Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi All

Would it be possible for some of you good folk to assist me in identifying some springs, believed to be Lotus Elan (or +2) rear springs:

They are as follows:

1) Black pair marked +2 Std
Length 13 and 9/16 inches, Coil OD 0.360 inch and spring diameter 2 and 5/8 inches

2) Black pair no markings
Length 13 and 5/16, Coil OD 0.360 inch and spring diameter 2 and 5/8 inches

3) Red Pair marked in pen 140

Length 13 and 3/4 inches Coil OD 0.375 and spring diameter 2 and 11/16 inches

4) The single used spring
Length 14 and 1/2 inches, Coil OD 0.340 and spring diameter 2 and 5/8 inches

The first three look unused and do not show any signs of fitment.

This request is on behalf of a friend but if genuine I might be interested in using them on my +2.

Many thanks

Andy

The numbers of free working coils is the other key piece of information to identify positively a spring. Also Is the diameter of the spring you quote the inside diameter or outside diameter or the average of the two? When you state the coil OD I presume this means the coil wire OD

cheers
Rohan

Hi Rohan

I finally had the chance to measure them up. Amended info is as follows:

1) Black pair marked +2 Std
Length 13 and 9/16 inches, Coil OD 0.360",16 coils and spring OD 2 and 5/8 inches

2) Black pair no markings
Length 13 and 5/16, Wire OD 0.360 inch, 17 coils and spring OD 2 and 5/8 inches

3) Red Pair marked in pen 140

Length 13 and 3/4 inches Wire OD 0.375", 18 coils and spring OD 2 and 11/16 inches

4) The single used spring
Length 14 and 1/2 inches, Wire OD 0.340, 16 and spring OD 2 and 5/8 inches

It would be usefull if I could identify exactly what I have got.

Best regards

Andy

From the data supplied

No 1 rate 130 lb/inch
No 2 rate 120 lb/inch
No3 rate 130 lb /inch
No 4 rate 100 lb/inch


Hi Andy

Dimensionally they all look like a plus 2 front springs

Standard plus 2 is 15.6 working coils, 0.343 wire diameter, 14.19 free length, 2.625 OD and a rate of 110 lbs /inch. The No4 spring looks very close to the standard one and is probably an original plus 2 spring. The other 3 may be after market replacements. Plus 2 fronts tend to get replaced frequently as if they are not well made they tend to sag as they are more highly stressed than desirable so lots of old plus 2 springs and replacement springs floating around.

With ID's less than 2 inch they dont fit over the rear strut tube which is 2 inch OD so not rear springs

cheers
Rohan

Rohan

Many thanks for you help, is there a ready market for the first three pairs do you think? and how would the 130 lb spring affect the handling on a +2 with stadard rear springs, or should i consider uprating the rears? if so by how much?

Regards

Andy