CanAm - did the ride height test you suggested last night!

[MikeGF]

Hi Everyone

Following on from my thread about my Superlight and speed bumps, CanAm kindly suggested a test that he found on Blatchat, as follows:

As for ride height, a tip from a L7GB Club Member:-
"Hmm, for road use I set mine up so that a coke can will roll under the sump but a wine bottle won't. Very unscientific but these were the tools that were to hand at the time ."

So, last night I swigged a can of fosters to do the test, here are the results....

Width of the fosters can = 6.2ish cms..

Would it roll under the sump? NO WAY!!

So I measured from the floor to my sump = 4.5cms!!!!

That explains the car grounding out on EVERY speed bump!

Width of a wine bottle = 7.2 ish cms - didnt even try

Car's off top Caterham to fix the broken speedo in a week or so. I am not sure how (or if I have the skill!!) to adjust the shocks myself, so will leave it to them.

Just have to carry on driving carefully

Cheers
MikeGF

[CanAm]

Mike,
Glad to be of help. I'll pass on your thanks to Ray, whose idea it was.
4.5 cms!? That would barely clear catseyes - no wonder you had problems!

[MikeGF]

Hi CanAm

Yes, please pass on my thanks. And yes, when I saw it was 4.5cms, I was not surprsied at the amount of trouble I was having!

I have no idea how to adjust the shocks, so going to get Caterham to do it for me.

Cheers
MikeGF

[fergus]

MikeGF said:

Hi CanAm

Yes, please pass on my thanks. And yes, when I saw it was 4.5cms, I was not surprsied at the amount of trouble I was having!

I have no idea how to adjust the shocks, so going to get Caterham to do it for me.

Cheers
MikeGF

Mike, I presume your shocks have threaded collars on them? You can easily tell this by looking at the front shocks and seeing if there are threads running down the outside of the body of the shock. If they do, all you need to do is to jack the car up and wind in the spring platform. There are a few issues with this though

1) you need to check front and rear ride heights to make sure you have enough rake (my K series has 15mm)
2) with non-linear rate springs, you may affect the preload on the spring and hence slightly alter the transient state handling
3) your corner weights may be *way* off. Whilst perfect corner weights aren't necessary, something close will make a lot of difference to your driving experience in the car. A good approximation to this is to work with someone else, and whilst you have the car loaded for a 'typical' drive (perhaps just yourself and half a tank of fuel), have someone meansure the front and rear ride heights (I take mine from just in front and behind the rear and front wheels respectively at rear:135mm, front 120mm. My dry sump pan has approx 65mm clearance).

Good luck!

[MikeGF]

Thanks fergus, yep, thems the shocks I have, I think I will ask Caterham to do it first and watch, then learn from there. Thanks for the advice! It's duly noted for when I get a bit more clever with a spanner..

Cheers
MikeGF

[rubystone]

MikeGF said:

Thanks fergus, yep, thems the shocks I have, I think I will ask Caterham to do it first and watch, then learn from there. Thanks for the advice! It's duly noted for when I get a bit more clever with a spanner..

Cheers
MikeGF

Why ask Caterham to set it up? Find a good raceteam and ask them to set up up properly for you - not a lot of money and the rewards are well worth having.

Are your bottom wishbones parallel with the road?

[fergus]

MikeGF said:

Thanks fergus, yep, thems the shocks I have, I think I will ask Caterham to do it first and watch, then learn from there. Thanks for the advice! It's duly noted for when I get a bit more clever with a spanner..

Cheers
MikeGF

Mike, as long as you are comfortable with a jack and a tape measure and can physically turn the spring platforms, why pay someone else to do it for you?

Jack the car up, adjust all four corners in the direction you think they need to go, then lower the car onto the floor. Bounce on it to settle the suspension, then remeasure. Repeat the process until you're somewhere near the ride heights desired.

Granted, a race team, with corner weight scales will do the job *really* accurately, but this will cost you circa £150-£250, and for road use, I'd suggest getting ride heights about right will have you 90% of the way there. I'd be suprised if you were more than 2 or 3% out on the optimal corner weights (this is a whole other debate ).

You don't even need to to touch a spanner to do this!

[CanAm]

fergus said:

My dry sump pan has approx 65mm clearance).

Good luck!

That's a Coke can! Good system, isn't it?

[MikeGF]

Thanks for the responses everyone. The reason I was asking Caterham is because the car has to go back to have the speedo fixed (which doesn't work) and as they have the car I was going to do it then. It's still under warranty. Plus I can watch them do it.

I feel uncomfortable (at present) changing things that upset the balance of the car, drivability of the car etc. I am waiting to get on the list for the "Get to know your Caterham day". I know its simple, but with my 2 TVR's the simplest of jobs usually ended up leading to something much bigger Think it's just a confidence thing..

I have joined the local Motor Club and am spectating at my first Solo this Sunday, with me competing in my first April, so I want to get to know my Superlight inside out, and learn about the suspension set ups.

I read a bit about corner waighting, but got a bit confused

Cheers
MikeGF

[CanAm]

Mike,
Forgot to say, if you're using the wine bottle method of ride height measurement don't use this one:


And joining the Lotus Seven Club is a very good idea. Lots of helpful blokes down your way.

[MikeGF]

Hi CanAm

Application form is here on my desk, to be sent off this afternoon, there seem to ba quite a few owners around me, which is nice

I thought I was more drunk that original first using those bottles then I realised it's a design as your thumb goes in the hole underneath, and 2 fingers fit in the groove, then the neck is bent upwards to make pouring earlier. THought I was very clever, till everyone actually knew

Cheers
MikeGF

[CanAm]

Hi Mike,
Eric Mc posts on here regularly and he's in your area. There may be others, but not everyone uses the same ID on both sites. I do, mostly in a failed attempt at anonymity when I first went on Blatchat, hoping SWMBO didn't realise I was looking to buy a car.
Alan

[CanAm]

Mike,
Forgot to add, when you get your membership there'll be an application for in the Low Flying magazine for the handling day at Dunsfold. This is WELL worth £40, though it may be too late now for the limited places available. But there's another one in September.
Alan

[MikeGF]

Thanks CanAm, a handling day at Dunsfold would be great, will book up fopr September if April is full.

Cheers
MikeGF