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Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:08 pm

 Re: Rear spring seats
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First Gear
First Gear

Joined: Mon Aug 24, 2009 11:30 am
Posts: 37
Location: Devon, UK
antispam: Chapman
What number is a Lotus Seven?: 7
Vassilis
It certainly looks as if your rear suspension is very low. Looking at the photo of your top spring mount it looks perfectly standard, so your problem is certainly a puzzle. I have followed Andy's example and put spacers between the Lotocone mounting plate and the suspension tower to cure my problem (one side of the car much lower than the other). However, before I resorted to spacers I spent a lot of time taking measurements to try to find the cause. Have you compared measurements on your rear suspension with the dimensioned drawing in the Workshop Manual? This gives measurements down the suspension upright for bump, normal ride and full droop conditions. If you check these dimensions on your suspension it may help to identify the cause. In my case part of the problem was caused by a previous owner having bent the lower spring seat inwards on one side to give more clearance between it and the wheel, I suspect because the wheel had excessive lateral run out, and this raised the effective level of the lower spring seat. If you do not have a workshop manual I can scan the page for you and e-mail it to you if you wish.

If you do decide to use spacers, I departed from Andy's solution in one respect. Rather than making a single 10mm thick spacer, I made up a number of 3mm thick ones so that it would be possible to add more or take some away if the height was not right. I found that it was possible to fit the spacers without detaching the Rotoflex coupling which was a relief. I compressed the spring insitu by jacking under the upright and then strapping the spring in a compressed state with a webbing strap, then disconnected the outer end of the wishbone, removed the top damper nut and pulled the upright right down until the damper rod came out of the Lotocone. I was then able to push the spring damper unit out of the way enough to remove the Lotocone. You will need longer than standard fixing bolts for the Lotocone to allow for the spacer thickness. If I were you, I'd consider replacing the Lotocones whilst removed if they are cracked. Removing them is not much fun and you may not want to do it again for a while!
I do hope you can find the cause and effect a cure. Your Elan looks lovely, as does all that sunshine!
Please let us know how you get on.
Regards
Vernon

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Elan S2 26/5614


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Thu Feb 04, 2010 10:46 am

 Re: Rear spring seats
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Second Gear
Second Gear

Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 9:55 am
Posts: 71
Location: Athens - Greece
Stuart thanks for the info and pics (looks great btw!) I will be buying new lotocones..
Vernon thanks for you rinply as well! I will try to work it out. I do have a manual and will consult it. Also thanks for the tip witht the spacers!

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1967 Elan S3 SE FHC
2000 Elise S1 - Sold

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Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:34 am

 Re: Rear spring seats
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Second Gear
Second Gear

Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 9:55 am
Posts: 71
Location: Athens - Greece
Ive fitted the 2 new locotones as well as 1 cm aluminium spacers on top of the suspension as per Andy (thanks again for that! :D ) and although the car looks ok when empty, when I get in it still is very low in the back!!! The difference is minimal if there is any at all! Really disappointing! :(
I am pondering stiffer springs . I have bought the standard ones from Paul Matty. Any ideas on the spring rate I should go for without the car being too hard??
If all fails I will go the adjustable rear suspension route….
Vassilis

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