europa suspension setup

[ozeuropa]

hi all from australia
just changed over from exige na to a europa
got a custom exhaust and just fitting the lotus 225 ecu
next stage is the suspension
i will be getting the 16 and 17 wheels and toyo 888
can anyone help to set the car up and lower it for track days . i feel there is no need to go to the nitron setup as the bilstein and eibach is quality gear and all it needs is to lower the car say 25 mm

cheers
Harry from OZ

[randy]

You're going to struggle... Standard europa dampers aren't adjustable for height and you can't swap out the rear damper brackets. Also, standard bilsteins aren't much good on track.

[C43]

For the suspension setup e mail John at Thorney. Since you are so far away I am sure he will do what he can to help.

For the lowering I think the thing you have to be careful about is hitting the bump stops. If you want to do it for looks then the 16" front 17" rear TD wheels make a difference as the car does look more agressive. The dampers arnt great on track but they are not that bad either. I have standard ones and have run around the ring, Silverstone and Donnington. The only time I really noticed the shortfally in damper was rear stability through Craner Curves. However I will probably keep the standard ones as the roads around Oxfordshire are very bumpy and I want to keep what is left of my teeth.

Good to hear you are enjoying yours. Mine is black with cream leather and I love it.

C43

[Mr_C]

randy said:

You're going to struggle... Standard europa dampers aren't adjustable for height and you can't swap out the rear damper brackets. Also, standard bilsteins aren't much good on track.

I presume your Europa has Nitrons?

Have you had them valved different to your Exige ones or are they still under development?

[fredd1e]

randy said:

You're going to struggle... Standard europa dampers aren't adjustable for height and you can't swap out the rear damper brackets. Also, standard bilsteins aren't much good on track.

Had a look at mine and to they are adjustable in the same way std Exige/Elise LSS dampers are. I.e its got the choice of three locations for the spring seats. Std it would appear is the highest of the 3 so you can lower it two settings . No idea what clearance issues or handling/ride impacts that would have, but would imagine the bumps stops will come into play a lot sooner.

[randy]

Mr_C said:

randy said:

You're going to struggle... Standard europa dampers aren't adjustable for height and you can't swap out the rear damper brackets. Also, standard bilsteins aren't much good on track.

I presume your Europa has Nitrons?

Have you had them valved different to your Exige ones or are they still under development?

It will do, yes, although currently it's still having it's FIA spec roll cage fitted so suspension work hasn't started yet. If you want to know more then look here http://www.hofmanns.co.uk/content/index.asp?id=63. I'm starting with the same valving that I ran on the Exige but with slightly more spring rate to account for the extra weight of the car.

[randy]

fredd1e said:

randy said:

You're going to struggle... Standard europa dampers aren't adjustable for height and you can't swap out the rear damper brackets. Also, standard bilsteins aren't much good on track.

Had a look at mine and to they are adjustable in the same way std Exige/Elise LSS dampers are. I.e its got the choice of three locations for the spring seats. Std it would appear is the highest of the 3 so you can lower it two settings . No idea what clearance issues or handling/ride impacts that would have, but would imagine the bumps stops will come into play a lot sooner.

On the track I imagine you will get into the bump stops quite quickly if you lower it. Will you be running standard tyres or track rubber?

[footsoldier]

ozeuropa said:

hi all from australia
just changed over from exige na to a europa
got a custom exhaust and just fitting the lotus 225 ecu
next stage is the suspension
i will be getting the 16 and 17 wheels and toyo 888
can anyone help to set the car up and lower it for track days . i feel there is no need to go to the nitron setup as the bilstein and eibach is quality gear and all it needs is to lower the car say 25 mm

cheers
Harry from OZ

Harry

I've got Nitrons (Throney supplied), which are very adjustable, and lower car by 70mm. Definitely makes a difference to rear grip, and easily adjusted for road suppleness or track.

Revised geometry at same time so can't attribute all to shocks, but Thorney supplied me with set=up as part of deal when buying Nitrons, so worth talking to them. It also looks better lower, IMO. I know that Randy also works closely with Nitron, and they (Hoffman's) supply as well.

Going to 16/17 Team D wheels after winter - using up standard tyres at the moment.

I'm interested in your custom exhaust - is it Milltek or other?

[ozeuropa]

footsoldier said:

ozeuropa said:

hi all from australia
just changed over from exige na to a europa
got a custom exhaust and just fitting the lotus 225 ecu
next stage is the suspension
i will be getting the 16 and 17 wheels and toyo 888
can anyone help to set the car up and lower it for track days . i feel there is no need to go to the nitron setup as the bilstein and eibach is quality gear and all it needs is to lower the car say 25 mm

cheers
Harry from OZ

Harry

I've got Nitrons (Throney supplied), which are very adjustable, and lower car by 70mm. Definitely makes a difference to rear grip, and easily adjusted for road suppleness or track.

Revised geometry at same time so can't attribute all to shocks, but Thorney supplied me with set=up as part of deal when buying Nitrons, so worth talking to them. It also looks better lower, IMO. I know that Randy also works closely with Nitron, and they (Hoffman's) supply as well.

Going to 16/17 Team D wheels after winter - using up standard tyres at the moment.

I'm interested in your custom exhaust - is it Milltek or other?

hi
i got a custom exhaust made here in AUSTRALIA.
much cheaper than a miltek and less hassle . the same guys did my exige exhaust and did a great job.
am picking up mu car with the new lotus 225 ecu tomorrow so that the engine side done.

[ozeuropa]

hi all
i got a custom exhaust made here in AUSTRALIA.
much cheaper than a miltek and less hassle . the same guys did my exige exhaust and did a great job.
am picking up mu car with the new lotus 225 ecu tomorrow so that the engine side done.
now to work on the setup
stage 2 will be the thorney TD 16 and 17 with toyo 888 and the pagid pads and braided lines then a track day and if it needs the suspension then i have to go with the nitron's

[ozeuropa]

randy said:

fredd1e said:

randy said:

You're going to struggle... Standard europa dampers aren't adjustable for height and you can't swap out the rear damper brackets. Also, standard bilsteins aren't much good on track.

Had a look at mine and to they are adjustable in the same way std Exige/Elise LSS dampers are. I.e its got the choice of three locations for the spring seats. Std it would appear is the highest of the 3 so you can lower it two settings . No idea what clearance issues or handling/ride impacts that would have, but would imagine the bumps stops will come into play a lot sooner.

On the track I imagine you will get into the bump stops quite quickly if you lower it. Will you be running standard tyres or track rubber?

hi randy
what setup will you be doing for the race europa
perhaps i should wait and see before i play with the suspension
you may have a better setup that the nitron kit
no one here in Australia plays with the europa
a full geomotry like the thorney one would be great but no one knows where to start

[footsoldier]

Does your exhaust pop on overrun/gearchanges like Milltek does? Does it help performance? Thanks

[ozeuropa]

ozeuropa said:

randy said:

fredd1e said:

randy said:

You're going to struggle... Standard europa dampers aren't adjustable for height and you can't swap out the rear damper brackets. Also, standard bilsteins aren't much good on track.

Had a look at mine and to they are adjustable in the same way std Exige/Elise LSS dampers are. I.e its got the choice of three locations for the spring seats. Std it would appear is the highest of the 3 so you can lower it two settings . No idea what clearance issues or handling/ride impacts that would have, but would imagine the bumps stops will come into play a lot sooner.

On the track I imagine you will get into the bump stops quite quickly if you lower it. Will you be running standard tyres or track rubber?

i plan to run the toyo 888 with the TD 16 and 17

hi randy
what setup will you be doing for the race europa
perhaps i should wait and see before i play with the suspension
you may have a better setup that the nitron kit
no one here in Australia plays with the europa
a full geomotry like the thorney one would be great but no one knows where to start

[randy]

ozeuropa said:

randy said:

fredd1e said:

randy said:

hi randy
what setup will you be doing for the race europa
perhaps i should wait and see before i play with the suspension
you may have a better setup that the nitron kit
no one here in Australia plays with the europa
a full geomotry like the thorney one would be great but no one knows where to start

I work very closely with Nitron so my setup is a derivation of their damper and has proven extremely successful in a large number of race series, Brit GT, Britcar, and dominating LOTRDC for the last two years. Most people who go from the standard Nitron setup to mine tend to find about 1.5secs per lap. If any of the Aussie guys want to go this way then I would happily give then geo advice too.