OZ alloys - which springs/dampers?
OZ alloys - which springs/dampers?
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dom180

Original Poster:

1,180 posts

287 months

Sunday 4th October 2009
quotequote all
a) My k series S2 needs a suspension refresh - I'd like to take the opportunity to fit some OZ alloys which I'll match with a set of Yokohama AO39s - any suggestions for matching springs/dampers - primarily for road use with 4/5 trackdays per year but I don't want to compromise b-road running. (I tried a 135R and while that setup would be good for the track, I didn't rate the overly hard ride for the road all that much.)

I'd be happy to fit standard Bilsteins again but would the AO39s require stiffer springs/dampers?


b) what items should I replace during a suspension refresh: assume springs/dampers/bushes/toe-links...

Suggestions gratefully received.


bogie

16,897 posts

295 months

Sunday 4th October 2009
quotequote all
Id go with some NItrons from Hoffmans, and ask for a fast road set-up

you are right in your observations, and I found the same - Billies too soft, but LSS compromised - too hard for road, not hard enough for proper track

I had some custom Nitrons and then had a setting for the road, and track smile

dom180

Original Poster:

1,180 posts

287 months

Sunday 4th October 2009
quotequote all
bogie said:
Id go with some NItrons from Hoffmans, and ask for a fast road set-up

you are right in your observations, and I found the same - Billies too soft, but LSS compromised - too hard for road, not hard enough for proper track

I had some custom Nitrons and then had a setting for the road, and track smile
Thanks. I'll give them a call.

TIPPER

2,955 posts

242 months

Sunday 4th October 2009
quotequote all
I changed everything articulated. For the effort involved in dismantling you may as well and the results are amazing. My car now rides virtually silently on its Nitrons. Sure it'll bang into potholes but all of the crashing, banging, clattering and general noise my car made has gone. I'm also sure the car rides better ( I fitted the Nitrons prior to the refresh so put the improvment down to fresh 'bits') and it certainly feels far more positive and connected. As bogie says, Randy has his own spec Nitrons which are getting very good reviews. Well worth chatting to Randy about what you're hoping to achieve.

dom180

Original Poster:

1,180 posts

287 months

Sunday 4th October 2009
quotequote all
TIPPER said:
I changed everything articulated. For the effort involved in dismantling you may as well and the results are amazing. My car now rides virtually silently on its Nitrons. Sure it'll bang into potholes but all of the crashing, banging, clattering and general noise my car made has gone. I'm also sure the car rides better ( I fitted the Nitrons prior to the refresh so put the improvment down to fresh 'bits') and it certainly feels far more positive and connected. As bogie says, Randy has his own spec Nitrons which are getting very good reviews. Well worth chatting to Randy about what you're hoping to achieve.
Cheers. Yep, makes sense to renew everything.

mrdemon

21,146 posts

288 months

Monday 5th October 2009
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Fit the Lotus Ohlins 2 ways for road use the best drive i have been on the road in.

Nitrons are ok if you ask for a raod set up, but many choose 1 ways, you will not get a good road and track set up with 1 ways.

dom180

Original Poster:

1,180 posts

287 months

Monday 5th October 2009
quotequote all
mrdemon said:
Fit the Lotus Ohlins 2 ways for road use the best drive i have been on the road in.

Nitrons are ok if you ask for a raod set up, but many choose 1 ways, you will not get a good road and track set up with 1 ways.
Are the compatible with the k-series - I thought they only fitted the Toyota cars?

I'm concerned about getting a good road based ride - would standard Bilsteins work with AO39s/OZs - I know they're not recommended for the AO48s?






Mr_C

2,495 posts

252 months

Tuesday 6th October 2009
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I'd have thought 039's will be ok with standard dampers?

Scuffers would possibly be the best person to advise on this though.

Lawrence5

1,253 posts

258 months

Tuesday 6th October 2009
quotequote all
I'm selling a set of refurbed (by bilstein) 135r dampers and springs..... but yeah it makes the road ride hard as nails. Unlike the nitrons and gaz you cannot adjust (except ride height) to soften off for the road.

That said mine are up for £450 and Nitrons you need to stick a 1 in front of that price redface

bogie

16,897 posts

295 months

Tuesday 6th October 2009
quotequote all
Mr_C said:
I'd have thought 039's will be ok with standard dampers?

Scuffers would possibly be the best person to advise on this though.
yes, they are a road tyre and will be fine

dom180

Original Poster:

1,180 posts

287 months

Tuesday 6th October 2009
quotequote all
bogie said:
Mr_C said:
I'd have thought 039's will be ok with standard dampers?

Scuffers would possibly be the best person to advise on this though.
yes, they are a road tyre and will be fine
Cheers.

Thanks for the replies all. I'll try and experience some different Nitron setups on the road before deciding.

TIPPER

2,955 posts

242 months

Wednesday 7th October 2009
quotequote all
mrdemon said:
Fit the Lotus Ohlins 2 ways for road use the best drive i have been on the road in.

Nitrons are ok if you ask for a raod set up, but many choose 1 ways, you will not get a good road and track set up with 1 ways.
GLOL! How many have the ability to properly set up two ways? If you feel comfy sodding about with seperate bump and rebound settings for a mainly road car then fine. The production class Elise racers get on fine with one ways.
As suggested by Bogie, Randy has done a lot of devlopment work on Nitrons for the Elise. He has developed his own spec one ways which are available from Hoffmans. Randy will also be happy to help you achieve what you want to with your car.


Edited by TIPPER on Wednesday 7th October 00:45

Scuffers

20,887 posts

297 months

Wednesday 7th October 2009
quotequote all
from what's been asked, I really don't see that multi-way dampers are the answer unless he is looking for excuses to spend money.

Nitron's will do the job (and I am not going to get into the somewhat pointless arguments about his/her vavling etc.), although I would suggest that for the use stated, they are also going to be somewhat over-kill.

considering the time of year etc, I would be suggesting a new set of billies and, depending on their state, a new set of wishbone bushes/ball joints.

sustech

26 posts

200 months

Wednesday 7th October 2009
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I could probably come up with some 1 way Ohlins. Let me know and I will spec some up for a price.

TIPPER

2,955 posts

242 months

Wednesday 7th October 2009
quotequote all
Just one more thing. Surely 39s are overkill for road use (OK for the track days though).
Why not run AD07s on the standard rims ffor road and fit a set of OA48s or Toyo 888s to the OZs for track work?

dom180

Original Poster:

1,180 posts

287 months

Thursday 8th October 2009
quotequote all
TIPPER said:
Just one more thing. Surely 39s are overkill for road use (OK for the track days though).
Why not run AD07s on the standard rims ffor road and fit a set of OA48s or Toyo 888s to the OZs for track work?
I've been running AD07s for a while now (4 sets so far) with an excellent road/track geo and I'm interested to see what difference 39s/OZs would make over that setup (without giving too much grip) as much on the road as on the track.

(I'll keep the original rims - gives a bit of flexibility, as you suggest esp. if the S3 Elise isn't an improvement and I decide to go down the Audi/Honda route.)

Edited by dom180 on Thursday 8th October 19:42

Scuffers

20,887 posts

297 months

Thursday 8th October 2009
quotequote all
TIPPER said:
Just one more thing. Surely 39s are overkill for road use (OK for the track days though).
Why not run AD07s on the standard rims ffor road and fit a set of OA48s or Toyo 888s to the OZs for track work?
A039's are not really a track tyre.....