S1 converted to S2 suspension

[TJRJ]

Hello everybody

I have just had my S1 converted to S2 suspension as well as having all new bushes, joints, powder coated wishbones etc. I new there would be a reduction in ride height but mine is significantly lower than before. Is there a ride height adjustment I can make to raise it little?

Also I hadn't driven the car for 6 months but felt the steering to be a lot more heavy and with less self centring of the steering wheel from before. If the suspension is lowered does this make a difference to the steering weight?

[Exige77]

Who did the conversion ?

[Talkwrench]

Sounds like something was done incorrectly.
I converted my S1 to S2 suspension some time ago. The ride height is unchanged and the steering is perfectly weighted. The ride and handling is improved considerably.
It is possible to fit the new front suspension mounts incorrectly and this would result in a lower ride height. This may well be the problem.

[Mark B]

Exige77 said:

Who did the conversion ?

+1 this sounds like it has been poorly done. I changed my front ball joints many moons ago and pinched them putting them in. Steering was awful and had to be re done.

[RobM77]

It does sound like something is wrong, yes. I'm posting to say that I thought the S2 was indeed lower than the standard S1 by about 20mm, so the OP should see a reduction in ride height?

[Mark B]

RobM77 said:

It does sound like something is wrong, yes. I'm posting to say that I thought the S2 was indeed lower than the standard S1 by about 20mm, so the OP should see a reduction in ride height?

Agreed, they are slightly lower.

[RobM77]

Mark B said:

RobM77 said:

It does sound like something is wrong, yes. I'm posting to say that I thought the S2 was indeed lower than the standard S1 by about 20mm, so the OP should see a reduction in ride height?

Agreed, they are slightly lower.

My info is from an interview with Gavan Kershaw from a Lotus DVD that I have. IIRC 20mm was the figure. I'm sure he also said that the standard S2 suspension was very similar to the LSS kit for the S1.

[Thorburn]

Later S1s were higher than early ones as standard I think? 130mm later raised to 160mm iirc.

[Ganglandboss]

I did mine a couple of years ago using the set from www.eliseparts.com, which they said was supplied by Lotus. I cannot remember the numbers, but they did state there was a slight drop. You could select two options at one end (I forget which) according to the how you mounted the new brackets that came in the kit.

[Ganglandboss]

Talkwrench said:

Sounds like something was done incorrectly.
I converted my S1 to S2 suspension some time ago. The ride height is unchanged and the steering is perfectly weighted. The ride and handling is improved considerably.
It is possible to fit the new front suspension mounts incorrectly and this would result in a lower ride height. This may well be the problem.

Could the lack of change in ride height be due to the old springs sagging slightly?

[TJRJ]

Thanks for your reply. The work was done by a respected lotus independent specialist that is why I am surprised that it has been done incorrectly. I have been out of the country since I have had it done so will speak to them when I get back. The ride and handling have been improved immensely as you would expect and very pleased with that aspect, its just the steering and ride height that I am not happy with.

[RobM77]

Sorry, I missed your question on the steering. This issue is probably caused by incorrect geometry. Geo will change with ride height, yes, but that's only relevant if the work done hasn't altered the geo purely in the act of rebuilding and changing suspension components, which it will almost certainly have done. The problem is therefore probably that the geo hasn't been set correctly after the suspension work was completed. You need to ask the people who did the work whether they've reset the geo and what equipment they have used to do so. It'll likely need a proper four wheel alignment done. Whether you go for S1 or S2 settings is another question entirely, because you now have a hybrid between the two models.

[saaby93]

Isnt the height determined by which of the 3 locations they use for the collars on the bilsteins?

[Altrezia]

saaby93 said:

Isnt the height determined by which of the 3 locations they use for the collars on the bilsteins?

Yes you can adjust it that way, but only about 15mm from top to bottom.

More likely an incorrect shock mount has been fitted, there are different types.