how hard should dampers be set to for road use?

[tdafforn]

Hi All,

I fitted adjustable dampers (front and rear) to my plus 2 a year or so
ago..

Have recently started driving the car daily and I am now putting my mind
to how to set the dampers up..

I know the Chapman theory was soft springing firm damping, but how firm
should the damping be?

At the moment the ride at low speed is quite choppy, in particular in
slow corners the car hops about quite a bit if it happens to hit a drain
cover.

Once up to 50mph plus everything is pretty smooth..

I am pretty sure that the ride is not as good as it was with the
original Armstrong rear dampers..

(I have spax on the front and TTR's own brand on the rear)

Anyone any clues (I know it is probably a bit of a case of trail and
error)

Tim

[steveww]

Yep trial and error is the best way. Remember that Lotus are quite light
so they will not need too much damping. My S4 has TTR Gaz dampers all
round and I am currently running the fronts on full soft and the rears
one full turn up from full soft.

When you get something that feels right I find a good way to double
check is have someone else drive the car and you watch it from a chase
car. This was you can see better how it is handling.

Timothy R Dafforn wrote:

[lotuselan2]

Tim

At least you do not have Koni's. They need to be set full soft and take up
a notch every 10k miles or so.



I would start Spax about 3 clicks up from full soft. I have no idea about
TTR's; I would ask him.



Ken

'69 Lotus Elan +2 with BDR

_____

From: ***@***.***lto:***@***.*** Behalf
Of Timothy R Dafforn
Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 8:15 AM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] how hard should dampers be set to for road use?



Hi All,

I fitted adjustable dampers (front and rear) to my plus 2 a year or so
ago..

Have recently started driving the car daily and I am now putting my mind
to how to set the dampers up..

I know the Chapman theory was soft springing firm damping, but how firm
should the damping be?

At the moment the ride at low speed is quite choppy, in particular in
slow corners the car hops about quite a bit if it happens to hit a drain
cover.

Once up to 50mph plus everything is pretty smooth..

I am pretty sure that the ride is not as good as it was with the
original Armstrong rear dampers..

(I have spax on the front and TTR's own brand on the rear)

Anyone any clues (I know it is probably a bit of a case of trail and
error)

Tim














SPONSORED LINKS


Plus
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Plus&w1=Plus&w2=Sprint&w3=Devoted&w4=En
joy&w5=Impressions&c=5&s=63&.sig=dIq6370auMI5unlj264rKg>

Sprint
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Sprint&w1=Plus&w2=Sprint&w3=Devoted&w4=
Enjoy&w5=Impressions&c=5&s=63&.sig=muI6crmvtqUoTgRYka59Rg>

Devoted
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Devoted&w1=Plus&w2=Sprint&w3=Devoted&w4
=Enjoy&w5=Impressions&c=5&s=63&.sig=MYr8YVWitcFnMagQQ6nJVA>


Enjoy
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Enjoy&w1=Plus&w2=Sprint&w3=Devoted&w4=E
njoy&w5=Impressions&c=5&s=63&.sig=zUhOBysTd0f_oe18NDhODg>

Impressions
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads?t=ms&k=Impressions&w1=Plus&w2=Sprint&w3=Devote
d&w4=Enjoy&w5=Impressions&c=5&s=63&.sig=fS0z9y1WMhoC-cy_ETCXnA>





_____





* Visit your group "lotuselan
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lotuselan> " on the web.

* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
***@***.***
<mailto:***@***.***ect=Unsubscribe>

* the Yahoo!
<http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> Terms of Service.



_____

[Roy Gillett]

I would think that it also depends on whether you are using standard
spring rates. My S2 is on 200lb" with Spax set midway on the front.
The rear Konis were valved to suite the 120lb" rear 2.25"springs and
consequently are full soft.
You can almost feel every matchstick you roll over.

Roy
'65S2

[tdafforn]

Hi guys,
With respect to Steve's comments below, Is there anyone on the list who owns a Plus2 in the south midlands? And would be interested in comparing handling? I am in Kenilworth.
Cheers
Tim

-----Original Message-----
From: ***@***.***lto:***@***.*** Behalf Of Steve Waterworth
Sent: 09 May 2006 14:57
To: ***@***.***
Subject: Re: [LotusElan.net] how hard should dampers be set to for road use?

Yep trial and error is the best way. Remember that Lotus are quite light
so they will not need too much damping. My S4 has TTR Gaz dampers all
round and I am currently running the fronts on full soft and the rears
one full turn up from full soft.

When you get something that feels right I find a good way to double
check is have someone else drive the car and you watch it from a chase
car. This was you can see better how it is handling.

Timothy R Dafforn wrote: