Lotus Elise Service Notes page 500

Lotus Service Notes
Section XA
XA.8 - ROAD SPRING & DAMPER SET - A111C0138S
Road springs and dampers are available as a vehicle set, designed to be used with a lowered ride height
for track use. The front springs are uprated from 27.5 N/mm to dual rate 25/40 N/mm springs, and the rears are
uprated from 40 to 50 N/mm. All four fixed calibration Koni dampers are both stiffer and shorter and feature
different bump stops and adjustable spring platforms (without lock rings) to allow setting of ride height and
corner weighting. Also included, for use on cars prior to their introduction at VIN W 3580 (approx.), are
stronger top rear damper mounting brackets with repositioned (10mm higher) damper holes, together with load
spreading clamp plates to fix the brackets to the chassis. The pair of steering rack positioning plates are
provided in order to maintain the desired bump steer characteristic if the lowered ride height is used.
Additional parts recommended to be fitted with this kit are:
Front hub bearing clamp bolt set - A111C0137S (applicable to cars prior to VIN: V 1830 - Sept.'97)
Rear Uniball toe link kit - A111D0127S.
Adjustable, uprated front anti-roll bar - A111C0134S.
The springs, dampers and rear top damper mounting brackets with spreader plates, are direct replace-
ments for the standard parts. The dual rate front springs are fitted with the close coiled end lowermost. The
recommended mid-laden ride height (2 people, 1/2 tank fuel) to be used with these springs and road tyres is as
follows:
Front: 100 mm below front end of chassis sideraii (standard setting 140 mm).
Rear: 110 mm below rear end of chassis sideraii (standard setting 140 mm).
At the lowered ride height, the steering rack should be repositioned by removing the rack fixings from the
front of the footwells, drilling out the pop rivets retaining the standard (5 notch) rack height setting plates, and
fitting new (10 notch) plates A111H0021F. Refit the rack fixings using a suitable threadlocking compound, and
torque tighten the M8 bolts to 27 Nm, and the M10 bolts to 45 Nm.
Steering rack Steel reinforcement channel (bonded)
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