Series 2 Shock Absorbers

[Peske]

My 2005 111s has just failed it's MOT due to a leaking rear shock absorber. I'm having trouble locating original equipment shocks and wondered if there is a more easily obtainable unit. I don't want anything fancy, the car is unmodified and only used on the road. Any ideas anyone?

[clarkmagpie]

Not much help, mine failed on similar a few years ago.
Stuck some second hand ones on at a fraction of the price!

I remember new ones being eye watering!

[kambites]

https://www.eliseparts.com/products/show/73/503/s2...

There's no option to select a rear unit, but the text states they have them.

[Peske]

Clarkmagpie, thanks for your response, but unfortunately used parts are very few and far between in this part of the country (north west). I'm still waiting on a couple of replies, so all is not yet lost. I'll post the results when I have them.


Thanks also to Kambites. I've been in touch with Eliseparts and rear shocks are on back order, oem from Lotus expected November (and quoted at £197 plus vat each!) and special order from Bilstein at least 5 weeks. I'm hoping I can get sorted sooner.

[kambites]

I guess you could try phoning around main dealers/specialists to see if any have stock?

£200+VAT each sounds plausible but anything worthwhile aftermarket will cost at least that. Decent dampers are expensive.

Edited by kambites on Wednesday 7th August 19:13

[Tickle]

Try Junks on SELOC

[Peske]

Thanks Tickle. Nothing on Seloc at the moment, I'll post a wanted ad tomorrow.
Kambites, I guess I'll have a few phone calls to make tomorrow as well as you suggest.

This is only the second Elise specific part I've needed in the 14 years that I've owned the car so I suppose I should consider myself lucky, but the other one (switch pack unit) took over 6 months and a lot of badgering to source. Hopefully this will not take that long or I'll miss what's left of summer.

[Stephanie Plum]

Bilstein do a rebuild service though I don’t think it’s much cheaper than buying new ones. Have you tried Bell and Colvill parts dept?

[Peske]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I've had no luck with finding Bilsteins any time soon, but I have found some AVO adjustable gas assist shocks available from Merlin Motorsport at £120 each. I'll replace both rears and see about getting the leaking Bilstein rebuilt. I'll come back with a quick review of the AVOs in few weeks time.