Suspension Upgrade Options
Discussion
Olivera said:
jont- said:
Having to jack the car to adjust is something of a PITA - I had a caterham previously with Nitrons where the dampers could be fitted at the bottom with adjusters at the bottom to make them easily reachable. Still...
Is that because the damping adjuster is at the top end of the strut? Manual adjustment is fine if it can be adjusted easily from either top mounts or at the bottom of the strut (reaching behind wheel when on ground), but having to jack the car up does sound like a PITA.
Olivera said:
Is that because the damping adjuster is at the top end of the strut? Manual adjustment is fine if it can be adjusted easily from either top mounts or at the bottom of the strut (reaching behind wheel when on ground), but having to jack the car up does sound like a PITA.
Yes. It's at the top of the strut and there just isn't clearance to get your hand between the wheel and top of the arch to fiddle, especially if you have a lowered ride height (but even if it was standard I don't think you'd manage it).jont- said:
Yes. It's at the top of the strut and there just isn't clearance to get your hand between the wheel and top of the arch to fiddle, especially if you have a lowered ride height (but even if it was standard I don't think you'd manage it).
Plus I guess you have to be very careful if adjusting when jacked up, as you'll have a crushed hand/arm if it somehow slipped off the jack...hmmm - interesting re the AST adjustment...
Re the comment above wrt Tractive dampers - there is quite a bit of noise about these online - they are are getting traction in the Porsche world etc.
This is a pretty narrow and maybe a slighty uninformed piece of feedback - but I know someone who recently fitted Tractives to a Lotus - apparently good on the street but he seemed surprised (and maybe a bit disappointed) about how soft they are on track.
Not sure if there is some further adjustment required etc.
Re the comment above wrt Tractive dampers - there is quite a bit of noise about these online - they are are getting traction in the Porsche world etc.
This is a pretty narrow and maybe a slighty uninformed piece of feedback - but I know someone who recently fitted Tractives to a Lotus - apparently good on the street but he seemed surprised (and maybe a bit disappointed) about how soft they are on track.
Not sure if there is some further adjustment required etc.
five50 said:
hmmm - interesting re the AST adjustment...
Re the comment above wrt Tractive dampers - there is quite a bit of noise about these online - they are are getting traction in the Porsche world etc.
This is a pretty narrow and maybe a slighty uninformed piece of feedback - but I know someone who recently fitted Tractives to a Lotus - apparently good on the street but he seemed surprised (and maybe a bit disappointed) about how soft they are on track.
Not sure if there is some further adjustment required etc.
I guess depends on design spec, you still need to decide on a spring rate don’t you and this doesn’t change, it’s only damping adjustment on the fly. I would be interested in how you would set up a road biased kit, ie with 5 settings that all work on road rather than 1 (often ‘full soft’) road and then lots of other settings that are just too firm and really only suitable for track - often the pattern with lots of sports cars with adjustable suspension. If your a heavy track user I get it but there are lots of us who primarily use road thus paying for an adjustable set up with only one setting suitable for road is not great is it ?Re the comment above wrt Tractive dampers - there is quite a bit of noise about these online - they are are getting traction in the Porsche world etc.
This is a pretty narrow and maybe a slighty uninformed piece of feedback - but I know someone who recently fitted Tractives to a Lotus - apparently good on the street but he seemed surprised (and maybe a bit disappointed) about how soft they are on track.
Not sure if there is some further adjustment required etc.
I will try to get some feedback.
Simon Owen said:
I started ‘stock’ and asked Dave to put the Bilstein’s on the platform that got closest to this, which he did.
So for me only a marginal drop, ie I’m still pretty high compared to lots of cars. I like this as I can virtually ignore (within reason) bumps and crests on gnarly B roads.
Regarding adjustment after the fact, I presume that the Bilsteins have to be entirely removed from the car to have the ride-height changed?So for me only a marginal drop, ie I’m still pretty high compared to lots of cars. I like this as I can virtually ignore (within reason) bumps and crests on gnarly B roads.
Quick update from me, incase it helps anyone. I had the Life110 springs, S ARBs and Fast Road Geo fitted today to my GT.
I decided against the Bilsteins as the OEM dampers are the standard Life110 package and people seem very happy with that. I did an hour drive home on a familiar route.
I could not be more delighted with the results. My main concern was that I would lose the compliant ride - if anything, it’s even better now. It has a smoothness to it - best I can describe it is less frenetic - particularly noticeable when you hit a speed bump. There’s a section of road that’s notoriously bumpy near my house and swear it rides better over it now than it used to. It’s remarkable. The steering feels sharper with more feedback. The whole thing feels planted and responsive. I should have done this the moment I bought the car.
TLDR; there’s something magic about this setup and I won’t be going back.
I’m taking it to Dijon Prenois in a couple of weeks and I’m very excited to see how it performs.
I decided against the Bilsteins as the OEM dampers are the standard Life110 package and people seem very happy with that. I did an hour drive home on a familiar route.
I could not be more delighted with the results. My main concern was that I would lose the compliant ride - if anything, it’s even better now. It has a smoothness to it - best I can describe it is less frenetic - particularly noticeable when you hit a speed bump. There’s a section of road that’s notoriously bumpy near my house and swear it rides better over it now than it used to. It’s remarkable. The steering feels sharper with more feedback. The whole thing feels planted and responsive. I should have done this the moment I bought the car.
TLDR; there’s something magic about this setup and I won’t be going back.
I’m taking it to Dijon Prenois in a couple of weeks and I’m very excited to see how it performs.
corrieb74 said:
Quick update from me, incase it helps anyone. I had the Life110 springs, S ARBs and Fast Road Geo fitted today to my GT.
I decided against the Bilsteins as the OEM dampers are the standard Life110 package and people seem very happy with that. I did an hour drive home on a familiar route.
I could not be more delighted with the results. My main concern was that I would lose the compliant ride - if anything, it’s even better now. It has a smoothness to it - best I can describe it is less frenetic - particularly noticeable when you hit a speed bump. There’s a section of road that’s notoriously bumpy near my house and swear it rides better over it now than it used to. It’s remarkable. The steering feels sharper with more feedback. The whole thing feels planted and responsive. I should have done this the moment I bought the car.
TLDR; there’s something magic about this setup and I won’t be going back.
I’m taking it to Dijon Prenois in a couple of weeks and I’m very excited to see how it performs.
Interesting. I’ve a legende with a broken spring at the moment so have been looking at options. I’d always ruled out the life springs and didn’t want to worsen ride quality in any way. I decided against the Bilsteins as the OEM dampers are the standard Life110 package and people seem very happy with that. I did an hour drive home on a familiar route.
I could not be more delighted with the results. My main concern was that I would lose the compliant ride - if anything, it’s even better now. It has a smoothness to it - best I can describe it is less frenetic - particularly noticeable when you hit a speed bump. There’s a section of road that’s notoriously bumpy near my house and swear it rides better over it now than it used to. It’s remarkable. The steering feels sharper with more feedback. The whole thing feels planted and responsive. I should have done this the moment I bought the car.
TLDR; there’s something magic about this setup and I won’t be going back.
I’m taking it to Dijon Prenois in a couple of weeks and I’m very excited to see how it performs.
Teatowell said:
Interesting. I’ve a legende with a broken spring at the moment so have been looking at options. I’d always ruled out the life springs and didn’t want to worsen ride quality in any way.
I know, I wish I'd had the opportunity to try it first. You feel more of the road surface through the steering wheel for sure, but for me that's a plus. I always expected it to feel like a compromise and it just doesn't. I'd happily drive it 8 hours to a track in this setup.corrieb74 said:
I know, I wish I'd had the opportunity to try it first. You feel more of the road surface through the steering wheel for sure, but for me that's a plus. I always expected it to feel like a compromise and it just doesn't. I'd happily drive it 8 hours to a track in this setup.
That's great. I have been debating the Bilsteins for months and last week decided I'd do just the springs first then do the shocks afterwards, if I felt necessary. The springs are sat in a box next to me. Just waiting for Spires to call me back to book it in and have them fitted.Colin P said:
That's great. I have been debating the Bilsteins for months and last week decided I'd do just the springs first then do the shocks afterwards, if I felt necessary. The springs are sat in a box next to me. Just waiting for Spires to call me back to book it in and have them fitted.
This was exactly my predicament and exactly what I wanted to share this info. Obviously it's subjective and what makes me happy may not make you happy. However, I think there's a trap we naturally fall into in thinking that throwing more expensive parts at a problem is always better. In this case, the shocks may be basic, but they're part of what makes the car ride the way it does.I found the standard dampers ok except when coming over a crest and they used to feel quite unsettled, I upgraded springs to Bilsteins and Life springs and I find it so much more predictable and balanced especially over undulating ground.
Its a shame that you can't try these things without going to the expense of fitting them and the risk of them being not to your liking.
Its a shame that you can't try these things without going to the expense of fitting them and the risk of them being not to your liking.
springfan62 said:
I found the standard dampers ok except when coming over a crest and they used to feel quite unsettled, I upgraded springs to Bilsteins and Life springs and I find it so much more predictable and balanced especially over undulating ground.
Its a shame that you can't try these things without going to the expense of fitting them and the risk of them being not to your liking.
Well that's exactly it. My issue with the GT was how uncontrolled it felt in fast transitions - similar to what you're observing. Litchfield went the damper route, David initially went the springs/ARB route. I dare say both give you more control, but in subtly different ways. What David writes about the progressive nature of the springs on his blog is very interesting, in that it's largely about the more controlled rebound. I suspect that's what I'm feeling when I describe a "smoothness". The question remains as to how much of that predictability you experience is the springs and how much is the dampers. Most likely both.Its a shame that you can't try these things without going to the expense of fitting them and the risk of them being not to your liking.
corrieb74 said:
My issue with the GT was how uncontrolled it felt in fast transitions
For a car that was praised (by some) for it's ride and handling, there ain't half a lot of owners that have in some way been dissatisfied and have changed the springs/dampers. Which indicates that Alpine got something seriously wrong with the original car.Olivera said:
For a car that was praised (by some) for it's ride and handling, there ain't half a lot of owners that have in some way been dissatisfied and have changed the springs/dampers. Which indicates that Alpine got something seriously wrong with the original car.
It depends what you want the car for, right? I want a car that I can thrash round a racetrack but isn't annoying on road. Alpine cater for my needs with the S or the R. I didn't buy one of those. The GT is awesome on B-roads, but less so coming out of the top of Eau Rouge.Gassing Station | Alpine | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff