[Zwhitaker]

Hey all,

I wanted to give you the step by step process I took to lower my car and add the 16mm wheel spacers.

First off what you will need to do the job.

1. 1 or 2 Jacks and or Jack stands
2. Torque wrench (bar)
3. ratchet and socket set
4. bilstein suspension tools (comes with your car)
5. Lug nut tool (comes with your car)
6. Motor cycle spring compressors (Car spring compressors are too big)
7. 16mm wheel spacers
8. Longer lug bolts
9. PB blaster (optional but works great!)

First off start by placing your jacks in the right position on your undertray. You will see these points in your owners manual and they are marked as well on the car.

Then place the motorcycle spring compressors on either side of the spring.

Use coilover tool to move the threaded piece up to decrease your ride height.

Move bottom threaded pieces up to nessel into the top one. If you have trouble. Try compressing the spring more and using PB blaster.

Lastly, I added 16mm wheel spacers and extended lugs. The ones I ordered are available here.

Hub Buddies Lotus 16mm Competition Wheel Spacer Kit 4x100 Hubcentric 16mm Wheel spacer Kit 4 x 100 PCD 56.6 Lotus Elise Exige Type 111 - JJC Race & Rally

End result?

Ill post more picks, Here is what i have for now.

Cheers,

Zach

 

[Zwhitaker]

Thanks to another LT user for the info on these spacers. Here are more picks of my car and his.

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[mkzhang]

I've been thinking about doing this, but how do you determine how many turns to move for each corner, should you measure each suspension's ride height before hand or you just did the same for each corner?

 

[me73]

I assume you'd need an alignment after changing the resting ride height.

With the combination of lower height and the tire extended outside the fender, are you seeing rubbing? Can you feel a difference in turn in with the increased front track? It's over 1 1/4 inch increase, which is quite a lot.

How about bump steer? There's more torque at the centerline of the wheel to the steering axis in combination to the change in vertical alignment. Any concerns with wheel bearing wear? Any concerns with increased rock chipping on the rocker panels?

 

[Zwhitaker]

I lowered it all the same first. Then I ended up lowering the rears lower. I made sure that the threads were the same on each side. So the front has 2 open threads left on top. The rears I went all the way down as low as it can go. I plan on getting an alignment done as well as balancing each wheel again.

 

[me73]

I lowered it all the same first. Then I ended up lowering the rears lower. I made sure that the threads were the same on each side. So the front has 2 open threads left on top. The rears I went all the way down as low as it can go. I plan on getting an alignment done as well as balancing each wheel again.

Corner balancing optimizes the car's weight distribution. An option only really available on an adjustable ride height suspension like yours.

 

[Almighty]

What is your ride height after lowering it?

 

[jds62f]

If you get it corner balanced, its inevitably going to change your ride height.

 

[Zwhitaker]

I assume you'd need an alignment after changing the resting ride height.

With the combination of lower height and the tire extended outside the fender, are you seeing rubbing? Can you feel a difference in turn in with the increased front track? It's over 1 1/4 inch increase, which is quite a lot.

How about bump steer? There's more torque at the centerline of the wheel to the steering axis in combination to the change in vertical alignment. Any concerns with wheel bearing wear? Any concerns with increased rock chipping on the rocker panels?

It feels really firm and stable if that makes sense. I have driven it around the block a few times and it doesn't rub from what I know so far.

I don't drive this vehicle on the track. In regards to the wheel barrings, I will keep that in mind and watch this. My rockers don't have paint protection and I plan on getting my rockers reprinted and protection installed. Bump steer I will keep everyone posted on as well.

Cheers,

Z




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[[P²]]

You have the Track Pack suspension. There's no need to use spring compressors to adjust the height in the future. Just spin the collars up or down. A punch works good if you don't have the spanners.

 

[yellowvert]

You have the Track Pack suspension. There's no need to use spring compressors to adjust the height in the future. Just spin the collars up or down. A punch works good if you don't have the spanners.

So, on my 2011 RGB Exige, which has Track Pack, I don't need to do spring compression? Just unweight the wheels? That would be easy!

 

[antinym]

The spring compressors are not necessary, but probably make spinning the collars easier.. Still more effort than it's worth.

The pics here are the track pack suspension. LSS or Lotus Sport Suspension cars have yellow bilsteins.

 

[Gorkoracing]

Wish I could lower my LSS suspension just a little bit. Don't want anything too aggressive but maybe an inch would be awesome.

 

[antinym]

Wish I could lower my LSS suspension just a little bit. Don't want anything too aggressive but maybe an inch would be awesome.

I think BOE will groove the LSS shocks and get you a collar. Contact them.

Any machine shop with a big lathe could do it. But there's a bunch of "working knowledge" to gain, so I suggest finding someone who'd done it before.

 

[Zwhitaker]

So the spring compressors help take the tension off of the collars. It is possible without but way easier with.

Z


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[Zwhitaker]

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[me73]

So, on my 2011 RGB Exige, which has Track Pack, I don't need to do spring compression? Just unweight the wheels? That would be easy!

I wouldn't spin the collars if there is ANY spring force on them. It's best to avoid situations where you can run into thread galling. It can get really messy.

 

[IamBatman]

dayum that is hella flush

 

[GuppyCaptain]

Looks even meaner, Zach. Love the Union Jack sticker on the front fender! Do you know where I can pick a pair of those up?

 

[Zwhitaker]

Looks even meaner, Zach. Love the Union Jack sticker on the front fender! Do you know where I can pick a pair of those up?

Lol yes I do


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