48 replies to this topic

[Exmantaa]

Finally fitted my Exige suspension on my NA. (Exige "Zolder springs; 47,5N front, 65N rear. =VXR?) My car still has the standard wheels and mostly drives on normal roads. Had the Eliseshop brackets already fitted to the front shocks, but after reading all the comments here on increased ridehights I machined an extra groove in the shocks to mount the spring platform a bit higher. (+8mm. This is about the maximum you can do before the springs will loose pre-tension fully extended.) After install, the ride was off course a lot firmer. A lot less body roll, but after the initial novelty I found it a bit harsh on bad surfaces. Even on a (bad) highway you saw the lights bouncing a lot, let alone on the bad roads near my work... So not really pleased with that. Let a friend drive my car to hear his thoughts (he drives a very low MR2 turbo, so he's used to something...), but during the test drive on the passenger seat I found the drive not that bad. Very firm, but bearable. Hmmmm... Maybe the weight of an extra passenger helped here. Let him drive alone around the block and he then confirmed my thoughts. Alone it was very harsh on the bad roads and not pleasant to drive... As the rear felt not bad at all with the engine weight on the axle, I then fitted the stiffer front (= 47,5N) Exige springs onto the standard NA front shocks for a test drive. (Standard shock. No extra +8mm groove machined, but the rideheight is almost level with this combination.) And... Not bad. Not bad at all! A firm ride, but not harsh. Even not on the bad roads. Front and rear now seem to have the same "shock-stiffness" when riding over bumps and holes. The suspension system now feels "working" again instead of bouncing and I like it a lot! Still have to find out how the Under/Oversteer behavior has changed in extremes (it should oversteer more now) but sofar no complaints. The rideheight probably will lower a bit when I fit some 15mm spacers to the front, so I first wait for that before I might adjust the front spring platforms. Very pleased with this combination.

Edited by Exmantaa, 15 September 2008 - 10:09 PM.

[Retset]

Nice to hear. As you probably know, I went with Gaz in the end as a cheap and cheerful way to get the ride height I want. I've also gone stiffer springs a la slindborg as his rides so well. I'm still confused why having 80% stiffer springs should have a better riding car ... Will put it on this week sometime ...

[Exmantaa]

What spring rates do you have now on your car? On lowered cars I think you really have to upgrade the spring rates, else you might end up hitting the bump stops a lot. Bad idea...

[Retset]

In my lounge, lol, I have Gaz with 425/475. Same as slindborg's car. He gave me a ride round and I like it. I'll fit it myself and then get it geo'd and corner weighted at Sinclaire's.

[slindborg]

He gave me a ride round and I like it.

Dodgy quote alert lol

[Retset]

I liked the car as well

[Exmantaa]

In my lounge, lol, I have Gaz with 425/475. Same as slindborg's car. He gave me a ride round and I like it. I'll fit it myself and then get it geo'd and corner weighted at Sinclaire's.

Hmmmmm...
I'm feeling a bit soft now with my Exige 47,5 (=265lbs) front & 65 N/mm (= 362lbs) rear springs...

[NOBLE]

No need to worry about the recent floods

[Exmantaa]

If that is directing to an increased ride height with Exige springs, I can tell you that my car is now low enough for my taste. (Modified spring platforms + modified front shock brackets)