34 replies to this topic

[iVXT]

Got the Bilstein Adjustable Suspension fitted now. Pic below. It's meant to be the track pack option for the Exige Cup & S models. I've taken it to have the geo, ride height etc setup but run into the problem that it won't adjust low enough without putting too much preload on the springs. The car is currently running at around 145mm front & 140mm rear from my measurements after the setup has been done. I believe it should be either 120mm all round or 115mm front & 120mm rear? As well as this not being the best for the handling of the car it also means it's got a rather large wheel arch gap especially on the front. I'm on the 16/17 Compo's by the way. Currently waiting on some info but thought I'd try to find out some myself if possible. After some options as to what to try to sort it out. The two options so far suggested to me have first been a full new set of springs. Not sure how easy that would be to source as they're not standard coilover springs & I don't know the spec of the existing ones. The other option is a set of lowering brackets, I can't find these listed for a vx220 (only for an Elise) & don't even know if a set would fit all round or offer enough of a drop as really I need 30mm lower I think. Be grateful of any help or opinions please.

[GeorgeBC]

I run 120 front 130 rear. Set this after reading lots of pasts that say you need 10mm rake for the car to handle at it's optimum

[techieboy]

Lowering brackets for an Elise will fit but you can only use them on the front, as the VX rear upper mount position is fixed.

[techieboy]

There's no right or wrong ride height but yep, 10mm of rake is good.

[iVXT]

I run 120 front 130 rear. Set this after reading lots of pasts that say you need 10mm rake for the car to handle at it's optimum

10mm rake difference. Ok thanks.

Lowering brackets for an Elise will fit but you can only use them on the front, as the VX rear upper mount position is fixed.

Would it be these then >CLICK< the 25mm/45mm option? What about the abs bracket though?

ETA: oops missed you said could only use the fronts, bugger!

There's no right or wrong ride height but yep, 10mm of rake is good.

I guess not, I was told that the lower wishbones should be running level rather than at an angle to get the ride height setup right.

Edited by iVXT, 15 April 2011 - 04:21 PM.

[Exmantaa]

Got the Bilstein Adjustable Suspension fitted now. Pic below. It's meant to be the track pack option for the Exige Cup & S models.

I've taken it to have the geo, ride height etc setup but run into the problem that it won't adjust low enough without putting too much preload on the springs.

How can you put more preload if you raise the spring platforms to lower the car? Or do you mean they just won't go any higher, or the springs comes loose at full drop??

Easy fix, fit lowering brackets up front (and fab an ABS bracket)

Edited by Exmantaa, 15 April 2011 - 04:42 PM.

[iVXT]

Got the Bilstein Adjustable Suspension fitted now. Pic below. It's meant to be the track pack option for the Exige Cup & S models.

I've taken it to have the geo, ride height etc setup but run into the problem that it won't adjust low enough without putting too much preload on the springs.

How can you put more preload if you raise the spring platforms to lower the car? Or do you mean they just won't go any higher, or the springs comes loose at full drop??

Easy fix, fit lowering brackets up front (and fab an ABS bracket)

Maybe I misheard or misunderstood about the preload but I thought that was what he said.

Are the brackets you are talking about the ones I posted the link to above? What would I do at the rear though?

Also shame they don't make vx220 specific brackets ready to go on as I would need somebody to make the alteration you mention.

Cheers.

[TheRealVXed]

Don't understand what this preload thing is, bit you might be surprised to find that it won't make a difference if the spring can come off the seat, this is not dangerous unless you plan on doing jumps in your vx?

[iVXT]

Don't understand what this preload thing is, bit you might be surprised to find that it won't make a difference if the spring can come off the seat, this is not dangerous unless you plan on doing jumps in your vx?

It's just the ride height all round that needs sorting really. Didn't think adjustable suspension would not be adjustable enough to get the settings right.

As far as the springs going loose if they're correct you shouldn't get this but that's not my problem. I seem to remember though that a loose spring when the wheel is off the ground could be an mot fail.

Anybody anymore ideas to help?

Cheers.

Edited by iVXT, 17 April 2011 - 06:24 PM.

[Arno]

I've taken it to have the geo, ride height etc setup but run into the problem that it won't adjust low enough without putting too much preload on the springs.

As mentioned before.. To lower the car you screw the spring platforms *upward*. Pre-loading the springs usually means adjusting them downward and pre-compressing them so the car sits higher.

Here I'd say you have 2 scenarios:

- You can get the desired lower ride-height but the springs are loose when you jack up the car
- You run out of threads on the damper body before the car gets low enough

In the first case you can fit (very weak) helper springs which play no role in the suspension when the car rests on the springs (they are completely compressed flat) but they stop the main springs from getting loose when jacked up, causing an MOT fail.

In the second case you need springs which have the same lb/in (or N/mm) rating, but which are shorter when fully extended so the platform can remain lower on the body.

Still.. Large adjustments in ride height via the spring platforms is actually not what they are meant for although it seems logical. They are only meant for relatively small adjustments around a 'neutral' position as far as the suspension droop and compression travel goes.

To get useful ride-height adjustment without screwing up the damper droop and compression travel (which happens if you start moving the spring platform around a lot) you really need different mounting points. For the VX the difficulty will be the rear as here the mounting point is an integral, welded part of the subframe and not (like the front) a replaceable mount you could modify or have made up differently.

Bye, Arno.

[TheRealVXed]

Watched my cars be MOTd many times, and they have never taken the wheels off the ground...

[Mangham54]

Watched my cars be MOTd many times, and they have never taken the wheels off the ground...

Tut tut!

[iVXT]

I've taken it to have the geo, ride height etc setup but run into the problem that it won't adjust low enough without putting too much preload on the springs.

As mentioned before.. To lower the car you screw the spring platforms *upward*. Pre-loading the springs usually means adjusting them downward and pre-compressing them so the car sits higher.

Here I'd say you have 2 scenarios:

- You can get the desired lower ride-height but the springs are loose when you jack up the car
- You run out of threads on the damper body before the car gets low enough

In the first case you can fit (very weak) helper springs which play no role in the suspension when the car rests on the springs (they are completely compressed flat) but they stop the main springs from getting loose when jacked up, causing an MOT fail.

In the second case you need springs which have the same lb/in (or N/mm) rating, but which are shorter when fully extended so the platform can remain lower on the body.

Still.. Large adjustments in ride height via the spring platforms is actually not what they are meant for although it seems logical. They are only meant for relatively small adjustments around a 'neutral' position as far as the suspension droop and compression travel goes.

To get useful ride-height adjustment without screwing up the damper droop and compression travel (which happens if you start moving the spring platform around a lot) you really need different mounting points. For the VX the difficulty will be the rear as here the mounting point is an integral, welded part of the subframe and not (like the front) a replaceable mount you could modify or have made up differently.

Bye, Arno.

Thanks a lot for the info. I'm pretty sure that the problem is that there isn't any threads left on the body to allow any more adjustment to get the car any lower.

I don't know what the current spring spec is as they came as a complete kit as shown in the picture. Shame that an all round set of brackets isn't an option with the rears being welded because that would of been the easiest solution.

Wondering if the kit has come with the wrong springs & if maybe another set is available but haven't found any info out as yet.

Cheers.

[N17VES]

Should go lower than that!!

Remember the chassis for the exige and vx220 are the same, its only the rear subframe that differs slightly.

[iVXT]

Should go lower than that!!

Remember the chassis for the exige and vx220 are the same, its only the rear subframe that differs slightly.

Thanks a lot for posting that picture up. Gives some good info that I hadn't found.

With the kit being out of adjustable threads at the heights the car is currently at could it be that I have completely the wrong kit then or just the wrong springs?

Cheers.

[Arno]

Just checking.... You are measuring the ride-height with 75Kg ballast in each seat and 1/2 of fuel? Lotus ride height figures are always when 'ballasted'. Also you're measuring between a (straight) concrete floor (after rolling the car forward and back a little and 'bouncing' the suspension) and the main ali chassis beams under the car: Rear height point: at the shutline of the doors, right in front of the undertray Front height point: inside the front wheels at the end of the chassis beam Right? If you are, fair enough.. Very odd that it sits so high though... Bye, Arno,

[Mangham54]

If you got some pics up of how the car is currently sat, as well as some pics of the shockers fitted... That may help people with the diagnosis (if not, it may just help others when they do some work themselves).

[iVXT]

I had a double check of the measurements the other day at home before posting them up, they were originally done on the ramp during the setup. Besides the measurements from the chassis points I also did the top of the tyre to the wheel arch gap as well just out of interest. Not sure if that's any help but will post them up as haven't got any more photos on me at the moment. Front wheel arch to tyre gap is 75mm, Rear wheel arch gap to tyre is 50mm. When I had the car setup (by a known & well recommended place) he said the car needed to be lower all round to get the best settings & but there was no more adjustment which he found strange.

[SteveA]

As well as this not being the best for the handling of the car

Says who? Simon at cornering force recons that raising the ride height can allow a greater tyre contact patch through the corners. Lower isn't always better.

His suggestions are always based in science rather than an opinion of what a certain person 'feels' is better.

Edited by SteveA, 20 April 2011 - 12:30 PM.

[iVXT]

As well as this not being the best for the handling of the car

Says who? Simon at cornering force recons that raising the ride height can allow a greater tyre contact patch through the corners. Lower isn't always better.

His suggestions are always based in science rather than an opinion of what a certain person 'feels' is better.

I'd rather not get into what setup is best as I know opinions will differ & as you mention I know lower isn't always better.

The problem is I cannot even set the 120mm that Lotus recommend to set this suspension to (as shown in the pic posted above) so I'm hoping for help with that. Was also thinking if I posted up that somebody else may have already fitted this kit?

Thanks a lot.