Am I missing something?

[cpbeng]

Hi.
I am currently recommissioning a series 4 Elan .On purchase the front ride height seemed high. the ride height to the underneath of the crossmember was 7 1/4 ". this was with the adjustable spring perches on the adjustable Spax dampers at the lowest position. The car came with some spares including, the original OE dampers and a pair of springs of the original length and rate of 75 Lb./in. I have replaced the fitted springs which were shorter at 14" and 93 lb/" with the original rate springs.
After settling the suspension down (over a number of speed bumps) with the wishbone bushes slackened, the ride height is now 8 1/4 inches and as can be seen the lower wishbones are far from horizontal. The dimensions of the Spax dampers is very close to that of the originals, in terms of spring installed length, distance between top and lower attachments, however the car seems to be sitting on the springs with virtually no droop, at static load.
I have searched a number of posts on "ride height" on the forum, there seems to be a number of comments re. the ride height with the original spec springs. Any thoughts whether it is the springs, dampers or me ! would be appreciated.
Paul

[elanman999]

I think the bit you are missing is that a 75lb *16.75in spring with the weight of the car on it is longer than a 93lb * 14 in spring is with the same weight on it. I have only done rough calcs.

Cheers
John

[nmauduit]

Would the original springs not be installed higher due to the adjustable plateform setup ? hence the car sitting higher all things equal and in fine condition (by an amount of the bottom of the spring shift up times the arms leverage difference since springs are closer to the suspension axis than the wheel)

[alanr]

I had a lot of trouble getting the ride height correct with wishbones parallel and sorting spring lengths when I fitted front Spax adjustables on my '71 +2.
Exactly the same problem you are having. The springs that Matty supplied at the time as supposedly correct for the Spax adjustables were far too long. SJS springs were also hopeless.
In the end I had some 12inch springs specially made to my size and spec by a company called South Yorkshire Springs, it was the only solution. All good now.

Alan

[Craven]

Something in here may help. viewtopic.php?f=42&t=48446&p=351260&hilit=+spring#p351260

[cpbeng]

Thanks all, for replies..
I couldn't understand why the ride height was so excessive, when the spring platform on the Spax was at the same distance from the bottom eye, as the ones, that I am assuming were the spare original dampers. However having spoken to a couple of Elan "specialists" (which I should have done before changing the springs) the answer was "the 16" springs will never give the correct ride height". I now need to decide on alternative length and spring rates for a pair of replacement springs.
Thanks for your advice.
Paul

[mbell]

Tony Thompson offers a selection of springs:
https://www.tonythompsonracing.co.uk/pa ... uspension/

[elanman999]

I had a lot of trouble getting the ride height correct with wishbones parallel and sorting spring lengths when I fitted front Spax adjustables on my '71 +2.
Exactly the same problem you are having. The springs that Matty supplied at the time as supposedly correct for the Spax adjustables were far too long. SJS springs were also hopeless.
In the end I had some 12inch springs specially made to my size and spec by a company called South Yorkshire Springs, it was the only solution. All good now.

Alan

I also found the PM spax/oe spring option way to high on my +2.

Went for Faulkner springs on Protech dampers. The springs did sink a bit in the first few months though, but after that all was good.
Cheers
John.

[Brian Dines]

Having just finished a front suspension rebuild on a1971 s4 it was very noticeable that to achieve the chassis clearance 6 1/4 inches on an adjustable platform shock absorber supplied by TTR was a very laborious challenge ,the settling of spring cum shocker included road testing and passenger on board to even load across the front changed every time I set up but now after a lot of time and patience the wishbones are practically horizontal and around 5 7/8 inches to the bottom of chassis .Drives very well and a significant difference from old and decrepit units removed. Well worth the effort.