LOWERING AN ESPRITS REAR

[ste serg]

I HAVE A 1989 TURBO SE,AND AM WONDERING IF THE REAR CAN BE LOWERED AT ALL??
CHEERS...

[cnh1990]

Yes it can be done. There are some real concerns about what will occur when this is done. Email me off list for the proceedure instructions and the pro and cons of this. The proceedure in some cases are not easily reversable so you must go into this with your eyes wide open. You must proceed at your own risk after researching the proceedure. I can put you in touch with a person has done it for peformance purposes for racing.
Calvin

[sydneyse]

I would have thought an easy way would be to replace the spring/damper assembly with S4s versions- the ones I have seen have adjustable platforms on the shock body to change the spring height. I have also seen locally, a company that will put a threaded platform onto the current damper outer tube so that you have the same effect.
With height adjustable suspension, get the corner weights of the car (ie measure weight on each wheel)set in tandem with measuring the wheel rim/guard height- this ensures that the car will handle properly once lowered (at this point camber/castor/toe can be set too).
Calvin, have I missed anything? I have done this to BMW M roadster with out any trouble (though you have far more experience in things lotus so I defer to you on the applicability of the above for an esprit)
Stephen- not sure why you only want to lower the rear? do you feel you have a "roll-steer" issue? I'd like to lower my SE all round, but have refrained on the basis that I drive it daily and the front spoiler juuuust makes it diagonally across some steep driveways I com across....

>> Edited by sydneyse on Wednesday 9th October 09:40

[cnh1990]

The forward/rear rake must be preserved or handling will be altered. This is not an easy issue to contend with many plus/minus to consider. There are many views on this subject and we can go on for many hours discussing this. This is a hard subject for disscussuion on a BB with many questions as to the purpose and what the person wants to acomplish. There is a quite an easy way to shave an 1" off the ride height but in some cases they are irreversible or should I say not easily done. The proceedure should only be done by people who know what to expect lest people start ot hack up their cars with unwanted results
Calvin

[ste serg]

THANKS FOR THAT IMFO,I ONLY WANT TO GO ABOUT 2 INCHES LOWER,JUST ENOUGH TO TAKE THE WHEEL ARCH GAP DOWN,AND HOPEFULLY IMPROVE THE LOOK(STANCE).THE THEADED TUBE ON THE SHOCKS SOUNDS THE BEST IDEA.
IVE GOT A TWIN PIPE EXHAUST IM FITTING AT THE MOMENT SO I WILL SEE HOW THAT LOOKS.
CHEERS!!!