Fitting S2 Suspention

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:53 pm

Thought I would start early on this, partly cos I'm excited but mostly cos I'll forget what I am doing and miss bits. Bear with me I tend to get distracted. (Like you didn't know that already)

So the story so far:

43k miles, 97R S1 with 140mm ish ride height and lovely red Konis. Springs are mix and match due to the previous owner being a bit of a technical numpty (Why change just one spring?!?!) Car had a bit of a lean on it when I picke her up, fixed under warranty so at least one of the front springs is new and the other not far off.

I finally put my hand in my pocket and ordered Steve Butt's S2 kit yesterday, expect to see it next week. I have gone for 110/120 and we'll see how I get on. (No speed bumps around here!) Ordered the steering rack raiser plate too, but I don't know about that yet.

Also I went to White, Milne and Co in Dundee and picked up a whole new set of suspension bolts/nuts/washers etc (Definatly NOT stainless steel!) for a very reasonable £3, then a trip across the road to the door marked "Trade Only" and got a rather natty torque wrench for £40, bit much but built to last.

2 days, £607.66 later.

watch this space....

Rich

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 3:52 pm

jack car up, take wheels off, take top and bottom bolts and nuts out each shock, remove shocks, fit new ones, put bolts and nuts back on, put wheels on, drive car till you can get in for geo session.

Job done

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 3:56 pm

so simple!!

Hang on, whats a bolt??

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 3:59 pm

Thanks Gordon!

We'll see if it's that simple....

More like: Jack up car, remove wheel, drop on foot, cut hand on sharp bit, swear, find socket, find another socket that fits, find another socket you have a ratchet for, spend 5 mins trying to do the bolt up tighter cos your working upsidedown in the dark and it's started to rain. Alot. Etc, etc....

Repeat until blood loss prevents further work or you finish the simple job you started 3 days ago.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:02 pm

Oh and then find the vital bit that goes right in the middle of whatever you have just put back together.

(Like the valve stem oil seals I forgot to put on the Cortina V6 heads I rebuilt. Twice

)

Lawrence · Post by **Lawrence** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:26 pm

eh Just 2 of 17mm spanners IIRC and an hour....

Do you get the Gordon Modification part too?

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:35 pm

Thats right. Did you get different rear shock mounts too? These mounts move the shock lower down the car, then you car let all the tension out the spring so the rear suspention actually works as it should. Plus i drilled mine to get the rear down a wee bit more and have less rake.

How did the rear springs come positioned?? Top groove. middle groove or bottom groove?? He might have modified the kit now.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 2:01 am

I only paid yesterday, I don't expect to see them until next week.
Steve assures me your mods are now incorperated into his kits now as standard. I'll do the photo diary thing when bits all turn up.

Lawrence it should only take an hour or so, but I doubt it, I have a sneaking suspicion that something will cause problems... It's all a bit manky down there and 8 years old...

gordon · Post by **gordon** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 6:59 am

RICHARDHUMBLE wrote:Steve assures me your mods are now incorperated into his kits now as standard. :

See me..... engineering genius so i am. Pure genius

My big contribution to the Lotus world.... my work here is done.

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 8:35 am

You did see my post ni the spare section about the S2 front springs I have ....

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:33 am

I think ( may be wrong here..) that the 110/120 (or lower) kit has differerent stiffer springs.

Sanjøy · Post by **Sanjøy** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 10:35 am

Dunno got Vx springs on the front for some reason that I have forgotten.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Tue Apr 04, 2006 11:16 pm

Are these still the SE recommended settings for S2 suspension? Poached from Gordon:

I use these setting with Advan neovas lts, 110/120 s2 kit and totally love it. Car is really sharp and grippy. Takes a bit of time to get heat into the tyres though.

110/120 ride height Full tank of fuel

Front toe= 0.02deg out
camber= 1.5 deg neg

Rear toe= 0.3 deg in
camber= 3 deg neg

Cold tyre pressures

Front= 21
Rear= 23

alicrozier · Post by **alicrozier** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:33 am

Might be a bit extreme for most...Gordons is a pretty aggressive track setup (I like it).

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:39 pm

Any thoughts on a softer set up?