Need advice from suspension experts

[Asianbond]

My mechanic installed a set of custom shocks and springs on my 93 SE, they are perfect for the track, no lean and flat cornering.

They stink for the road, still no lean and flat cornering but major stiff pogo action on any bump or uneven surface.

I want to restore the car to a comfy city drivable car.

What is the caused of my pogo-ing? Too stiff springs or shock? Or both?

If springs can I just replace the spring to factory stock units?

I am considering switching the whole setup back to factory stock for 93 SE, otherwise any recommendations for a decent aftermarket upgrade but very streetable?

Anyone have a set of used stock SE springs and shocks for sale?

[JeffYoung]

After having tracked the car, and continuing to plan on using it for a track car, I must say I think the stock 93.5 suspension is pretty close to perfect for a hybrid street track setup. Yes, there is more body roll than you'd like on the track, but the trade off is I am comfortable driving the car 3+ hours TO the track.

If you track it, put on some "R" rubber (if yo uare ready for it), have some fun, and then drive the car home -- comfortably.

Your pogoing is probably a combination of two things. First, you have too high a spring rate for the street. This is the primary culprit and it is high spring rates that create the race car feel. Believe me, they are nice on the track but I certainly would not want to drive my race car on the street for more tha a few hundred yards. It woudl shake me and the car to death.

Shocks are less crucial. I have limited shock knowledge, but my understanding is that they are primarily dampers in that the "smooth" the car's movement across the range of spring travel.

Lotuses are (I've heard) undersprung and overdamped to give the hybrid ride they do. This means you get roll and lean (and street comfort), but it is controlled by the firm dampers.

One question: did you not save the stock springs and shocks????? Yikes man, never throw away anything that says "Lotus." Put it in the attic.

That said, I'm sure someone could give you the stock spring rates and you could get cheap replacements from Hypercoil or Eibach -- just tell them the ID, the free length and the rate and they will ship them to you.

Dampers are a different story. I'd probably change the spring rates and possibly adjust the dampers to a softer setting before I'd change them again. Are they SPAX? Is so, they are probably adjustable on car.

[superdave]

Hi there, I was in PNM on Saturday and they have just taken delivery of some adjustable Avo shocks for front and rears. The good thing about these are that they are adjustable for ride height and damping rate just by a turn of a dial. Both retail for about £85 each. PNM might have some stock used SE springs and shocks in. They can also get springs for you for about £40. If you are interested then their number is 0151 630 6101. Just tell Pete that you have spoken to me as I know hime well.


Cheers,



Dave Walters

[5150neo]

I just installed a set of Eibach springs over spax dampers and I'm quite pleased with the results. 300Lb spring in the front, 225Lb in the rear. It is a vast improvment over the factory setup. Mechanical roll is present but not the excessive roll that was present with the factory springs. Rear squat is less than half of what it was previously. The car sets very nice in high speed corners. As for the street, it took playing with several settings on the dampers to finb the balance point but now its very smooth. Even on concrete highways it is very stable. If you want some pictures and more technical info just let me know. I'll email you all the documentation I have on the setup.
John