Those with 120mm Ride Height on the Street - LotusTalk

agirls · 10-20-2009, 06:47 PM

How much of a pain is it to drive your car at 120mm? Driveways, speed bumps, etc. I want honest answers.

My ride height was unusually high (135 ish in the rear and 145ish in the front). I went to lower the front to 130mm. After much drama, I finally get the springs adjusted. Initial readings were 130 and just under in the front. Great. After raising and lowering the car a few times (I was doing other things since I had everything out) and once I was all done, I remeasuered again. Well, the car must have settled and now I'm done to 120mm! Pretty much all around. (And I measured in the same spot on the car and ground.)

I really don't feel like starting all over and redoing all my work. The service manual says you can lower it down to 120mm for track use. (Different alignment numbers). So now I am contemplating leaving it where it is or raising it back to 130.

Thoughts? Feedback?

And no I did not search. Feel free to merge if needed.

apk919 · 10-20-2009, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agirls

How much of a pain is it to drive your car at 120mm? Driveways, speed bumps, etc. I want honest answers.

My ride height was unusually high (135 ish in the rear and 145ish in the front). I went to lower the front to 130mm. After much drama, I finally get the springs adjusted. Initial readings were 130 and just under in the front. Great. After raising and lowering the car a few times (I was doing other things since I had everything out) and once I was all done, I remeasuered again. Well, the car must have settled and now I'm done to 120mm! Pretty much all around. (And I measured in the same spot on the car and ground.)

I really don't feel like starting all over and redoing all my work. The service manual says you can lower it down to 120mm for track use. (Different alignment numbers). So now I am contemplating leaving it where it is or raising it back to 130.

Thoughts? Feedback?

And no I did not search. Feel free to merge if needed.

Are you having any trouble bottoming out your splitter? If not, leave the front at 120mm. My front is slightly lower (118mm), and I only have to be careful with driveways and culverts. Not bad at all.

You might want to raise the rear a bit to get some rake. As long as you adjust both rear collars (left and right) the same amount, you won't change your corner balance significantly, and the rear alignment is not very sensitive to ride height. I'd say give each rear side two full turns more preload as a guesstimate for 5mm more rear height.

BadtZ · 10-20-2009, 07:43 PM

so 2 full turn on every corner is fine with out alignment?
I am looking in lowering my lotus but would need $500 for lowering...

alignment and everything and lowering will take away $500...that is just not right

so just running lowered without alignment? I suppose that will affect handling, but not significant?

Answers please! or else I will need $500

apk919 · 10-20-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BadtZ

so 2 full turn on every corner is fine with out alignment?
I am looking in lowering my lotus but would need $500 for lowering...

alignment and everything and lowering will take away $500...that is just not right

so just running lowered without alignment? I suppose that will affect handling, but not significant?

Answers please! or else I will need $500

Not every corner, just the rear corners... if you change the front ride height you should at least remeasure, and probably reset the front toe. Lowering the front of the car increases front toe out.

EDIT: Depending on how good you are with a wrench (and a few other tools), it's really not very hard to measure your toe and adjust it.

Chococar · 10-20-2009, 08:10 PM

My Elise is a bit under 120mm ride height and it's OK on the street if I'm careful on dips and angle up driveways. I don't have a front splitter though.

I would at least measure the corner balance to figure out how far off you are. I messed mine up pretty good adjusting to constant ride height.

Thanks,

Joe

Certified Lotus · 10-20-2009, 08:11 PM

My car is at 117mm front and 121 rear (with driver in car, corner balanced). Also have Reverie splitter and diffuser.........but I have Nitron GT3 shocks which makes this car very stiff (but amazingly road compliant). No issues bottoming out or not being able to go over speed bumps. Never the less, this is primarily a track car and I don't drive it on the street much except back & forth to the track.

agirls · 10-20-2009, 08:37 PM

Okay, thank you. I will drive it for a bit at 120mm and see if I can coop with it on the street. apk919, I only just adjusted it down so I have not driven it yet other than to make sure I can get out of my own driveway, lol.

I will recheck corner balance tomorrow and if adjustments need to be made, I hope the springs cooperate more tomorrow than they did today! I do not have the scales here at my house so I could not do that today.

Okay, this might be kind of a dumb question, if I raise the rear, what will it to do the front? I mean height wise.

apk919 · 10-20-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agirls

...
Okay, this might be kind of a dumb question, if I raise the rear, what will it to do the front? I mean height wise.

Not much.

shay2nak · 10-20-2009, 09:31 PM

April, do you have the collars on the shocks lowered all the way? My ride height is, the best I could do, front 120 and back 125-130. Which means it would be lower with me driving. You have to go in and out of driveways at 45* angles (or sharper). The other day the mudflaps scraped a speedbump. It's not too low, you just have to be careful that's all.

agirls · 10-20-2009, 09:56 PM

In the fronts, pretty much. The passenger side is all the way to the top and the driver side almost is but not quite. I did ballast it for my weight. And I forgot, yesterday when I checked the heights, I had half a tank of gas. Today a full tank so that probably accounts for the rear being lower than expected since I only adjusted the front.

Chococar · 10-21-2009, 07:14 AM

April,

Note that you will scrape holes in the front wheel liners. Don't worry about it, just expect it.

Thanks,

Joe

Green Hornet · 10-25-2009, 07:52 PM

Question ???

How are you determining your ride height?
Measured from where to ground, F & R ?

- Thanks

agirls · 10-25-2009, 07:58 PM

If you look at the jacking points diagram, front height is measured at point B and rear is measured at point A.

Green Hornet · 10-25-2009, 08:04 PM

Thought so - thanks for the confirmation.

I needed confirmation because these points seem so far removed from the actual front and rear of the car and even the suspension

ads_green · 10-26-2009, 01:21 AM

My car is 95mm at the front and not had any problems.

kestrel74 · 10-29-2009, 12:29 PM

I'm running 120 with a front splitter and no problems at all....you just have to be careful !! especially speed bumps !

shay2nak · 10-29-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ads_green

My car is 95mm at the front and not had any problems.

which car? how did you get it to 95mm?

apk919 · 10-29-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shay2nak

which car? how did you get it to 95mm?

Don't even think about it Ara...

agirls · 10-29-2009, 01:43 PM

Ah ha ha ha! I just assumed he didn't measure from the right spot, but I could be wrong.

apk919 · 10-29-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agirls

Ah ha ha ha! I just assumed he didn't measure from the right spot, but I could be wrong.

Well, if it's the 211 in his avatar pic, then 95mm would be just about right...

10-20-2009, 06:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
agirls Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Santa Paula, CA Posts: 767 Images: 73	Those with 120mm Ride Height on the Street How much of a pain is it to drive your car at 120mm? Driveways, speed bumps, etc. I want honest answers. My ride height was unusually high (135 ish in the rear and 145ish in the front). I went to lower the front to 130mm. After much drama, I finally get the springs adjusted. Initial readings were 130 and just under in the front. Great. After raising and lowering the car a few times (I was doing other things since I had everything out) and once I was all done, I remeasuered again. Well, the car must have settled and now I'm done to 120mm! Pretty much all around. (And I measured in the same spot on the car and ground.) I really don't feel like starting all over and redoing all my work. The service manual says you can lower it down to 120mm for track use. (Different alignment numbers). So now I am contemplating leaving it where it is or raising it back to 130. Thoughts? Feedback? And no I did not search. Feel free to merge if needed. __________________ Toys- 07 Lotus Exige S Chrome Orange 05 Ducati S4R 02 Suzuki SV650 09 Kawasaki KLX250 Last edited by agirls : 10-20-2009 at 07:03 PM.

10-20-2009, 07:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
BadtZ Exige S240 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 123	so 2 full turn on every corner is fine with out alignment? I am looking in lowering my lotus but would need $500 for lowering... alignment and everything and lowering will take away $500...that is just not right so just running lowered without alignment? I suppose that will affect handling, but not significant? Answers please! or else I will need $500 __________________ Larini 6" Sport, DBW Pedals...and minor stuff So far so good

10-20-2009, 08:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
Certified Lotus Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 173	My car is at 117mm front and 121 rear (with driver in car, corner balanced). Also have Reverie splitter and diffuser.........but I have Nitron GT3 shocks which makes this car very stiff (but amazingly road compliant). No issues bottoming out or not being able to go over speed bumps. Never the less, this is primarily a track car and I don't drive it on the street much except back & forth to the track. __________________ '07 Exige S,LSD,2bular Header,SportCat & GT3 Exhaust,Gotham Tune ECU, V2 Fuel Cell,BOE Surge Tank,MWR Fuel Rail,RLS Intercooler&Pipes,CircuitWorx Oil Pump Gears,Moroso oil pan, Accusump,Fidanza 3.2 Kevlar Clutch & Alum Flywheel,Nitron GT3,V2arms,AP Racing Brakes(315mm),SS Brake Lines,Prototype Composites CF Roof,ReVerie CF Front Splitter,diffuser & 1650MM Wing,RTD Brace, SSC Shift Cable, Lotus Racing M Mounts/High Perf.Air Box,Defi Gauges,RAC Monolite Wheels,Safecraft 5 Point Harness,Traqmate.

10-20-2009, 08:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
agirls Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Santa Paula, CA Posts: 767 Images: 73	Okay, thank you. I will drive it for a bit at 120mm and see if I can coop with it on the street. apk919, I only just adjusted it down so I have not driven it yet other than to make sure I can get out of my own driveway, lol. I will recheck corner balance tomorrow and if adjustments need to be made, I hope the springs cooperate more tomorrow than they did today! I do not have the scales here at my house so I could not do that today. Okay, this might be kind of a dumb question, if I raise the rear, what will it to do the front? I mean height wise. __________________ Toys- 07 Lotus Exige S Chrome Orange 05 Ducati S4R 02 Suzuki SV650 09 Kawasaki KLX250

10-20-2009, 09:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
shay2nak I <3 chicken, I <3 liver Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Land of da 1000 Oaks, CA Posts: 15,055	April, do you have the collars on the shocks lowered all the way? My ride height is, the best I could do, front 120 and back 125-130. Which means it would be lower with me driving. You have to go in and out of driveways at 45* angles (or sharper). The other day the mudflaps scraped a speedbump. It's not too low, you just have to be careful that's all. __________________ save ~10 lbs gain 1 hp EQ: Y=(190X) / (1984-X) where Y is (HP) and X is (lbs) '07 EXIGE S * MY CAR ** VIDEOS! '08 ACURA TSX 6-speed http://www.makeNYNYagain.com

10-20-2009, 08:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
Chococar #334 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 1,547	My Elise is a bit under 120mm ride height and it's OK on the street if I'm careful on dips and angle up driveways. I don't have a front splitter though. I would at least measure the corner balance to figure out how far off you are. I messed mine up pretty good adjusting to constant ride height. Thanks, Joe

10-20-2009, 09:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
agirls Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Santa Paula, CA Posts: 767 Images: 73	In the fronts, pretty much. The passenger side is all the way to the top and the driver side almost is but not quite. I did ballast it for my weight. And I forgot, yesterday when I checked the heights, I had half a tank of gas. Today a full tank so that probably accounts for the rear being lower than expected since I only adjusted the front. __________________ Toys- 07 Lotus Exige S Chrome Orange 05 Ducati S4R 02 Suzuki SV650 09 Kawasaki KLX250

10-21-2009, 07:14 AM	#11 (permalink)
Chococar #334 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 1,547	April, Note that you will scrape holes in the front wheel liners. Don't worry about it, just expect it. Thanks, Joe

10-25-2009, 07:52 PM	#12 (permalink)
Green Hornet Zzzzzzz Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 874	Question ??? How are you determining your ride height? Measured from where to ground, F & R ? - Thanks __________________ Life, Liberty and the Happiness of Pursuit

10-25-2009, 07:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
agirls Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Santa Paula, CA Posts: 767 Images: 73	If you look at the jacking points diagram, front height is measured at point B and rear is measured at point A. __________________ Toys- 07 Lotus Exige S Chrome Orange 05 Ducati S4R 02 Suzuki SV650 09 Kawasaki KLX250

10-25-2009, 08:04 PM	#14 (permalink)
Green Hornet Zzzzzzz Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Lancaster, PA Posts: 874	Thought so - thanks for the confirmation. I needed confirmation because these points seem so far removed from the actual front and rear of the car and even the suspension __________________ Life, Liberty and the Happiness of Pursuit

10-26-2009, 01:21 AM	#15 (permalink)
ads_green Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 359	My car is 95mm at the front and not had any problems.

10-29-2009, 12:29 PM	#16 (permalink)
kestrel74 G-200 Driver Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: North of Detroit; Watkins Glen, NY Posts: 9,312	I'm running 120 with a front splitter and no problems at all....you just have to be careful !! especially speed bumps ! __________________ 74 Europa Zetec TC Special 3614R Elise #2292 / Chrome Orange !! / Starshield / Nitron Sport SA / RTDbrace / Uprights machined / Down Low rails / ChaseCam / V1 / SS lines w/ R4-S "My daily driver does .85 Mach" " I started flying when Sex was safe and Hang Gliding was dangerous " BUY My Europa ! http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f94/...pa-sale-43829/

10-29-2009, 01:43 PM	#19 (permalink)
agirls Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Santa Paula, CA Posts: 767 Images: 73	Ah ha ha ha! I just assumed he didn't measure from the right spot, but I could be wrong. __________________ Toys- 07 Lotus Exige S Chrome Orange 05 Ducati S4R 02 Suzuki SV650 09 Kawasaki KLX250

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