have an 05 elise if that matters. Also, is the nitron sport pro suspension that much of a step above both of those options? At this time I dont' think I'm ready for the 46mm ohlins based on cost and adjustability.

The track pack doesn't need to be corner balanced, but it can be corner balanced. If you set the spring perches to the heights spec'd in the service manual, I don't see how that would be any different (in terms of corner balance) than putting on a set of non-height adjustable shocks. That said, I'd rather have the car corner balanced than not.

Whenever you change suspension pieces, you should do an alignment... castor/camber is not the issue, as that is pretty much determined by shim/spacer placement. But toe at all four wheels should be checked/reset (preferably with ballast in the car).

[fastpapaw]

Originally Posted by slvr05elise

So if you were to recommend a reasonably priced suspension upgrade for someone like me, what would you suggest. Do you think the track pack is better than the LSS and worth the additional money, and does the track pack require corner balancing, alignment etc. PS I have an 05 elise if that matters. Also, is the nitron sport pro suspension that much of a step above both of those options? At this time I dont' think I'm ready for the 46mm ohlins based on cost and adjustability.

I had an '06 Exige with LSS which I upgraded to the 36mm Ohlins setup. I now have an '08 with track pack. The street ride with these is far better than the LSS and marginally better than the Ohlins. Unless you're a hardcore track junkie, I'd recommend the track pack single adjustable Bilsteins, nice compliant street ride and enough adjustibility for 8/10ths on the track. As for corner balancing, I found that just adjusting the ride height myself at home got it very close. Just make sure to check the alignment after you set the ride height.

Mike

[maz]

YOU DON'T FCUK WITH A LOTUS SUSPENSION

[Rei]

Change your alignment settings to something more "track" friendly. You would be surprised how much better the car will handle with a good set up.

[maz]

lotus cars might disagree

[brgelise]

I second the alignment being tried first. Made a huge difference in my LSS suspension at the track. At highway speeds ride is great, its just typical Bilstein harsh around town. Those germans never did learn how to smooth the top limit of the suspensions they build.

[shay2nak]

is it difficult to replace springs for stiffer ones? How much work is involved?

[Green Ghost]

Slver05elise has the base suspension set up. Not the LSS set up, or I would agree just play with it a bit first. But to me spending $ on the base shocks or even the LSS shocks is just not worth it.

[Chris Mackey]

Originally Posted by shay2nak

is it difficult to replace springs for stiffer ones? How much work is involved?

It's easy to get the coilovers off the car. You'll need a spring compressor to dismantle the shocks from the springs. I paid a motorcycle shop to do it for me. It was $56 to have them assemble mine.