Smithy111

I have a snapped spring hence my dilemma. I’m leaning towards reusing the old shocks (once I get them off and check their good) and getting just new springs at the moment as nothing seems to have a consistent good report. Can anyone that’s got the very expensive Lotus bilstein kit comment on how they ride?

I’ve heard these Lotus ones were only really developed for the v8 and were just close enough for everything else just to sell a few more and aren’t really that good considering the massive price of them (in bearing in mind I’ll want to do the rear to match later)

Ah I mis understood and having done some more research and reading from LEW these can be used with a new standard spring by removing the platform - https://www.sjsportscars.com/parts-and-accessories/LOTAC05404.htm pricey though Christ!

Ok sounds like that’s the only option unless I can find some old new stock dampers and springs which I’m sure are like finding a unicorn!

Spring on one side is snapped so what am I to do? Will replacement springs from SJ make the front too high? Someone must have done this that can comment? Sounds like there are no decent spring/dampers unless you have a post 85 car and want to part with quite a lot of money for factory stuff (just seen the price on SJ!) can I reuse the old dampers if they are ok (not ideal) and suitable new springs?

Ok thanks Steve, seem more and more these are the only option for pre 85 cars other than avo/spax which I understand are crap

But measuring an old spring that may have softened won’t be acurate? Or what spring rates would they need to be? Has anyone got the standard protech and spring from SJ fitted to a pre 85 with a/c? Can you tell me what your front ride heigh is so I can compare to mine as it sits now?

mines different from the later cars though theres no spring platform on the shock as thats part of the lower arm. Have they been good quality any problems?

Just found this topic, don't know how i missed it as i'm in the unfortuate position of needing new front springs and dampers for my 84 turbo with a/c. I'm amazed there seems to be so much hearsay about whats right and wrong? I was only after bog standard oem replacements and understand they are not available any more? So whats the direct replacement item? SJ seem to be quoting the protec? The ride height needs to stay the same and i'm not going to starts modifying the chassis to accommodate anything else as that would suggest its not fit for purpose! I'm new to esprit ownership (2 weeks) and am amazed there are not loads of options for suspension even though i only want oem stuff ideally?

Balls. So what do people normally do with pre 85 cars? Is there anything wrong with the protech dampers and springs? Is that the standard replacement item? I hear varying reports about ride height issues with different suspension setups or is that just post 85 cars? I wont have the ride height any diff from what it is now (need to measure), id sooner sell the car than ruin the looks as its one thing i dont like about the later cars, the comedy ride height.

So the ones they supply are protech dampers, does anyone know the story with these? are they any good? Or is there anywhere you can still get oem from? need to put the order in soon as i want to get it stripped down and done so i can get back to driving it!

I’m replacing all the bushes, top ball joints and trunnion bushes plus dampers and springs. What is the correct damper and spring for an 84 a/c car? Phoned SJ today and they have quoted an adjustable damper? I would prefer oem or are they not available?

Looks like my new car is now officially off the road as arb bushe one side has gone missing (early type suspension) and while checking found it also has a snapped spring! Decided to take this opportunity to completely remove, clean, paint the arms+arb, replace the springs and shocks and all the suspension bushes, ball joint and service the trunnions on both sides of course. Anything I should look out for or potential problems other than the usual rusted nuts and bolts? (im going to soak the lot in penetrating oil a good few days before i start!)

Does anyone know where I can get the anti-roll bar distance tubes from for the early type suspension ASAP? I’ve ordered all the arb bushes from sj sports but the distance tubes aren’t in stock for 2 weeks and I’d like to get it done this week as I can’t drive the car now as one side bushe has disappeared completely.

One pod is significantly higher than the other I think the motors are TR7, no bump stops that i could see just pod bracket attached to rose joint attached to arm on motor, it should really be attached to the motor via a conical spline for position adjustment seems like a really crap design.

How on earth do you adjust the headlight pods so that when they are down they are flush with the body and when they are up they are level with the ground and with each other?? I can only see the tie road adjuster between the two rose joints which just makes it worst? The right pod is the problem one and when parked its too low and when up its too high??

Sorry i meant the otter contact breaker module on the side of the wheel arch in the fron services compartment. All sorted now anyway, fans cycle on and off correctly at correct temp (confirmed with digital thermocouple equipment ) It seems that the fans run if the a/c switch is on that was all it was! (still getting to know the car)

wasnt this the one on ebay last week? Reached £10500 and dont think it sold amazingly as i thought that was steep for the condition it was in but someone was willing to pay it

I have a new problem with the fans on my esprit, I had the fan fail light coming on and noted that the right hand fan was not running with the other two so cleaned a corroded earth and it started working again. The same fan stopped working again today and the otter switch had tripped (others working). Reset the otter and the 3rd fan started working again?? But now all the fans run all the time unless I pull the fan relay. Tested the fan relay and that’s fine, disconnected the fan thermal switch and no change still running all the time. Where do I look next?!?

Im finding 5th gear is very difficult to find as it seems to be somewhere between 3rd and where i would expect 5th to be. Is this a case of tadts or does it need adjustment? Also is it worth getting this linkage upgrade that ive heard about? Reverse is fine.

Ok so ive temporarily fixed this to make it driveable again and theres no problem with the carb end linkage/return spring its got the wrong throttle cable fitted. Looks like at some point the inner cable has been replaced on its own and terminated with a screw down clamp which I have loosened and moved back a few mm to allow some slack. How easy is it to thread a complete new correct part cable and sheath whole?

Mines an August 84 so assume roll? Also, is there a list of what actually useful tools people carry for minor stuff that can be done at the side of a road?

Does anyone know what the S3 Turbo tool kit was conprised of?

Maybe move it slightly? I don’t need full throttle as I’m running in the freshly rebuilt engine still

Here’s a pic of what I have does anything look out of place here?