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LantanaTX

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Discussion Starter · #41 ·
dalefield said:
Yeah...I think you're in the right neighborhood. probably the most usefull info at this point is the perch height relative to the loaded spring length. That info should make the first cut a little easier. I'm eager to see what you put together.
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Yes great info. I can almost set ride height without putting the car on the ground! I will probably get the ride height set where I like it and then do the final fine tuning on scales. the car was previosly corner weighted by the previous owner. wish I had that information as the car is very nuetral with no understeer. Just wish it didn't ride like a track only car on these crappy Texas roads.
 
speedmerchant

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#42 ·
I have done something similar with my 83 Esprit, only I used QA1 shocks (adj rebound). I utilized the stock upper spring perches in the frame front and rear. For the front it was pretty much mandatory I do this or otherwise I would have needed to do some cutting to clearance the the springs to do a true coil-over. For the 1985 and up cars this isn't necessary.

On the rear you dont need to use the stock upper spring perch but I did so because the rubber bushes that were supplied with the shock were pounded out pretty quick by taking the spring load directly. I might have gotten away with using polyurethane but it was easy enough to make some adapters to use the stock upper spring perch.

I used 2.5" I.D. (Hypercoil) springs and have 225# (8" length) front and 225# rear (10" length). I feel the rears are a bit soft and I will probably try some 250#.

Jeff
 
LantanaTX

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126 Posts
Discussion Starter · #43 ·
speedmerchant said:
I have done something similar with my 83 Esprit, only I used QA1 shocks (adj rebound). I utilized the stock upper spring perches in the frame front and rear. For the front it was pretty much mandatory I do this or otherwise I would have needed to do some cutting to clearance the the springs to do a true coil-over. For the 1985 and up cars this isn't necessary.

On the rear you dont need to use the stock upper spring perch but I did so because the rubber bushes that were supplied with the shock were pounded out pretty quick by taking the spring load directly. I might have gotten away with using polyurethane but it was easy enough to make some adapters to use the stock upper spring perch.

I used 2.5" I.D. (Hypercoil) springs and have 225# (8" length) front and 225# rear (10" length). I feel the rears are a bit soft and I will probably try some 250#.

Jeff
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Thank you for the info. I will be using the stock upper perches as well. I don't have the stock springs or shocks as my car had GAZ coilovers when I bought it. I can tell from looking that the Gaz setup is using the stock upper parts. It does sound like you did pretty much the same exact thing.
 
LantanaTX

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Discussion Starter · #45 ·
Update:

I dropped the rear shocks off with a machinest and they are maching the groove for the snap ring. I have ordered the fron shocks and waiting for them to arrive. I also found this interesting ad on Ebay. While this setup is not for an Esprit, the components are very similar. This shoud give you an idea of the Lotus Tax rate!

Bilstein coilover Shock Spring Strut Kit Front Rear Pontiac GXP Saturn Sky | eBay
 
MidLifeZ

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#46 ·
Lantana.. Any updates? Installed? If so coments on ride harshness, etc., etc.?

Will these fit a 1994 S4?
 
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StevenD57

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#48 ·
Lantana:
Are you replacing the Gaz shocks because you could not get a decent ride out of them? Or was there some other reason you were not happy with the Gaz setup? I have a used set of front & rear Gaz shocks for an Esprit I bought off of Ebay but I have never fitted them to the car.
 
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MidLifeZ

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#49 ·
left rear is leaking a bit.. need solution!
 
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J

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#54 ·
Still looking it all over,really can't believe it!The suspension definitely needs attention..way too low.Yeah I'm going down Lantana's path for sure though. I'm waiting for a slight cool down to start on it.I'm in Phoenix..yeah it's hot.I'll keep it posted for sure though.
 
MRDANGERUS

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#56 ·
Since Esprit does not have a rear anti-sway bar, I'm going for progressive 10", 2.5" ID springs, 200-500 lbs/in
 
Vulcan Grey

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#57 ·
200-500 lbf/in??

As in somewhere in that range? Or as in 200 in front and 500 in rear?

That's a big range... also this would be a large difference front to rear.

Just adding stiffer springs in the rear will not "fix" the lack of sway bar in the rear! It will just make the balance of front to rear grip change and cause the rear to slide much too easy. I have 300lbf/in front and 350lbf/in rear and I have to dial the rear compression and rebound down a couple clicks in the rear to keep the car from spinning on the track.

A 500 lbf/in rear spring on the Esprit is too much spring for the chassis.
 
MRDANGERUS

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#58 · (Edited)
Travis,
I'm talking about rear springs.
I found a pair which tested 200lbs if compressed 1 inch and 500 lbs at 2 inches.
I bought them second hand as "200# springs".
I knew they are progressive, but I didn't have idea that the second number is so high.

By any chance, do you know what is the spec for testing progressive springs? 1" and 2" or 1" and 3" of compression?

Would you recommend trying 175/450 or 175/350 instead?
My objective is to get a tight street car, no tracking.

What rate would you recommend for the front (with 17mm ARB)?

Thank you
 
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