Optimum suspension setup for an S4 elan

[661]

You have quite a few TTR bits. TTR do a spec sheet for their 26R set up which I suspect they would give to you if you pointed out your purchases. It would prove interesting to compare to the DB manual set up. You'll find they are not too dissimilar.

[holywood3645]

I will check out the TT site for details. My first job is to dial in ride height, The manual says 6" and 6"
I'm a little low at the front (5 3/8") and high at the rear. (6.75") Once i get that set i'm of to have the correctly aligned, and then i will see how we are. But it does sound the thicker front ARB is being recommended by most. So i may fit that also.
Thanks
James/

[661]

I will check out the TT site for details. My first job is to dial in ride height, The manual says 6" and 6"
I'm a little low at the front (5 3/8") and high at the rear. (6.75") Once i get that set i'm of to have the correctly aligned, and then i will see how we are. But it does sound the thicker front ARB is being recommended by most. So i may fit that also.
Thanks
James/

They don't publish it, you need to ask!

[bitsobrits]

Rohan,

When you say install 20mm spacers for rear Aeon's, of what are the spacers made, or where can they be obtained?

[holywood3645]

A sketch and picture of the Aeon's would help.
James

[seniorchristo]

James
Where are you measuring the ride height at the front? I recently installed AVO adjustable height front shocks with 115 lb. / 12inch long springs ordered from Dave Bean. I cannot lower the springs quite far enough to get the lower control arms horizontal. I have 155mm X 80 tires and 5 3/4" clearance at the front sill. I am optimistic things will settle in after use enough to allow me to get the correct height. I remember 5 1/2" as a front sill height reference. I have not yet had a chance to evaluate the handling.
Chris

[rgh0]

A sketch and picture of the Aeon's would help.
James

Let me dig out some photos for you this weekend

cheers
Rohan

[snowyelan]

I figured I'd add to this thread since it seems a very similar setup (Bean fast road) to what I have on my car. The questions I have are about the rear bump stops. My setup is about 3/4-1" lower than stock.

How much damper shaft length should there be between the top strut nut and the bottom of the bump stop? This dimension roughly equates to suspension travel before the bump stop comes into play.
Rohan recommended decreasing this dimension by 20mm in the reply above, but should this be done if the car is also lowered?

Thanks,

[rgh0]

I figured I'd add to this thread since it seems a very similar setup (Bean fast road) to what I have on my car. The questions I have are about the rear bump stops. My setup is about 3/4-1" lower than stock.

How much damper shaft length should there be between the top strut nut and the bottom of the bump stop? This dimension roughly equates to suspension travel before the bump stop comes into play.
Rohan recommended decreasing this dimension by 20mm in the reply above, but should this be done if the car is also lowered?

Thanks,

If the suspension is 3/4 to 1 inch lower then the bump stop spacing should be about right without spacers. I run my rear suspension at close to it's normal height and the car lowering has been done almost completely with the low profile 175/60 tyres. Hence the 20 mm spacer I added. I would need to check the gap at normal ride height which would be hard at present as the car is on the MaxJax with the engine and gearbox out ! But from memory its about 30 to 35 mm with the spacers. I can check the gap at full droop and calculate what it would be at normal ride hide when i get a chance in the next couple of days

cheers
Rohan

[snowyelan]

Hi Rohan,

Reviving this to keep info in a common thread. Rohan, have you had a chance to check the bump stop gap?

Thanks,

[rgh0]

Totally forgot about it. The Elan is on the hoist now and I can take a wheel off so I can jack up the suspension measure it up at normal ride height. Will try to do it this weekend

cheers
Rohan

[rgh0]

I currently have 30mm of spacers with a 15mm one above the Aeon and 15mm one below. The suspension is lowered by around 10 to 15 mm and the gap at normal ride height to the Aeon spacer about 15mm and 60 mm at full droop with the limited droop Koni shocks from TTR. I am using 150 lb/in rear springs

For a road car the Aeons would come into play a little early I suspect with this set up, especially if you have softer springs hence I would try 20 mm of spacer. I have them top and bottom as they help protect the end of the Aeons from getting chewed up. I had a single 20mm spacer on the bottom of the Aeon a number of years ago when I was using 110lb/in rear springs and the car was more of a road car

Lots of variables so to some degree you need to experiment to find out what works for you with your car, tyres, other suspension variables and driving style. At one point i tried a stiffer Aeon as there are a couple of load ratings and Lotus used the softer one. But the stiffer one just gave to much of a spring rate transition when it came into play so I went back to the Lotus one

Picture at normal ride height below , hard to see as spring coil in the way but around 15mm gap from top of shock to spacer below Aeon

At full droop its a bit easier to see

The spacers I used are actually poly bushes. I just went through the catalogues from the makers until I found a suitable thickness and inside and outside diameter. The OD taper you see in the photos also fits nicely to the smaller diameter top of the shock and larger diameter bottom of the Aeon. Lotus used aluminium for the 20 mm cylindrical spacers they added on the later Plus 2 these has a small lip on the bottom that could be peened over to hold them onto the top of the shock so they did not rattle, they did however tend to chew up the bottom of the Aeon.

cheers
Rohan

[snowyelan]

Thanks Rohan,
I agree that some fine tuning will be needed. My elan is a road car so, as suggested, a bit more of a gap will be required.