Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Just rebuilding the suspension on my +2 and have got to the stage of dialing in the initial settings to the Koni rear and Spax front shocks. Does anyone have a suggestions for a good starting point?
Cheers
Tim

Tim,
I've got Koni's all around and my car is street only with stock suspension. My rears are set for one setting above soft. Anything harder is too hard. They were fully soft when installed new 20 yrs ago. I just bumped them up a notch to compensate for age.

Greg

Tim, I have been racing and rallying for 25 yars, and I've always found Spax to be a little hard for the road or perhaps the better word is "unforgiving", certainly until they get older. If they're gas Spax they may be better now, perhaps I'm being unkind. I found by trying the lot, that you can't beat Bilsteins for competition, and Koni's for the road, they're both so much more forgiving from a ride point of view. Albeit, for the road the Armstrong originals take some beating for a mixture of good handling and ride, particularly as they were the standard fitting on most when new. Can't help feeling that if you did have to use Spax, it would be better with the Koni's on the front, and softest setting Spax on the back though..... Perhaps I'm getting old.
Steve

I wonder if I can ask for a little advise on the shock absorber discussion as well.
I still have the origional Armstrongs on my '63 1600. Even tho I haven't really noticed any real change in handling, ride etc. I figure that after 40 years _48,000 miles -of driving it I have to be due for a new set and that I probably haven't noticed the changes over time anyway.
The car was totally rebuilt 4,000 miles ago, new suspension bushes, geometry to spec, pirellie p2500 tires. AND I am HAPPY with the handling (I think). My driving is (damned) brisk back road pleasure (no competition). I find the ride soft - it always has been even tho the handling has always been impeccable.

The quist I get from previous comments is to go to Konies to retain a reasonable sodt but firm road ride.

Do others concurr, any comments, usuall scourses (D.B.)?

Thanks Bill 26/0538

Hi All,
Thanks for the details. I had wanted to get Konis all round but Paul Matty said that they were no longer made for the front of the +2 the only option being spax or AVO. The car was otherwise on the original Shocks (amazing after 30 years) and I like the combination of good ride with good road holding. I only replaced them because the ARB mount on one of the front shocks snapped and one of the rears was leaking.
Cheers
Tim

Hi again, I have a pair of almost brand new Armstrongs, (front), complete with springs (std), left over from my S3 / SE done about 4000 mls if anyone is interested. ?75 the pair
Steve