Suspension

[ferrisbueller]

I know that Nitrons are the way forward as far as suspension is concerned but I can't afford them. What are the cheaper alternatives?

I've found a set up by a company called "Gaz" shocks anyone have any experience of these?

Any other alternatives?

ETA. How do I convert my S1 to take S2 suspension? And when we're talking about S2 conversion is it just shocks and these parts or bushes etc etc?

Edited by ferrisbueller on Thursday 22 June 18:12

[shangani]

Send a U2U on Seloc to Steve Butts (SteveB) - he does a kit for the S2 suspension to fit on an S1. He has the brackets that are needed and can advise you re ride height etc.

Gaz suspension is twin tube stuff - monotube dampers work better. Get the S2 stuff.

[turnamere]

Second vote for S2, Steve supplies springs and dampers set to the ride height of your choice along with the necessary brackets, just need to source 8 bolts and away you go. Great improvement.

[ferrisbueller]

turnamere said:

Second vote for S2, Steve supplies springs and dampers set to the ride height of your choice along with the necessary brackets, just need to source 8 bolts and away you go. Great improvement.

And the cost?

WIll this setup make my car as understeery as an S2 or can that be dialled out?

[bogie]

about £500 and no - the understeer is due to narrow front tyres on std S2 and geo settings...if you have 185/195 fronts and a good geo set-up you will be fine....

[ferrisbueller]

bogie said:

about £500 and no - the understeer is due to narrow front tyres on std S2 and geo settings...if you have 185/195 fronts and a good geo set-up you will be fine....

Hmmm, tempted.

What shocks does the S2 kit use?

[shangani]

Bilsteins.

[cuzza]

The S2 kit is superb - quietens things down and improves the ride dramatically.

IMO Nitrons are overkill unless you're doing lots of trackdays or using sticky tyres and you still need to know what adjustment to make to take advantage of the full adjustability IYSWIM

[cej]

ferrisbueller said:

I know that Nitrons are the way forward as far as suspension is concerned but I can't afford them. What are the cheaper alternatives?

I've found a set up by a company called "Gaz" shocks anyone have any experience of these?

Any other alternatives?

ETA. How do I convert my S1 to take S2 suspension? And when we're talking about S2 conversion is it just shocks and these parts or bushes etc etc?

Edited by ferrisbueller on Thursday 22 June 18:12

Hi,

I have GAZ suspension on my Elise and it's very good.

it can also lower the car quite a bit

Edited by cej on Friday 23 June 10:25

[S Works]

With all due respect to cej, the Gaz shocks are not the best route. Bilsteins with Steve's kit is the way if you don't want fully adjustables. Get a nice low-ish ride height, fit and forget

[jamwill79]

Hi,
Just noticed this post. I took the standard bilstein suspension off my exige S a few
weeks ago so I could swap to nitrons via maidstone sports cars. There are also a couple of brackets to go with them.
They only had a couple of weeks of use. I was going to put them on ebay soon as I was told that they are of some value. £400 ish. Are they of any interest to you??

[cuzza]

S2 Exige suspension will only fit the S2 Exige or a 111R as the rear dampers are a completely different length on all Toyota engined cars. Would definitely be worth something on eBay though.

[veetwin]

Is this upgrade a self-fit job for a competant engineer? What specialist tools are needed? Spring compressor? Anything else?

Has anyone got a step by step guide or a link to a web page (+photos) to illustrate the job?

I am thinking of doing the same for my S1. Any help would be appreciated.

[cej]

S Works said:

With all due respect to cej, the Gaz shocks are not the best route. Bilsteins with Steve's kit is the way if you don't want fully adjustables. Get a nice low-ish ride height, fit and forget

Obviously they're not the best of the best,but I'd like to know what you base your statement on ? Have you tried them ?

I know of several people running GAZ and I've done a couple thousand miles on mine now. I think they're OK.

I guess they're not at all as good as the Nitrons (which I'd like to have once I have the money) , but they're at 3x the price.

For the price, I think the GAZ suspension is a very good buy.

[S Works]

cej said:

S Works said:

With all due respect to cej, the Gaz shocks are not the best route. Bilsteins with Steve's kit is the way if you don't want fully adjustables. Get a nice low-ish ride height, fit and forget

Obviously they're not the best of the best,but I'd like to know what you base your statement on ? Have you tried them ?

I know of several people running GAZ and I've done a couple thousand miles on mine now. I think they're OK.

I guess they're not at all as good as the Nitrons (which I'd like to have once I have the money) , but they're at 3x the price.

For the price, I think the GAZ suspension is a very good buy.

I haven't tried them no, but I defer to the superior knowledge of guys like SteveB who know their onions and I'm afraid don't rate the GAZ ones at all. As shangani stated above, the monotube ones are better for the Elise.

The S2 Bilsteins are the upgrade of choice, and for around £600 represent good value if you don't want to go the Nitron's/Ohlins route.

Edited by S Works on Friday 23 June 19:23

[ferrisbueller]

S Works said:

cej said:

S Works said:

With all due respect to cej, the Gaz shocks are not the best route. Bilsteins with Steve's kit is the way if you don't want fully adjustables. Get a nice low-ish ride height, fit and forget

Obviously they're not the best of the best,but I'd like to know what you base your statement on ? Have you tried them ?

I know of several people running GAZ and I've done a couple thousand miles on mine now. I think they're OK.

I guess they're not at all as good as the Nitrons (which I'd like to have once I have the money) , but they're at 3x the price.

For the price, I think the GAZ suspension is a very good buy.

I haven't tried them no, but I defer to the superior knowledge of guys like SteveB who know their onions and I'm afraid don't rate the GAZ ones at all. As shangani stated above, the monotube ones are better for the Elise.

The S2 Bilsteins are the upgrade of choice, and for around £600 represent good value if you don't want to go the Nitron's/Ohlins route.

Edited by S Works on Friday 23 June 19:23

Am I right in saying that there is only £100 between the two options? I think I'd go for Bilstein ahead of Gaz tbh.

I'll do some more reading.