Rattles & Crashing noises - Any ideas?

[paulwakinshaw]

Hi Guys

I have just put my S1 into the dealers this morning for it's MOT. I'm waiting for the call to say it's failed because of a split steering rack gaiter.

I have only had the car for 3 months but since i have got it there has been some strange rattles and crashing noises from the suspension. My friends S1 seems to be super quiet in comparison to mine - so i'm looking for possible causes, any ideas.

Oh BTW the noise is a bit like two snooker balls knocking together....

[Trunkie]

That'll be your dampers. Are they original Konis? How many miles has the car done? Replace with S2 items, LSS or nitrons.

[paulwakinshaw]

Hi Trunkie

It's got 22k on and it's a 1998 - R still running the standard Koni's

The shocks are not doing the usual "Ticking" sound as i would expect to hear with shagged dampers and the car still handles well. I hear that the early S1's were noisy due to the spring fouling on the damper body so maybe that's the problem.

Thanks for your reply

still waiting to hear from F1 Lotus with the bad MOT news........?

[Cuzza]

paulwakinshaw said:

Hi Guys I have just put my S1 into the dealers this morning for it's MOT. I'm waiting for the call to say it's failed because of a split steering rack gaiter.

You might get away with it - if they can't see it, they can't test it and the undertray hides most of the rack.

[paulwakinshaw]

Hi Cuzza

No chance the will miss it, it's at the end nearest the wheel and was really obvious to me when i was just having a quick look the other day.

I'm convincing myself that the rack is at the end of it's life now - split gaiter, noises from the front end this could mean a big bill - just think of the cost of a new rack and full set of shocks & springs - ouch

BTW do you know if anyone else has had problems with the rack on their S1?

[Cuzza]

Hi Paul,

Bummer. Sounds expensive - if you need new shocks the Nitrons could be the way to go, they are a bit more (don't know how much they work out to) but are the ones to have from what I've heard.

I think the rack is a fairly common problem along with the shocks - just wear and tear.

[DanH]

Nitrons = 1000 quid
S2 dampers with VX springs = 600 or so I think.

Nitrons worth it if you track the car imho, but not really worth it if you don't.

I'd avoid S1 LSS as its inferior to S2 dampers and costs the same.

[Trunkie]

Nitrons are a grand
S2/VX dampers can be had for more like 400 bucks from someone, sadly I can't remember who so that's not much use really! Someone B if that's any help

[james24]

I get a similar sound from my S2

[alki]

Pop over to seloc forum m8....theres a guy called steve butts who does an s2 replacement kit for the s1....its a nice compromise between road and track and alot quieter than the original konis.
Steves a very helpful guy and the the kit gives you the ability to lower the car by upto 50mm which is still fine for speed bumps and looks sexy as

Expect to pay 500 quid for the kit, half the price of nitrons, but if you want a dedicated track car i,d agree...go with the nitrons

ps. not been by for a while, has dragqueen calmed down yet??

>> Edited by alki on Friday 16th April 20:47

[fergusd]

Very sound advice.

S1 konis all end up making these noises, it's rarely anything to do with the springs . . . the valves in the dampers are what actually make the noise.

I'd fit either S2 dampers (or some of the VX variants) OR Nitrons to an S1, nothing else is worth it.

The S2 dampers are very nice, quiet, still quite soft, but perfect for a car that is never tracked or really hooned excessively.

The Nitrons are lovely bits of kit, perfect for a car that is tracked or really nooned around the back roads.

Choose based on what you use the car for if possible.

I have one of the first couple of sets of the latest generation Nitrons on my car, ~40K road and track miles, zero problems at all, absolutely love them.

I've fitted numerous sets of S2/VX dampers to S1's also, and it's the only other thing I'd recommend fitting for when you get old and slow , I've also driven cars with spax/avo/leda/etc on track and road . . .

Fd
www.lotusecosse.com
www.team-scottish-elises.co.uk

>> Edited by fergusd on Saturday 17th April 11:58

[paulwakinshaw]

Thanks for all of the sound advice guys!

Got the car back from the dealer and it failed it's MOT - great!

Failed only on the split gaiter on the rack and the track rod ends are at the end of the road. I'm gonna get this sorted first then come back to the noises and sort them.

I only ever drive the car on the road - no track use and only the odd blast on local B roads so the New style S2 set-up sounds like my best choice. As for the VX springs - why? are they stiffer or more pregressive than the S2 ones? whre can i get the S2 kit?

And finally I live near Newcastle upon Tyne so can anyone tell me where I could get the S2 stuff fitted apart from F1 Lotus (current labour rate £43+VAT!)

Best Regards

Paul

[bogie]

errrmm...thats a pretty good labour rate ! ...short of going to a mate in his lockup I dont think you'll get it done much cheaper

typical dealer rates down here are £75-90 ph + vat !

Good VFM Lotus specialists are like £38-45 + vat

[Peter Calver]

I'm a recent recipient of an Elise - actually its my wife's car - 1997 S1. Steep learning curve! Ours suffers from the crashing - how do you get in contact with Steve Butts and where is the seloc forum that's mentioned.

[paulwakinshaw]

seloc is www.seloc.co.uk

i'm still trying to find some info on there with regard to the S2 kit

Paul

[Trunkie]

Peter Calver said:

how do you get in contact with Steve Butts

Steve's email is sbATsophos.com

Some info from him:

<I supply three versions of the kit all giving different ride heights. All
parts are supplied by Lotus with the exception of the front brackets used
on the 110/120 and 100/110 kits, and rear brackets used on the 100/110
kit. Those brackets are supplied by Bernard Scouse and are stainless steel
laser cut.

All of my kits set the front of the car lower - called rake. A rake has
been proven to give extra front downforce in wind tunnel testing, and Lotus
used the rake themselves on the Sports Suspension (LSS) they used on the
Exige, 340R, Sport 160 and Sport 190.

All ride heights are approximate, being dependant on tread depth, car
loading, etc..

125/135 This kit is the same as the Lotus supplied version of the kit,
except that I supply the springs set such that the rear of the car will be
approx 10mm higher. It uses S2 dampers, S2 rear springs and VX220 front
springs, and I supply S2 rear top suspension mounts.

110/120 This kit is my own using new S2 springs and dampers together with
Bernard Scouse's front top mounts. This kit will work on any Elise, but you
will need to tell me what your current ride height and/or chassis number is
so I can set the rear spring position on the damper body correctly. Early
cars pre-chassis number #3580 will have a ride height of 140/140 and later
cars 160/160.

100/110 This kit is my own using new S2 Dampers, VX220 front springs and S2
rear springs together with Bernard Scouse's stainless steel laser cut front
top mounts and rear top mounts.

Once fitted you should as a minimum get the toe checked on all four wheels,
since changing the ride height will affect this, and incorrect toe gives
poor handling and premature tyre wear. Better, you should get a full geo
check done, and use the following recommended settings: front camber 1 deg
neg, front toe OUT 15 minutes total, rear camber 2 deg neg, rear toe IN 1
deg total.

When lowering the car you may notice more front bumpsteer, more likely when
going for the lower ride height option. If this is an issue then fitting of
the steering rack raising plates is recommended (Lotus Part number
A111H0021F 10 notch 1.05+vat).

The prices are:

125/135 500 GBP
110/120 510 GBP
100/110 525 GBP

Delivery is 15 GBP>

[paulwakinshaw]

That info was really helpful - thanks

Now that i seem to have located where i can get the new kit from where do i get it fitted?

I live near Newcastle upon Tyne so somewhere in the north of the country would be best and if possible somewhere that can also do the full Geo set-up!

Thanks in advance

Paul

[alki]

You can fit them your self m8 if you can use a spanner...i did in an hour. Steve will give you a set of fitting instuctions with some piccys but its really very straight forward...if you can get the wheels off you can fit the shocks
as for the vx/lotus springs it all depends on what ride hight you want.

[paulwakinshaw]

So can anyone tell me where I can get these new S2 dampers/springs fitted and then get a full Geo check done in the North East?

Paul

[pley]

1st'ly

Buy the S2 dampers second hand (low milage pref). Put a advert on SELOC/PHeads etc. You'll need some brackets too from Steve Butts (who can also supply S2 dampers I believe). Take them to a garage you know (back street) as its an easy job.

Then:

Ring round your tyre fitters to see if they have a laser alignment system. A "Hunter" I believe.

This will be the cheapest way to get a geo.

Best take the settings with you aswell (in handbook).

Make sure you mention to anchor the steering wheel!

HTH,
Paul

BTW once the track ends, dampers and geo is done you'll fall in love with the car again!