Priorities- exam question!

[Birdthom]

Question 1 (10 marks available):

You own a 97 S1 Elise with about 160bhp, braided hoses and pagid blues but still running its original red koni dampers and original toe links (which appear to have been refreshed relatively recently with new end joints) and unknown geometry settings. The car has covered 35,000 miles to date and is fitted with standard road tyres.

You are spending two days at the 'Ring and two days at Spa at the end of the month. Budget and time constraints mean that two mutually exclusive options are available to you before you leave:

1. Uprate the springs and dampers (choice of equipment not being examined here and no marks awarded for discussion) and get the geo set up properly; OR

2. Uprate the toe links and get the geo set up properly.

Both '1' and '2' will be completed within the next 6 months regardless of which is chosen first, but only one of these options can be completed prior to the European trip.

Please state your choice of '1' or '2' and give sufficient reasoning for your choice. Extra marks will be awarded for non-alarmist replies and evidence of direct experience rather than internet hearsay.

Thanks in advance!

Edited by Birdthom on Monday 14th July 20:34

[Scuffers]

err... well you cant do the dambers without re-doing the geo, so there's your answer.

[S Works]

Don't muck about with this. Have them checked over by a good specialist and have the toe-links replaced if they are past their best. Then get the new dampers/springs fitted and get a good place to geo it.

[Birdthom]

Simon - the geo has to be done with either option - I know that!

I'll be getting the links checked out properly by someone who knows more than me. What I really want to know is whether it's daft to take the car out on track this much with the old links even if they are in good shape. I'll get them done at some point soon anyway, but I'd rather get new dampers if it's not stupid to do this at the expense of the toe links.

Are the toe links really as necessary as a lot of opinion on SELOC suggests? You are someone with more experience than I can shake a stick at, so I'd be grateful to know what you think.

Thanks

Tom.

[Hollywood Wheels]

On road tyres and 35K miles I can't see the toelinks falling to pieces half way around the 'ring. Save your money til you get back.....

[piooly]

Option 1 definetely. The new dampers will transform the handling. (I assume you are looking at uprated coilovers of some type....)

Then get the full Geo done.


Once you return home and funds permit. Uprate the toe links and then just get your toe link "tracking" adjusted.


Thats what I would do..

[Birdthom]

Thanks gents - that's what I was thinking but I'm a bit risk averse nowadays and have already had a wheel fall off a car on track before now so get a bit nervous about these things.

[Scuffers]

if the joints don't have play in them and look OK (as in noit corroded to death) then they are not likely to suddenly kill you...

just don't go kerb-hopping all day with it and you will be fine...

[Gad-Westy]

Scuffers said:

if the joints don't have play in them and look OK (as in noit corroded to death) then they are not likely to suddenly kill you...

just don't go kerb-hopping all day with it and you will be fine...

Would agree, I'd personally just leave it the way it is and get both done and geo when funds permit.

[Birdthom]

Thanks all.