Spyder
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 9:15 am
For anyone who is interested.
I have just fitted new front suspension to my Elan +2. The old parts were just plain worn out with the holes at the trunion end of the wishbones badly ovalised. Handling was less than positive.
Rather than fabricating repairs I decided to go for new parts from Spyder.
Andy at Spyder was very helpful when I called to order the parts and they arrived next day by mail order complete with new rubber bushes press fitted. The bones look to be very well made and were a lot stronger than the old parts.
Fitting the new stuff along with doing a trunion overhaul took a leisurely Saturday. Everything was a direct replacement with no modification to anything necessary. I have checked the track and it was OK.
All in all the car feels a lot firmer and turns into a corner a lot better. I have since done a run from Central Scotland to Skye and back (beautifully quiet sweeping A roads at this time of year) with absolutely no problems. The car felt great.
Also, this maybe all in my mind but the car looks like it is sitting better on the road.
This is the second set of components from spyder that I have fitted to my car. Last year I replaced the back Chapman struts (which were completely knackered) with the Spyder equivalent. No trouble here either and again they were a direct replacement along with Spax top adjustable inserts. Took a wee bit longer that a Saturday to do though.
My car has a Spyder chassis which was fitted before I got it.
If anybody is thinking on doing the same thing give me a shout and I can give you the full lowdown and a couple of photos if you want.
This may offend the purists out there but it has improved the car at a realistic price and not destroyed any of the character. It is still a tempremental thoroughbread and more importantly, feels like one. The only other thing I have fitted is a Motolita leather rim but I class that as a period accessory because you could buy one of these when the car was new.
I still remain to be convinced about the Zetech conversion. A Lotus elan isn't a lotus without an enthusiastic twink under the bonnet!
Hamish.
I have just fitted new front suspension to my Elan +2. The old parts were just plain worn out with the holes at the trunion end of the wishbones badly ovalised. Handling was less than positive.
Rather than fabricating repairs I decided to go for new parts from Spyder.
Andy at Spyder was very helpful when I called to order the parts and they arrived next day by mail order complete with new rubber bushes press fitted. The bones look to be very well made and were a lot stronger than the old parts.
Fitting the new stuff along with doing a trunion overhaul took a leisurely Saturday. Everything was a direct replacement with no modification to anything necessary. I have checked the track and it was OK.
All in all the car feels a lot firmer and turns into a corner a lot better. I have since done a run from Central Scotland to Skye and back (beautifully quiet sweeping A roads at this time of year) with absolutely no problems. The car felt great.
Also, this maybe all in my mind but the car looks like it is sitting better on the road.
This is the second set of components from spyder that I have fitted to my car. Last year I replaced the back Chapman struts (which were completely knackered) with the Spyder equivalent. No trouble here either and again they were a direct replacement along with Spax top adjustable inserts. Took a wee bit longer that a Saturday to do though.
My car has a Spyder chassis which was fitted before I got it.
If anybody is thinking on doing the same thing give me a shout and I can give you the full lowdown and a couple of photos if you want.
This may offend the purists out there but it has improved the car at a realistic price and not destroyed any of the character. It is still a tempremental thoroughbread and more importantly, feels like one. The only other thing I have fitted is a Motolita leather rim but I class that as a period accessory because you could buy one of these when the car was new.
I still remain to be convinced about the Zetech conversion. A Lotus elan isn't a lotus without an enthusiastic twink under the bonnet!
Hamish.