Handling problems Elise S1

[bjos]

Hi

I just bought a S1 Elise. When I drove it home I started to feel that the steering was strange. It feels like the car has some kind of force on the wheels that steers it in different directions.

I can feel it when the road is a bit bumpy and allso when there is tracks in the road on the motoway. It feels like the car is then following the bumps and tracks in the road. It doesnt feel like the car is moving that much but I can feel everything in the steering wheel.

I dont realy notice it when driving in the city at low speed but when Im over 50mph it comes. Its not regular, sometimes it comes without a bumpy road. I can realy feel it when I change lanes on the motorway.

The steeringwheel doesnt have any play, the wheels move directlly when you move the steeringwheel.

It pulls to the right a bit all the time if you let the steeringwheel go.

I had a S1 before and that had a bit of the same feeling,I felt a lot what was happening in the road, but not at all in the same way as this one.


Does anyone have an idee whats wrong? Can it just be that the setup and ballance is totaly wrong? Or must I change any parts? In that case can I do it myself?

Would be great to hear what you say

[TIPPER]

Get the geo checked, it could well be the toe is out.

[chris7676]

Maybe worn suspension bushes? My front toe was well out (I think 3mm) but it still didn't do that.

[beez]

Could be tram lining, following the depression in the roads from where the big lorries have been. My S1 used to do this when i first had it, I swapped the awful Pirelli tyres which made some difference. And had the geo set up properly by Sinclaires which solved it completely.

[Scuffers]

what tyres are on it?

things like A048's do tramline a lot compared to more normal road tyres

[955sp3]

I had exactly the same symptoms. Took my car to Track Torque and had the geo set up properly (it was badly out). The car felt completely sorted afterwards. Toe & camber were both out.

[bjos]

I got A048's. Not home for two weeks but will take it for a setup when I come home and see if it workes after that. I dont have a Lotus specalist close to were I live but I guess its okay to go to a good tyre and wheel shop that has the mashines to fix it??

[AstonXIII]

Scuffers said:

what tyres are on it?

things like A048's do tramline a lot compared to more normal road tyres

Yeah, I'll copy that you do notice the odd bit of tram lining on R888/AO48's.

A XIII

Edited by AstonXIII on Tuesday 9th June 21:42

[S Works]

It might just have a more aggressive set-up than other cars you've had, and hence the front will feel more pointy and be more susceptible to tramlining etc.

My last S1 was like this as it had shed-loads of camber on the front. It was a bit of a bore in some cases, but in most cases it meant it handled like a dream.

[TIPPER]

bjos said:

I got A048's. Not home for two weeks but will take it for a setup when I come home and see if it workes after that. I dont have a Lotus specalist close to were I live but I guess its okay to go to a good tyre and wheel shop that has the mashines to fix it??

Where are you. Someone might be able to suggest somewhere. Its not just having the kit its knowing how to use it and bothering to do the job properly that matters.
I'm running 888s and after re-building the suspension over the winter ended up in a bit of a last minute rush to get the car to a booked track day. It made for a very interesting drive and when I properly checked the toe and camber it was no wonder. One of the rears in particular was a country mile out with regards to toe! As others have said, tyres like the 48s and 888s do tend to follow the road more than more road orientated tyres but I'm more than happy with my car now even though my set-up is more track than road orientated. You soon get used to it but worth checking anyway.

[bjos]

I know the preveus owner had a 160 setup done a couple of years ago. But its not just that I have sporty tyres or that the setup is a track setup, something is wrong. I mean, even if you have a track setup it shouldnt pull to the left. I think Im going to tell them to put it back to a normal Elise setup. Is it important that they check both front and back setup?

I live in the middle of Sweden, but will ask some friends were to go.